GAPAN Master 2012: Air Marshal Cliff Spink
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GAPAN Master 2012: Air Marshal Cliff Spink
Air Marshal Clifford Spink CB CBE FRAeS has been elected Master of the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.
Cliff started his flying career on the Jet Provost at Cranwell followed by advanced flying training on the Gnat. After tactics/weapons training on the Hunter and Operational Conversion Training on the Lightning he was posted to 111(F) Sqn at RAF Wattisham flying the Mk3/5 Lightning. (Weekends were spent as CFI of the local Gliding Club).
Following a weapons instructor course he was reposted to Treble One before moving to 56(F) Sqn in Cyprus on the Mk 6 Lighting. It was during this period that the Turks invaded the island and 56 Sqn were heavily involved in the subsequent air operations. The squadron returned to Wattisham in 1975 and Cliff finally left the Lightning Force the following year, having amassed 1,300hours on the ‘most exhilarating rocket ship any young man could wish to fly’.
A ground tour followed, during which he reacquainted himself with the Chipmunk 'to stay sane.' In 1979 a refresher on JP5 followed by some Hunter FGA 9 weapons training preceded his introduction to the Phantom FGR2 at Coningsby. After a short course it was back to 111(F) Sqn now flying a mix of FGR2/FG1 Phantom at RAF Leuchars. Cliff was to be associated on and off with the F4 for the next 10 years and this included 2 ½ years as the Squadron Commander of 74(F) Sqn, ‘The Tigers’, flying the F4J (UK), and a year in the Falklands as Station Commander of Mount Pleasant Airfield.
Aside from flying the F4M in the South Atlantic, he also flew the Hercules and the Sea King helicopter.
Returning to the UK, he converted to the Tornado F3, before taking command of RAF Coningsby. A couple of weeks later he went to Saudi Arabia as the Tornado Detachment Commander at Dhahran for the duration of the Gulf War.
Back at Coningsby in April 91, he had his first trip in a BBMF Hurricane and in the next two years also flew the Spitfire II, V, XIX in addition to the Tornado. The end of 1992 was to see a drop in Cliff’s front line fighter flying, although he stayed qualified on Tornado, Hawk and Nimrod until he finished as a Group Commander in 1998.
Cliff continued to fly the Warbirds following his introduction to them on the BBMF. The majority of this flying has been done at Duxford and he regards himself as 'one of the luckiest and most privileged pilots’ to have flown a variety of famous and historic aircraft. These include: Spitfire II, V, IX, XI, XIV, XVI, XIX; Hurricane II, X; Bf109G; Buchon; Mustang; Sea Fury; Corsair; Thunderbolt; Kittyhawk; Wildcat; Polikarpov I-153; T-28 Trojan; Vampire, T33 Silver Star, F86A Sabre and Hunter.
Following a weapons instructor course he was reposted to Treble One before moving to 56(F) Sqn in Cyprus on the Mk 6 Lighting. It was during this period that the Turks invaded the island and 56 Sqn were heavily involved in the subsequent air operations. The squadron returned to Wattisham in 1975 and Cliff finally left the Lightning Force the following year, having amassed 1,300hours on the ‘most exhilarating rocket ship any young man could wish to fly’.
A ground tour followed, during which he reacquainted himself with the Chipmunk 'to stay sane.' In 1979 a refresher on JP5 followed by some Hunter FGA 9 weapons training preceded his introduction to the Phantom FGR2 at Coningsby. After a short course it was back to 111(F) Sqn now flying a mix of FGR2/FG1 Phantom at RAF Leuchars. Cliff was to be associated on and off with the F4 for the next 10 years and this included 2 ½ years as the Squadron Commander of 74(F) Sqn, ‘The Tigers’, flying the F4J (UK), and a year in the Falklands as Station Commander of Mount Pleasant Airfield.
Aside from flying the F4M in the South Atlantic, he also flew the Hercules and the Sea King helicopter.
Returning to the UK, he converted to the Tornado F3, before taking command of RAF Coningsby. A couple of weeks later he went to Saudi Arabia as the Tornado Detachment Commander at Dhahran for the duration of the Gulf War.
Back at Coningsby in April 91, he had his first trip in a BBMF Hurricane and in the next two years also flew the Spitfire II, V, XIX in addition to the Tornado. The end of 1992 was to see a drop in Cliff’s front line fighter flying, although he stayed qualified on Tornado, Hawk and Nimrod until he finished as a Group Commander in 1998.
