British Aviation in Belize??
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British Aviation in Belize??
Hello all,
I'm a pilot in 25 Flt AAC who has been given the task of writing an essay on the History of British Aviation in Belize (as we are due to close the time has come to look back on what we once had!)
Now it would appear that no one has really approached this topic before as I am struggling to find decent material, apart from 25's photo albums (mostly of the inside of Raul's!)
So this is a request for any 'gen', any dits or steers towards any decent publications relating to the aviation assets we have had out here over the years. Apart from the AAC dets I am aware we have had Pumas, Harriers and rumour of Bucs.
Disclaimer: not trying to avoid proper research, I just want some decent first hand stories that I can chase up to make this work slightly more exciting than a list of Sqn dets!
Many thanks,
Red
PS. A good chance this may make the AAC newsletter so any decent pics you feel like sharing would be appreciated!
I'm a pilot in 25 Flt AAC who has been given the task of writing an essay on the History of British Aviation in Belize (as we are due to close the time has come to look back on what we once had!)
Now it would appear that no one has really approached this topic before as I am struggling to find decent material, apart from 25's photo albums (mostly of the inside of Raul's!)
So this is a request for any 'gen', any dits or steers towards any decent publications relating to the aviation assets we have had out here over the years. Apart from the AAC dets I am aware we have had Pumas, Harriers and rumour of Bucs.
Disclaimer: not trying to avoid proper research, I just want some decent first hand stories that I can chase up to make this work slightly more exciting than a list of Sqn dets!
Many thanks,
Red
PS. A good chance this may make the AAC newsletter so any decent pics you feel like sharing would be appreciated!
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I did a number of Puma detachments there in the late 1970s and early 80s. I don't recall any Buccaneers ever being based out there.
Red On, Green On
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The full story on the Buccs is in Phoenix Squadron - they executed a show of force when Guatemala was talking about invading Belize in 1972.
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Belize
In Spring 1976 I was there as a temporary Ops Officer with the No 1 Harrier Squadron detachment. They were having problems with the heat affecting the wing pillow tanks, one had been crashed and serviceability was tricky.
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On the Puma front, best to talk to 230 & 33 Sqns as I am sure they will have pictures ( Raul's again probably ). IIRC, in 1989 there were 4 x crews on 1563 flt ( 3 x 33 / 1 x 230 ) with 4 x ac at any time.
There also used to be a Belize sched by C -130 and another by VC10 for pax ( Beagle ? ) and a LOX run which staged through Homestead AFB to pick up the stuff.
Was there not a Belize thread here a while ago ?
There also used to be a Belize sched by C -130 and another by VC10 for pax ( Beagle ? ) and a LOX run which staged through Homestead AFB to pick up the stuff.
Was there not a Belize thread here a while ago ?
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Belize
Over the years a number of aircraft have been involved with the trooping;
Britannia and VC10 for instance.
I believe that during the 39-45 war the base was used for aircraft involved with patroling that part of the Caribbean for u-boats.
Phil
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Then, after a day in our motel with little or no sleep we had to leave Dulles in the evening for an overnight flight to Brize. Arrive home on thursday morning absolutely knackered.
The day trip from Dulles to Belize and back was a nice little jaunt, though.
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Did the VC10 trip a few time myself
Moggiee:
I always used to like going through Dulles in either direction because the VC-10 was resupplied and the Yank lumpy boxes were always so much better than the Belize or Brize ones...
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I can tell you about the night i spent in the back of a Lynx on the flight dispersal with young American tourist on the fold up stretcher. I was ever so slightly tipsy at the time but soon sobered up once the flight QHI got hold of me for leaving the NVG stork lights on and and running the battery flat....
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Dundiggin:
Careful there... I might have copies of the legless you with the Bolivian partial transgender on San Pedro... Go on, deny it... 
Go on mate give us a treat and remind us of the real Belize with your phots of the swamp..
VC10 turning circle
I flew into Belize many times as VC10 Captain. Always a problem turning on the narrow runway that was a few feet narrower than the turning circle of the VC10.