Tornado pilot blames dirty windscreen for near-miss
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 59°09N 002°38W (IATA: SOY, ICAO: EGER)
Age: 80
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: All over the place
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Washer Bottle
GR1 had then fitted as standard between the cockpit and the Radar bit at the front bit behind the Radome. Only ever saw them used once in Lossie;
Some aircrew type remembered they were fitted and demanded they be filled up on the next flight. Us ground crew had to look it up how to fill them and what with !!!
Any way crew in time and the Rigger Sneck came out to our HAS for a look with a big grin on his face !! Wait for it he said. Low and behold as the pressurisation kicked in and the Wash Bottle was pressurised - water started spraying everywhere out the front ! Running down the side to make a big pool by the nose wheels. Also trashed the avionics and the radar package.
Apparently its a major job to fix, involving the Radar coming out and some none simple airframe hacking to replace it ??? (I was a Sootie and didn't get involve in other trades stuff) I wonder if it was the equivalent of the Phantoom's No 1 tank where they get a particular component and build the aircraft around it ??
Prolly still fitted but I bet they still aint used !! but more likely properly documented and LIM'd out now I expect.
regards
Hwie
Some aircrew type remembered they were fitted and demanded they be filled up on the next flight. Us ground crew had to look it up how to fill them and what with !!!
Any way crew in time and the Rigger Sneck came out to our HAS for a look with a big grin on his face !! Wait for it he said. Low and behold as the pressurisation kicked in and the Wash Bottle was pressurised - water started spraying everywhere out the front ! Running down the side to make a big pool by the nose wheels. Also trashed the avionics and the radar package.
Apparently its a major job to fix, involving the Radar coming out and some none simple airframe hacking to replace it ??? (I was a Sootie and didn't get involve in other trades stuff) I wonder if it was the equivalent of the Phantoom's No 1 tank where they get a particular component and build the aircraft around it ??
Prolly still fitted but I bet they still aint used !! but more likely properly documented and LIM'd out now I expect.
regards
Hwie
Last edited by howiehowie93; 9th Apr 2011 at 11:05. Reason: 'Toom bit added.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: South Wales
Age: 63
Posts: 729
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They were used in the early days at TTTE.
I was doing a post primary* ground run and one of the checks for the riggers was to carry out a func of the bottle. A short time after I had operated the system there was mega fumes in the cockpit. With eyes weeping & stinging and throat burning, I shut down and vacated the cockpit feeling quite wobbly.
Turns out that a pipe was leaking and the liquid had contaminated the fairy kit giving off nasty fumes.
Despite my protests saying that I was fine after a gallon of water, I was taken up the med centre, in a meat wagon, for every test in the world.
Still, I got the rest of the day off.
I was doing a post primary* ground run and one of the checks for the riggers was to carry out a func of the bottle. A short time after I had operated the system there was mega fumes in the cockpit. With eyes weeping & stinging and throat burning, I shut down and vacated the cockpit feeling quite wobbly.
Turns out that a pipe was leaking and the liquid had contaminated the fairy kit giving off nasty fumes.
Despite my protests saying that I was fine after a gallon of water, I was taken up the med centre, in a meat wagon, for every test in the world.
Still, I got the rest of the day off.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Bouncing around the Holding pattern
Posts: 205
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The little pressie button for it is on the ECS panel, near the demist.
Never had one work on me.
If your canopy is dirty, don't accept the aircraft. You're the bloody captain, do some captain stuff and get the lineys to clean it. They might moan (shouldn't) but the Training Cell does teach them to keep the canopy and front clean.
Pain et buerre.
Never had one work on me.
If your canopy is dirty, don't accept the aircraft. You're the bloody captain, do some captain stuff and get the lineys to clean it. They might moan (shouldn't) but the Training Cell does teach them to keep the canopy and front clean.
Pain et buerre.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Scotland
Age: 62
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gr1's definitely had them fitted and operational even back on 14 at Bruggen and 617 at Marham, it was part of the B\F can't recall if it was on the T\R though, would have thought so. AFAIR fill point was stbd side just behind the radome, Can't recall what we used to top them up bu it wasn't water
If your canopy is dirty, don't accept the aircraft. You're the bloody captain, do some captain stuff and get the lineys to clean it. They might moan (shouldn't) but the Training Cell does teach them to keep the canopy and front clean.
"Clean enough Sir?"
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: uk
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know it was fitted, used and refilled regularly on the (not so mighty then) F3 during GW1, I recall the mayhem caused after some fool topped the coolanol up with screenwash fluid......
They've stopped using them now. Not sure why. I asked SEngO a couple of years ago why. He told me, but I'm so old and senile now, I really can't remember what he said.
As TTH says, exercise some Captaincy and don't accept the ac. Simples!
As TTH says, exercise some Captaincy and don't accept the ac. Simples!
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Moray
Age: 58
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On the GR4, it's still part of the post-maintenance (p*, minor, Minor*) ground-runs to check the windscreen wash during ECS functs......
We always did it in AMF @ Lossie....... can't vouch for other units however.
We always did it in AMF @ Lossie....... can't vouch for other units however.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home
Age: 59
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Saintsman
Tsk, tsk, please don't bait the lineys. Back in the days of the banana jet we used to take great pride in keeping the canopies clean before sorties. So much so I think we used more cans of "Sparkle" than the red arrows! Well we did, I can't speak for the dog squadron on the other side of the runway.
Tsk, tsk, please don't bait the lineys. Back in the days of the banana jet we used to take great pride in keeping the canopies clean before sorties. So much so I think we used more cans of "Sparkle" than the red arrows! Well we did, I can't speak for the dog squadron on the other side of the runway.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: All over the place
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sparkle
Ogre wrote:
ah Sparkle, before that we used the little bottles of plastic polish.
One day at BRU someone was sent up to the HES to get some more sparkle but the cupboard was bare !!! Apparently some high up Stores Person had cancelled the re-order as we were using too much of it!
I think we cancelled the wave to make a point ! (or did they all crew out ?? )
Soon got more Sparkle delivered - local purchase from Roermond maybe !!
Regards
Hwie
So much so I think we used more cans of "Sparkle" than the red arrows!
One day at BRU someone was sent up to the HES to get some more sparkle but the cupboard was bare !!! Apparently some high up Stores Person had cancelled the re-order as we were using too much of it!
I think we cancelled the wave to make a point ! (or did they all crew out ?? )
Soon got more Sparkle delivered - local purchase from Roermond maybe !!
Regards
Hwie