Aircrew Rations
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Here you go, the ideal meal, am I taking the p*ss?
BBC NEWS | Americas | US army food... just add urine
BBC NEWS | Americas | US army food... just add urine
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God forbid there were 5 mars bars and 1 Lion Bar in our box.
That's when the trouble started, scrambling to the Galley, pulling rank, pulling hair
I soon learned to be the one to quickly stock the galley while the others warmed up the systems
BW
That's when the trouble started, scrambling to the Galley, pulling rank, pulling hair
I soon learned to be the one to quickly stock the galley while the others warmed up the systems
BW
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More penny pinching.
With a 2 hour plan, 1 hour brief, 1:15 flight, 30 mins in-brief/de-kit and 30 mins debrief conducted 2 or 3 times a day, I am not always able to get a lunch break. Grabbing a mars bar etc between sorties has been a welcome calorie boost, so no need to grumble. Our aircrew rations were only ever claimed retrospectively against actual hours flown (though eaten by everyone!). At about £0.50p per hour, it wasn't a big deal, but enough to make sure something was available between sorties. Not anymore.
Guess the powers that be would prefer I 'down tools' to get a lunch break, I guess?
With a 2 hour plan, 1 hour brief, 1:15 flight, 30 mins in-brief/de-kit and 30 mins debrief conducted 2 or 3 times a day, I am not always able to get a lunch break. Grabbing a mars bar etc between sorties has been a welcome calorie boost, so no need to grumble. Our aircrew rations were only ever claimed retrospectively against actual hours flown (though eaten by everyone!). At about £0.50p per hour, it wasn't a big deal, but enough to make sure something was available between sorties. Not anymore.
Guess the powers that be would prefer I 'down tools' to get a lunch break, I guess?
I have a nagging memory about high energy rations being introduced from a Board of Inquiry recommendation on suspected Hypoglycemia of a Jaguar Pilot involved in an accident? Anyone else remember this - or am I just going mad? 
Don't know about Jag guy. Do know about an F3 pilot with visual problems (talked down by nav) to which rations may have been a contributory factor. Have, as SFSO, had to get the Staish to order OC Catering to provide edible in-flight rations to avoid more problems like this.
On the other hand, given the reduction in flying hours, is it common to miss normal meals these days?
Shocked we've got through 3 pages without a mention for Gala Pie (so here it is).
Anyone manage eating an entire box of jaffa cakes in less than 11 seconds? Team effort, obviously, starting from a closed box..
Though given the number of dairy cream sponges I was offered on my one flight on the kipper fleet, there may be certain individuals who can come close!
On the other hand, given the reduction in flying hours, is it common to miss normal meals these days?
Shocked we've got through 3 pages without a mention for Gala Pie (so here it is).
Anyone manage eating an entire box of jaffa cakes in less than 11 seconds? Team effort, obviously, starting from a closed box..
Though given the number of dairy cream sponges I was offered on my one flight on the kipper fleet, there may be certain individuals who can come close!
Last edited by Fox3WheresMyBanana; 20th Feb 2012 at 19:00.
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Here you go, the ideal meal, am I taking the p*ss?
BBC NEWS | Americas | US army food... just add urine
BBC NEWS | Americas | US army food... just add urine
Adding bodily fluids to inflight meals was invented by maritime I think. "Co, galley, would you like the special sauce??"
Gentleman Aviator
I have a nagging memory about high energy rations being introduced from a Board of Inquiry recommendation on suspected Hypoglycemia of a Jaguar Pilot involved in an accident?
ISTR being told they were introduced to ameliorate the effect of sweet rationing (which ended Feb 1953) and sugar rationing (ended Sep 1953)!!
Surprised they lasted so long .....
But I do recall a "rations man" (G****m B*****m when a mere sgt) saying to the marrieds:
"Sirs, I'm just putting in the nutty ration order - which sweets do your brats prefer!"
I haven't been aircrew for 2 decades but I recall a report in Airclues in the late 1980s warning about the impact of 'sugar high and sugar low' that follows ingenstion of chocolate or similar sweets. I recall it was cited in thecase of a single pilot op Cessna Caravan lost off the east cost of the South Island, NZ, in c 1989.
