RAF F4 Phantom in the 70's
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Glad to see you've still got 20/20 there Courtney 
Mind you 12 in ... the Nav's left his Mars Bar on the seat pan
Mind you 12 in ... the Nav's left his Mars Bar on the seat pan
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 26th Aug 2013 at 16:35.
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431 Wildenrath accident
The 431 accident and subsequent Board of Inquiry report was part of the SNCO management course (late '70's RAF Newton), including the flight safety film mentioned. The film was played up to the point of ejection then a discussion took place on the lead up to the accident, after which the BoI report was discussed. I seem to remember that the board noted that the ejection(s) had been premature, The crew had "flown" a sim sortie that included an ejection whilst a jet was being prepped for them (their original jet, which had hydraulic wing fold had gone down in the morning), so the board thought they were "primed" for an ejection. As our discussions were ongoing the Ch Tech instructor asked the Flt Sgt Painter sitting next to me why he wasn't contributing, to which he replied along the lines of " If you care to look at the BoI's list of witnesses you will see my name, I saw the whole thing from the side of the runway"
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Phantom QRA vid. Wow I had forgotten all about that. We must have done the scramble about half a dozen times, what with knocking the camera over at least once. and all you saw was the top of my head strapping the driver in.
Happy Days!!!
Happy Days!!!
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Yes, that shot was taken a couple of days before 74 Squadron disbanded, they put-up a formation for some happy snaps, off the starboard parachute door of a Hercules:-
The tail codes do spell "Tigers" but I'm afraid my slide scan isn't all that good- sorry!
The nose-on shot was taken en-route back to Wattisham - one of the guys decided to formate on the Hercules ramp, but most of the dimwit press photographers on board had gone to settle into their seats for landing by that stage, so I think I was only one of a couple or so guys who actually got the nose-on shots
The tail codes do spell "Tigers" but I'm afraid my slide scan isn't all that good- sorry!
The nose-on shot was taken en-route back to Wattisham - one of the guys decided to formate on the Hercules ramp, but most of the dimwit press photographers on board had gone to settle into their seats for landing by that stage, so I think I was only one of a couple or so guys who actually got the nose-on shots
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Originally Posted by fantom
Flaps and close; following a Herc?
Peter R Foster took some excellent shots which you can see here- Aircraft in action the pre-digital years - a set on Flickr
-RP
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Speaking of outer wings, I believe it was XV405 which crashed when an outer wing folded and detached in flight?
As I recall it, and it was a long time ago, the pilot managed managed to regain control after the wing separated and could maintain straight and level flight, albeit at high speed. He asked for advice as to whether he should do a low speed check and the Duty Pilot in the tower suggested he should see how it handled flaps down.
The obliging pilot selected flaps down..... and had a HYD failure as all the fluid poured out of the severed pipes at the end of wing; at which control was lost and they ejected.
Again, IIRC, the pilot was subsequently found at fault for attempting to lower the flaps, since he was the aircraft captain and the DP should have been ignored.
As I recall it, and it was a long time ago, the pilot managed managed to regain control after the wing separated and could maintain straight and level flight, albeit at high speed. He asked for advice as to whether he should do a low speed check and the Duty Pilot in the tower suggested he should see how it handled flaps down.
The obliging pilot selected flaps down..... and had a HYD failure as all the fluid poured out of the severed pipes at the end of wing; at which control was lost and they ejected.
Again, IIRC, the pilot was subsequently found at fault for attempting to lower the flaps, since he was the aircraft captain and the DP should have been ignored.
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Cheap camera held at arms' length by the hose on a HercDet C-130K, Stanley, Summer 83.
F-4 being flown by the Stn Cdr, then Gp Capt Mike Graydon, who went on to greater things.
F-4 being flown by the Stn Cdr, then Gp Capt Mike Graydon, who went on to greater things.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I have a DVD copy of a VHS tape obtained from an LU nav many years ago. He liked filming and it's mainly air to air QRA but also has F4s in the Falklands and a C130 trip to South Georgia for an air mail drop. Falklands/SG audio track is, I think, Fingal's Cave
Don't remember his name to ask, so I don't think I can put it up on youtube, but I can run a copy off if requested. I have another from Mount Alice with various F4/Measles Rock fly-bys, (and no, it doesn't have the infamous F4 hill climb. That was deliberately omitted).
Don't remember his name to ask, so I don't think I can put it up on youtube, but I can run a copy off if requested. I have another from Mount Alice with various F4/Measles Rock fly-bys, (and no, it doesn't have the infamous F4 hill climb. That was deliberately omitted).
I've been on several courses where the Cranwell graduation F-4 flypast is mentioned in hushed tones. Allegedly there is a video recording but no-one ever seems to have seen it. Does it exist?
Gentleman Aviator
There certainly is a video of the Cranwell "flypast". It used to be shown at Flying Supervisors' and/or Flight Safety Courses. Seen it myself a coupla times. 
Lots of Mums' (and Cadets') hats all over the shop!
Lots of Mums' (and Cadets') hats all over the shop!
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MPN11, that was the standard jolly shot, a lot of the folk got down there, when they got a flight on the Herc. I never got one, as the loadie wouldn't let me anywhere near the hole to get any pics.
Still a great flight though.
Still a great flight though.
Last edited by Dan Gerous; 3rd Sep 2013 at 11:15.
There certainly is a video of the Cranwell "flypast"
I was e-mailed a copy by a friend
which I used to able to play on my old PC and as teeteringhead has said there were hats all over the place....
unfortunately due to IT issues i.e. new machine and windows 8
I can't play/open the darn thing at the moment...give me time, I'll see what I can do.
Last edited by wiggy; 4th Sep 2013 at 21:09.
