Bye Bye Klassic
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Well, we can't say that the C130s haven't earned their keep. It's almost exactly forty years since I started my conversion course on them, and I'm long retired. It's still a case of the only thing that will replace an old Hercules is a new Hercules.
Thank you for returning us to the real star of this thread, Herod. 45 years for me, and I can still remember the wonder of the Mighty Herk on making its acquaintance at 242 OCU. It has served us well and should be preserved in one example at least. The RAF's track record of doing so for large transport aircraft isn't exactly a glowing one. Given she was often the first in and the last one out, high time to make an exception.
Chug,
XV202 resides happily at RAF Museum Cosford. Worth a visit its a great day out. My career on Albert started on 5 March 1971, which makes it around 42 years ago I believe. Apart from a few years away on Vulcans, Lightnings, JPs, Bulldogs and Nimrod AEW, I ended my days, after a double GE tour, as a team manager of almost the same team I started on in 71. So, Palin eat your heart out, I did my full circle too. One thing that I will never forget is the comradeship and common sense of purpose everyone on Albert shared, from Harry Staish, to me the "erbert". I doubt anyone could have been gifted a better 30 year career than me.
Smudge
XV202 resides happily at RAF Museum Cosford. Worth a visit its a great day out. My career on Albert started on 5 March 1971, which makes it around 42 years ago I believe. Apart from a few years away on Vulcans, Lightnings, JPs, Bulldogs and Nimrod AEW, I ended my days, after a double GE tour, as a team manager of almost the same team I started on in 71. So, Palin eat your heart out, I did my full circle too. One thing that I will never forget is the comradeship and common sense of purpose everyone on Albert shared, from Harry Staish, to me the "erbert". I doubt anyone could have been gifted a better 30 year career than me.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 19th Jul 2013 at 22:17.
It would seem appropriate to preserve a K with the full set of 'lumps and bumps' that were acquired over the years - pretty much all of them under UOR rather than any core-funding investment.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bye Bye Classic
Have to disagree with your dates Smuj. Like me, you were marching around the parade square with the rest of Trenchards finest on 5 Mar and were then given a 48 hr pass before reporting for your first day of work on 8 Mar.
Rotaryeng,
I stand corrected, I always use the 5 March as that was the day I was officially posted to Colerne. As you say 8 March was arrival day.
Best regards
Smudge
I stand corrected, I always use the 5 March as that was the day I was officially posted to Colerne. As you say 8 March was arrival day.
Best regards
Smudge
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Smuj, I'll raise your career.
Started on Belfast Major Servicing at Abingdon (while some of my entry joined you at Colerne). Couple of GE's came across to do some post service checks deemed too difficult for us and I thought, "I can do that". Got a trip on the old Deci Malta schedule and the GE had been on my engine course. Future settled. Whatever it took I was going to be a GE.
After diversions to Buccs, Lightnings, and Vulcans finally got to Brize for an extended 10 tour followed by an extended TriStar tour. Not quite full circle but a Belfast bringing my engine and change team to Dubai was pretty close.
As for an all types fly past and party, bring it on. Might see more a/c and personnel than the 2015 RAF.
Started on Belfast Major Servicing at Abingdon (while some of my entry joined you at Colerne). Couple of GE's came across to do some post service checks deemed too difficult for us and I thought, "I can do that". Got a trip on the old Deci Malta schedule and the GE had been on my engine course. Future settled. Whatever it took I was going to be a GE.
After diversions to Buccs, Lightnings, and Vulcans finally got to Brize for an extended 10 tour followed by an extended TriStar tour. Not quite full circle but a Belfast bringing my engine and change team to Dubai was pretty close.
As for an all types fly past and party, bring it on. Might see more a/c and personnel than the 2015 RAF.
As someone who has been out for many more years than I was in, I am very out of touch with what's going on. So do I understand the withdrawal of the C130K means that the RAF will then have no Hercules of any mark in service?
What, then, will the RAF transport fleet consist of? We see C17s landing at Brize when some poor soul has been KIA in Afghanistan, but other than that the general public (of whom I am one) get little info on what else there is. Naive question, but I'd appreciate the info.