I have a very sweet tooth yet if I am driving I avoid the temptations fo teh Petrol Station sweet shelves. I find I get drowsy very quickly; some years ago I wrote off my VW Golf heading for RAF Digby, dozy momentarily based on an evening meal of a packet of biscuits.
I have a very sweet tooth yet if I am driving I avoid the temptations fo teh Petrol Station sweet shelves. I find I get drowsy very quickly; some years ago I wrote off my VW Golf heading for RAF Digby, dozy momentarily based on an evening meal of a packet of biscuits.
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On a slightly more serious note...
The money from aircrew rations also goes on isotonic drinks. On a sandy summer det they can make a major difference to the on task time you can get out of a crew working in a 55 degrees c cockpit.
Especially when the liquid cooled vests that were purchased turned out to be unfit for purpose. More ducks nibbling away at the collective goodwill I fear.
Especially when the liquid cooled vests that were purchased turned out to be unfit for purpose. More ducks nibbling away at the collective goodwill I fear.
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In the mid 60's, Air Ministry instructed me to carry out "flight Trials" on Air to Air TACAN as there had been complaints that it was losing lock-on at distance.
They alloted me two Victor Tankers & one hour to take readings. For the first flight, we got into our flying "romper" suits then went & had a full English breakfast.
As we were driven out to the aircraft, I enquired what the large stainless steel box containing sandwitches & chocolate bars was for & was informed that if we had to ditch in the North Sea our energy levels would still be high (thanks for that).
Eight hours later, on our return to Marham we went into the Mess room & had a full three course meal - I could get very used to this, so had a few more trial flights before fixing a design problem.
They alloted me two Victor Tankers & one hour to take readings. For the first flight, we got into our flying "romper" suits then went & had a full English breakfast.
As we were driven out to the aircraft, I enquired what the large stainless steel box containing sandwitches & chocolate bars was for & was informed that if we had to ditch in the North Sea our energy levels would still be high (thanks for that).
Eight hours later, on our return to Marham we went into the Mess room & had a full three course meal - I could get very used to this, so had a few more trial flights before fixing a design problem.
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During exercise Limejug 70, operating out of Malta, our pair of F4s had to start to RTB before our scheduled end of task, on account of low fuel, since the Buccaneer targets had turned up early and the tanker wasn’t due for a while. During our recovery we intercepted the outbound Victor before (I think) it had reached Top of Climb. Between us we took all the off-load he offered, so he went back to Luqa while we went back to CAP over the “fleet”.
Checking later during an informal debrief showed that we had been airborne about 4˝ hours and the Victor for about 45 minutes.
After landing we were fed a standard egg & bacon night flying supper. The tanker crew were a bit put out that their short trip barely gave them time to finish their in-flight rations; but conceded that their pre- and post-flight steaks had been very good.
Checking later during an informal debrief showed that we had been airborne about 4˝ hours and the Victor for about 45 minutes.
After landing we were fed a standard egg & bacon night flying supper. The tanker crew were a bit put out that their short trip barely gave them time to finish their in-flight rations; but conceded that their pre- and post-flight steaks had been very good.
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V and PR Force feeding scales
For some medical reason, possibly connected to long flights at altitude, we used to get a hi protein/lo carb meal pre and post flight which was helpful in the early 1960s when under 25 and not getting all the allowances.
We couldn't get into Eastleigh so operated out of Nairobi/Embakasi. Eastleigh catering couldn't deal with the logistics so we ate in the airport restaurant and sent the chits to Eastleigh. I remember lobster being popular for the post-flight meal!
We were also issued with a bizarre flying suit which could be passed off as a uniform and oddly positioned zips which resulted in it being knows as a "Breast-feeder"!
We couldn't get into Eastleigh so operated out of Nairobi/Embakasi. Eastleigh catering couldn't deal with the logistics so we ate in the airport restaurant and sent the chits to Eastleigh. I remember lobster being popular for the post-flight meal!
We were also issued with a bizarre flying suit which could be passed off as a uniform and oddly positioned zips which resulted in it being knows as a "Breast-feeder"!
Avoid imitations
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Adding bodily fluids to inflight meals was invented by maritime I think. "Co, galley, would you like the special sauce??"