Cliff continued to fly the Warbirds following his introduction to them on the BBMF. The majority of this flying has been done at Duxford and he regards himself as 'one of the luckiest and most privileged pilots’ to have flown a variety of famous and historic aircraft. These include: Spitfire II, V, IX, XI, XIV, XVI, XIX; Hurricane II, X; Bf109G; Buchon; Mustang; Sea Fury; Corsair; Thunderbolt; Kittyhawk; Wildcat; Polikarpov I-153; T-28 Trojan; Vampire, T33 Silver Star, F86A Sabre and Hunter.
Hard to think of a leader I respect more. He certainly cut through the politics when he was Stn Cdr at Coningsby, and I have a lot to thank him for.
Congratulations, Sir!!
Congratulations, Sir!!
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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A most worthy holder of the post. I too have the utmost respect for him, having first met him as a student at.the 'College of Knowledge' in the late 60's and the inevitable 'occasional meets' over the years. One of our finest.
One womnders why no "K"? Seems to be well wothy of such recognition. Met him when he and I presented cheques from the RAF to the Dean of Ely for restoration of the 8 (Pathfinder) Gp Memorial in the Cathedral.
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A nicer gentleman would be hard to meet. Us motorway-end spectators at Duxford always appreciated him going out of his way to talk to us and answer our sometimes naive queries, which were invariably pleasantly answered. Congratulations from us.
Nice to see.
Cliff gave me a solo check ride out of Kingsfield, Dhekelia in the late 60s and he was considered (by the gliding pundits of the time) P.D.G even then.
Congratulations.
Cliff gave me a solo check ride out of Kingsfield, Dhekelia in the late 60s and he was considered (by the gliding pundits of the time) P.D.G even then.
Congratulations.
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At Leuchars in 1976, a very junior Flying Officer, I was doing Station Duty Officer one Friday. Not a lot happened and I was looking forward to Saturday with my newly acquired fiancee.
Saturday morning arrived but the jockey from 111 Sqn who was supposed to take over from me didn't! By lunch time and still not handed over the duty I was quite irritated and couldn't contact fiancee to let her know what was happening (days before mobile phones).
By chance I spotted Cliff (then OC 111) coming out of the squash courts, all hot and sweaty. So I buttonholed him and explained the problem. Whereupon he said to me "right ..... I am now the SDO. Let me have the bag and you go and enjoy the rest of your Saturday".
Only a small gesture in the grand scheme of things but I remember it 36 years later.
A great guy!!
SOS
Saturday morning arrived but the jockey from 111 Sqn who was supposed to take over from me didn't! By lunch time and still not handed over the duty I was quite irritated and couldn't contact fiancee to let her know what was happening (days before mobile phones).
By chance I spotted Cliff (then OC 111) coming out of the squash courts, all hot and sweaty. So I buttonholed him and explained the problem. Whereupon he said to me "right ..... I am now the SDO. Let me have the bag and you go and enjoy the rest of your Saturday".
Only a small gesture in the grand scheme of things but I remember it 36 years later.
A great guy!!
SOS
At Leuchars in 1976, a very junior Flying Officer, I was doing Station Duty Officer one Friday. Not a lot happened and I was looking forward to Saturday with my newly acquired fiancee......................By chance I spotted Cliff (then OC 111) coming out of the squash courts
YS
Clearly much too nice a guy to claw his way to the usual 3 Star "K", or maybe someone thought he was having too much fun anyway. Well, done, and follows another Old Cranwellian (and iirc, also a Brat)
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From what I have seen over the years, he retains an almost infectious enthusiasm for flying and keeps his feet (metaphorically, at least) on the ground, never coming across as big-headed.
The aviation community is richer for aviators of his kind.
The aviation community is richer for aviators of his kind.
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He was most certainly enjoying back-seating in a Spitfire 9 two-seater at Duxford this afternoon, with, I think, Rats Ratcliffe in the driving seat. I gave him a round of applause and a thumbs up, and received his usual nice smile and a wave.
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I spent yesterday with him as he renewed or approved Display Authortisations for a bunch of us.
Such a modest chap - a good day was had by all!
He was flying a gorgeous Cirrus SR22, too!
Stik
Such a modest chap - a good day was had by all!
He was flying a gorgeous Cirrus SR22, too!
Stik
Air Marshal Cliff Spink
Sir, congratulations! A long time has passed since our days in the sun (and other places!). Happy days, all the best. Bill