What, then, will the RAF transport fleet consist of? We see C17s landing at Brize when some poor soul has been KIA in Afghanistan, but other than that the general public (of whom I am one) get little info on what else there is. Naive question, but I'd appreciate the info.
Many moons ago when the C130 tankers were being retired I wrote to the PROs at RAF Lynham and Marshalls suggesting that one should be preserved as a tribute not only to the Hercules but to the team who converted and certified it in double quick time for the Falklands. It could have gone to Duxford near to Marshalls of Cambridge. Never received a reply from anyone.
mmitch.
mmitch.
Thanks Smudge and Me re XV202. Good news indeed. Though one can only hope that it fares better than the Beverly at Hendon. 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,068
Received 2,938 Likes
on
1,252 Posts
Doubt it will be parked outside.
Last edited by NutLoose; 20th Jul 2013 at 12:54.
Nutloose,
I'm afraid it is parked outside. Not much room in there with the Belfast, Hastings etc.
Pity they parked the props like that, it makes the aircraft look wrong to me.
That's how to park your props, No1 blade at the top, OK No4 prop is a little skew. XV200 at Falconara Italy during Sarajevo airlift ops.
Smudge
I'm afraid it is parked outside. Not much room in there with the Belfast, Hastings etc.
Pity they parked the props like that, it makes the aircraft look wrong to me.
That's how to park your props, No1 blade at the top, OK No4 prop is a little skew. XV200 at Falconara Italy during Sarajevo airlift ops.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 20th Jul 2013 at 16:42.
XV202
I gather there is to be some sort of 'formal handover' of 202 on the 12th September at Cosford.
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 21st Jul 2013 at 14:17. Reason: duff gen';not involving Marshalls
WE992,
I took that photograph whilst doing exactly what you just said. 3 trips a day, 1 hour in, 1 hour back around 15 minutes on the ground. Hard work, hard play. As a GE we did a six week stint, From memory we flew for 6 days and day seven was the GEs opportunity to catch up on the servicing. One set of aircrew, two GEs, we did 2 trips one day, 1 the next. the Aircrew did the lot (47 SF for you), awesome blokes. This may bring back a memory or two.
Top is a French Foreign Legion chap, who would have liked a lift home I think, bottom ready for take off. Both in Sarajevo.
I wonder if we ever shared that det ? Palace Hotel Ancona sound familiar, and the Bushy Bushy steak ?
A couple of other shots I got of Albert;
First prod heading south from ASI
Between lifts of Hooligans in Norway, Arlanda ISTR exercise winter deployment (XV205 was known as Terry the Tractor - it just kept plowing on whatever punishment it was given)
Not one that I took, and suspicion of photoshopping, but a fun Albert shot.
Smudge
I took that photograph whilst doing exactly what you just said. 3 trips a day, 1 hour in, 1 hour back around 15 minutes on the ground. Hard work, hard play. As a GE we did a six week stint, From memory we flew for 6 days and day seven was the GEs opportunity to catch up on the servicing. One set of aircrew, two GEs, we did 2 trips one day, 1 the next. the Aircrew did the lot (47 SF for you), awesome blokes. This may bring back a memory or two.
Top is a French Foreign Legion chap, who would have liked a lift home I think, bottom ready for take off. Both in Sarajevo.
I wonder if we ever shared that det ? Palace Hotel Ancona sound familiar, and the Bushy Bushy steak ?
A couple of other shots I got of Albert;
First prod heading south from ASI
Between lifts of Hooligans in Norway, Arlanda ISTR exercise winter deployment (XV205 was known as Terry the Tractor - it just kept plowing on whatever punishment it was given)
Not one that I took, and suspicion of photoshopping, but a fun Albert shot.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 20th Jul 2013 at 23:29.
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Wiltshire
Age: 59
Posts: 903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ancona det....what a month that was.
Indian night in the hotel when the GE and Eng(?) took over the kitchen and produced a 3 course curry for the det. Remember the Herc Capt coming back from the toilets with some paper hanging out of his trousers...good laugh till a TCW bloke set it alight.
Building a load of 4 pallets....being asked by the loadie (Ade D* Cr*s) what was the load as it was very light....4 x pallets of tampax...."You mean to say we are risking our lives for tampax!!!"
