Final military flight.
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Final military flight.
When you knew your final mil flight was coming up, how did you approach it? Is it more closely monitored in case distractions cause an accident (a final beat up possibly?!) and/or did you get the final say in what it was and where you went? How did you feel; reflective, pragmatic, thoughtful, emotional.. did you get the cheesy fot-opp or possibly you've got one coming up?
Just curious, no other reason than it would be interesting to get an insight into a wheel turning full circle.
Just curious, no other reason than it would be interesting to get an insight into a wheel turning full circle.
"The INTRODUCER"
SLF to Singapore on a BA 747 a couple of years back. After shutdown the FO came on the PA and announced that the captain had just told him that the flight had been his last before retirement (the captain's that is) and he would be returning to London as pax. Very wise and professional I thought.
Somewhere there is a pic of a RAF F-4 (???) flying below hangar height at Hurn on what I understand was also a retirement flight. I'm sure a Ppruner can tell the story. Different strokes...
Somewhere there is a pic of a RAF F-4 (???) flying below hangar height at Hurn on what I understand was also a retirement flight. I'm sure a Ppruner can tell the story. Different strokes...
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OLF '6 ship' on a Maple Flag.....eeehhaaaaa...
SOP VRIAB....no need to show-boat anymore....
Sat still in the cockpit for a while enjoying the smell of the Martin Baker (strange but true), the sound of the turbine wind down, the scent of the unburnt Jet Fuel and various noxious other smells from various parts of the airframe so familiar making it into the cockpit...looking at the professional ground crew going abuot their business and thinking that, without them I would not have had the pleasure, remembering to make 'everything safe' all whilst savouring the previous 30 years of flying, and reflecting on those who have been lucky enough to experience it, and wishing I could do it all again (well maybe not being shot at)........
..finally removing my helmet, realising it is all over, and thinking that the 'sweaty hair look' will be immortalised in the photos, feeling a little weak as I raised myself up from the seat....and then noting the fire hoses and extinguishers strategically placed around the site......
SOP VRIAB....no need to show-boat anymore....
Sat still in the cockpit for a while enjoying the smell of the Martin Baker (strange but true), the sound of the turbine wind down, the scent of the unburnt Jet Fuel and various noxious other smells from various parts of the airframe so familiar making it into the cockpit...looking at the professional ground crew going abuot their business and thinking that, without them I would not have had the pleasure, remembering to make 'everything safe' all whilst savouring the previous 30 years of flying, and reflecting on those who have been lucky enough to experience it, and wishing I could do it all again (well maybe not being shot at)........
..finally removing my helmet, realising it is all over, and thinking that the 'sweaty hair look' will be immortalised in the photos, feeling a little weak as I raised myself up from the seat....and then noting the fire hoses and extinguishers strategically placed around the site......
Last edited by L J R; 1st May 2012 at 11:02.
A well known tale in Detmold of a boss on his last flight....spanked in but managed to walk away from it, an equally well known tale in Middle Wallop with a far better result, the individual simply cancelled his last flight at the auth sheet.
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If I'd known it was to be my last mil flight, I'd have snagged the jet before getting in it. 
Avoid imitations
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I deliberately made mine a non-event, I'd lost too many friends and colleagues and seen too many near misses to want to make it any other way.
It was a post maintenance helicopter air test, on the oldest Puma the RAF had. I did the job, signed it off and walked away.
Glad to see it (XW198) is still going strong, 18 years on. Sadly, many other Pumas have been written off since, some by basic handling errors. One very high profile accident in particular by someone showing off beyond his capapbilities. Pumas bite hard, if provoked.
It was a post maintenance helicopter air test, on the oldest Puma the RAF had. I did the job, signed it off and walked away.
Glad to see it (XW198) is still going strong, 18 years on. Sadly, many other Pumas have been written off since, some by basic handling errors. One very high profile accident in particular by someone showing off beyond his capapbilities. Pumas bite hard, if provoked.
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Bit of tanking, break to land, taxied in, patted the coaming, went home, kissed the wife, hugged the kids. Mentally, I was already halfway out of the door and on to pastures new, and having occasionally pushed my luck, felt no need for one last hurrah. I'd like one now, though! 
Not really my province this, but those who are counselling caution are obviously very wise. Let's spare a thought for Col Robert Wolff who was on his final flight when he died with Bud Holland.
A landaway weekend. Final flight was a bit of sightseeing, LLOLPIs and air combat in the overhead till the fuel ran out. Sensible head Nav with me, just tried to make it a professional trip. I'd always been given a lot of good breaks because I was trusted not to do anything deliberately stupid (God knows I'd done enough accidentally dumb things), and I always repaid that trust.
