First Female Hercules GE
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First Female Hercules GE
Many congratulations Sgt Hobson 
More here ...
RAF News 1st Female Hercules GE
Coff.
This Month, Sgt Sophie Hobson took to the air on her first solo route as a qualified Ground Engineer (GE) - the first female Ground Engineer for the Hercules in its 50 years in service.
More here ...
RAF News 1st Female Hercules GE
Coff.
Is a rusty 12" adjustable spanner really part of the toolkit?
(It could be an 8" shifter, I suppose, but that'd make her hands tiny).
(It could be an 8" shifter, I suppose, but that'd make her hands tiny).
Last edited by diginagain; 29th Jun 2013 at 20:11.
Progressive the RAF.....who would have thought it would happen....Wimmen working on airplanes. Beags will be calling for Earl to fetch the Buick in the Crapper when he hears this!
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Good luck to her, I remember meeting the first female ALMs on the OCU, they didn't too bad.
Even the toolkit looks the same, didn't it belong to Robbie Etherington, if it did, it'll be good for another few years.
Even the toolkit looks the same, didn't it belong to Robbie Etherington, if it did, it'll be good for another few years.
Last edited by Dengue_Dude; 29th Jun 2013 at 21:02. Reason: Spelin
She must be very clever, according to the link she even took the photographs.
Perhaps she uses that spanner to "encourage" the pilots to keep their hands off switches the pilots shouldn't touch ?
As an ex Herk GE myself, great news. I was lucky enough to work with some great ladies in the RAF. Ros Robinson, Great Loady. Wendy Smith, Navigator and all round good egg, Flo Shouls, respect, a cracking Flight Engineer, Unfortunately never experienced being driven by a lady driver airframe, perhaps they held out longer than the rest. Why should putting your arse on the line be the preserve of blokes ?
Smudge
PS Dengue Dude, looks like a brand new toolkit to me. I inherited mine from a certain Brian Jones. Like the original owner, it was a few spanners short of a full toolkit, but I managed to bring it back to spec!
Smudge
PS Dengue Dude, looks like a brand new toolkit to me. I inherited mine from a certain Brian Jones. Like the original owner, it was a few spanners short of a full toolkit, but I managed to bring it back to spec!
Last edited by smujsmith; 29th Jun 2013 at 23:37.
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She must be very clever, according to the link she even took the photographs.
You don't need to be clever(but she obviously is anyway) to press the timer button on a camera.
She must be very clever, according to the link she even took the photographs.
You don't need to be clever(but she obviously is anyway) to press the timer button on a camera.
In these days of equal opportunities in the Forces it still amazes me that they single out women and push them in PR blurb for simply doing a job. You don't see it for a male counterpart that is the XYZ GE..
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That's because there is still a need to encourage more girls into the profession - simple market forces. As a secondary school teacher I can readily vouch for the positive impact stories like this have in influencing girls uptake of subjects like Physics, Mathematics and Tech subjects. Like it or not females are still disproportionately represented in engineering in the UK and in so doing we are ignoring 50% of the talent pool in this country. So please let's see more of these stories. Well done Sgt Hobson.
there is still a need to encourage more girls into the profession
In common with other female pilots in that company she was a professional aviator, sticking to the rules and procedures instead of forever seeking to explore their boundaries. Cue for the "but military aviation is different" posts?
PS Dengue Dude, looks like a brand new toolkit to me. I inherited mine from a certain Brian Jones. Like the original owner, it was a few spanners short of a full toolkit, but I managed to bring it back to spec.
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Might as well bin the big toolkit when you have an adjustable spanner.
The only other thing a mech needs is a big hammer to do "a slight technical tap" or beat the aircraft into submission. Square peg will go into round hole with a big enough hammer.
The only other thing a mech needs is a big hammer to do "a slight technical tap" or beat the aircraft into submission. Square peg will go into round hole with a big enough hammer.
Last edited by gr4techie; 1st Jul 2013 at 16:43.
The Three P Method works fine....Pound it to shape....Pound it to fit....and Paint it to match!
SASless,
Re your excellent question as to the wherewithal of the missing spanners. Many of us had the impression they were in the boot of his car. Particularly the US supplied ratchet ring spanners. I never came accross an incident on Albert of a loose spanner causing a problem (oh blimey, now what have I left myself open to
). But stand to be corrected. Brian, of course, was the epitome of the finest engineering practices and integrity. I can't vouch for his sanity though
Smudge
PS, Re your last post, do you now work in a pound shop ?
Re your excellent question as to the wherewithal of the missing spanners. Many of us had the impression they were in the boot of his car. Particularly the US supplied ratchet ring spanners. I never came accross an incident on Albert of a loose spanner causing a problem (oh blimey, now what have I left myself open to
). But stand to be corrected. Brian, of course, was the epitome of the finest engineering practices and integrity. I can't vouch for his sanity though Smudge
PS, Re your last post, do you now work in a pound shop ?
Last edited by smujsmith; 1st Jul 2013 at 19:18.