Seeing the armourer positioning a palletiser in front of the Herc. He came back on start up with an old style head set, jacket, scarf and proceeded to kick the tyres on the palletiser. The Herc would be nose in so have to reverse out of the bay. As the reverse thrust was applied, the armourer pulled up the handle of the palletiser which he had fixed a windsurfer sail. The Herc crew applied reverse thrust, the sail caught the prop wash and the palletiser with armourer shot off across the pan. The crew stopped, drove back on to the bay and waved the armourer back for a second go. Told us later that they couldn't taxy as they were crying with laughter.....
St Patricks night - pooteen appeared from the Herc det for a BBQ. Every one ate and were ready to leave before the Canadians humongous steaks were ready to be eaten.
Indian night in the hotel when the GE and Eng(?) took over the kitchen and produced a 3 course curry for the det. Remember the Herc Capt coming back from the toilets with some paper hanging out of his trousers...good laugh till a TCW bloke set it alight.
Building a load of 4 pallets....being asked by the loadie (Ade D* Cr*s) what was the load as it was very light....4 x pallets of tampax...."You mean to say we are risking our lives for tampax!!!"
Seeing the armourer positioning a palletiser in front of the Herc. He came back on start up with an old style head set, jacket, scarf and proceeded to kick the tyres on the palletiser. The Herc would be nose in so have to reverse out of the bay. As the reverse thrust was applied, the armourer pulled up the handle of the palletiser which he had fixed a windsurfer sail. The Herc crew applied reverse thrust, the sail caught the prop wash and the palletiser with armourer shot off across the pan. The crew stopped, drove back on to the bay and waved the armourer back for a second go. Told us later that they couldn't taxy as they were crying with laughter.....
St Patricks night - pooteen appeared from the Herc det for a BBQ. Every one ate and were ready to leave before the Canadians humongous steaks were ready to be eaten.
November 4,
Sir, you truly did that detachment. What a hoot it was. I can add the Norwegian crews, crew changeovers, roll mop herrings of various kinds and never ending quantity , taken with a humongous drink that tasted like "grappa"(I can never remember the name of it). I have to say, the Canucks were a great bunch of blokes and from an engineering point of view, were very in to reciprocal assistance. Despite the frivolity, that we seem to have enjoyed "off duty", the actual work was always carried out with total professionalism. Your load of Tampax reminds me of my sending a signal to OC Eng at Lyneham asking if he was comfortable in our flying loads of leaking bags of rock salt, to de ice the roads in Sarajevo. In an aircraft that seemed to have corrosion designed in to it, it just seemed wierd that we would do that. The Canadians, US and Norwegians had all refused to carry it. I never received a reply, but I did receive a "one way discussion" with the man himself on return from the det ( along the lines of "just do as you are told Chief, thinking is for real people"). Not the first time, and not the last. Anyway digression from thread could lead to further mutterings from "higher" authority. If nothing else the demise of the K is bringing out some great memories.
Best regards
Smudge
Sir, you truly did that detachment. What a hoot it was. I can add the Norwegian crews, crew changeovers, roll mop herrings of various kinds and never ending quantity , taken with a humongous drink that tasted like "grappa"(I can never remember the name of it). I have to say, the Canucks were a great bunch of blokes and from an engineering point of view, were very in to reciprocal assistance. Despite the frivolity, that we seem to have enjoyed "off duty", the actual work was always carried out with total professionalism. Your load of Tampax reminds me of my sending a signal to OC Eng at Lyneham asking if he was comfortable in our flying loads of leaking bags of rock salt, to de ice the roads in Sarajevo. In an aircraft that seemed to have corrosion designed in to it, it just seemed wierd that we would do that. The Canadians, US and Norwegians had all refused to carry it. I never received a reply, but I did receive a "one way discussion" with the man himself on return from the det ( along the lines of "just do as you are told Chief, thinking is for real people"). Not the first time, and not the last. Anyway digression from thread could lead to further mutterings from "higher" authority. If nothing else the demise of the K is bringing out some great memories.
Best regards
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 20th Jul 2013 at 23:33.