Had to consult my log books for details of my last military flight as it was a non-event. Sept 11th 1974. Britannia XM520, Akrotiri - Brize Norton. 7h.15m day 
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Mine just sort of happened. Airborne Sim Controller in an E3D exercise and no more flights followed.
Mine had been planned to be a ''proper trip'' involving lots of tanking and formation. but then two jets were retasked and it got cancelled - so ity looked like my last trip was going to be a gear down ferry across the Atlantic.
But the day after the cancelled trip, I was asked to do an air test on an aircraft straightout of a major serviceing. As air tests can be fun, I said yes. After diverting with an engine shutdown, flapless with a hose trailed, I wish I hadn't!
Actually, it wasn't a diversion as such as with a flapless landing, we couldn't get back into St Athan. So we landed back at our usual base - where the firetrucks were waiting. When they realised it was my last flight - I got wet!
But the day after the cancelled trip, I was asked to do an air test on an aircraft straightout of a major serviceing. As air tests can be fun, I said yes. After diverting with an engine shutdown, flapless with a hose trailed, I wish I hadn't!
Actually, it wasn't a diversion as such as with a flapless landing, we couldn't get back into St Athan. So we landed back at our usual base - where the firetrucks were waiting. When they realised it was my last flight - I got wet!
blimey
I felt much the same, but thanks to the Boss (M.P.) I got a farewell present of an hour's SCT: Low Level Nav, followed by a last bash of my aeros sequence, and finally joined up another JP5A for some formation before an SOP run in and break........
Handed in flying kit, said goodbye to Staish, handed in the F1250 on the way out and off home.........
Mentally, I was already halfway out of the door and on to pastures new, and having occasionally pushed my luck, felt no need for one last hurrah.
Handed in flying kit, said goodbye to Staish, handed in the F1250 on the way out and off home.........
Last edited by wiggy; 1st May 2012 at 20:02.
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
A well known tale in Detmold of a boss on his last flight....spanked in but managed to walk away from it,
Exactly the same as wiggy, just different type. Paused on leaving the base to look at the gate guard and knew pastures new were welcome and the next adventure was to begin
loved my time in, don't miss it even slightly now though, happy memories of great people and sh1tty places
loved my time in, don't miss it even slightly now though, happy memories of great people and sh1tty places
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Should have been Soesterberg to Benson as the last leg of a 5 day 2-ship 'European trainer'. As it was it was Kiel to Benson on our own as we'd been u/s there for 3 days while the tremendously efficient RAF courier service delivered our spare part. Only ever so slightly galling as the Soesterberg night stop happened to coincide with Freshers Week at Utrecht University. Bugger.
Slight digression but it may amuse.
My last flight after 3 years on the UAS. Was offered another solo formation, but decided on circuits as better preparation for BFTS. Climbed out and wondered where my RAF career would take me (just before being firehosed).
Four years later, walk out for my first flight on my first fighter squadron...through exactly the same door to a jet parked on exactly the same piece of concrete. Leeming had switched from Support to Strike, and geographically my RAF career had gone precisely nowhere!
My last flight after 3 years on the UAS. Was offered another solo formation, but decided on circuits as better preparation for BFTS. Climbed out and wondered where my RAF career would take me (just before being firehosed).
Four years later, walk out for my first flight on my first fighter squadron...through exactly the same door to a jet parked on exactly the same piece of concrete. Leeming had switched from Support to Strike, and geographically my RAF career had gone precisely nowhere!
Not a flier unless compelled, but handing in the pass was the ball-breaker for me.
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My last real sortie was as Boss of the Falkland Tornado F3 Flight. I managed to launch all 4 jets to meet my successor as he was inbound on the Timmy which took some doing.
More recently, I'd hung up my flying boots at that time. I'd been involved in the Typhoon project since 1987 both in OR and in OT but never had a trip. I was lucky enough to fly a 2v2 ACT sortie against 2 Hawks in Wales as my final trip. No fanfare just a thoroughly fun sortie and I pulled 7.5G at the grand old age of 54. I even got to fly with one of my old studes from my instructor days on 229 who proved to be an outstanding Sqn Cdr!
I probably talk more about that one trip than the other 3000 hours.
Made my day!
More recently, I'd hung up my flying boots at that time. I'd been involved in the Typhoon project since 1987 both in OR and in OT but never had a trip. I was lucky enough to fly a 2v2 ACT sortie against 2 Hawks in Wales as my final trip. No fanfare just a thoroughly fun sortie and I pulled 7.5G at the grand old age of 54. I even got to fly with one of my old studes from my instructor days on 229 who proved to be an outstanding Sqn Cdr!
I probably talk more about that one trip than the other 3000 hours.
Made my day!