Cranwell Flypast
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Cranwell Flypast
I don't know if this has been done before as I'm new. But does any video
footage exist of a low-level flypast by two Phantoms at Cranwell in (I think)
1987?
They apparently flew very low and caused quite a stir
footage exist of a low-level flypast by two Phantoms at Cranwell in (I think)
1987?
They apparently flew very low and caused quite a stir
But does any video footage exist of a low-level flypast by two Phantoms at Cranwell....
I don't think it's in the public domain, however.
That F-4 photograph was taken at RAF St Athan, it is emphatically NOT a photo of the RAFC Cranwell graduation.
The video clip, including the poorly behaved spectators
was taken, I think, at RAF Halton?
The video clip, including the poorly behaved spectators
was taken, I think, at RAF Halton?
Avoid imitations
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I previously understood that the latter picture of the F-4 was taken at St. Athan, not Cranwell.
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There used to be a highly unofficial 'how low can you go' competition just off China Beach, between what you'd know as Monkey Mountain and Hoi An. As there are a number of tourist hotels located along this strip, the idea was to show the foreign running dogs how truly amazing we were.
AFAIK, the game is still running, albeit at a scaled down level. If you're interested, you'll need to get up early. Show's normally over by 6:30 am.
Which reminds me... rapidly putting on power close to the ground straight and level seemed to unsettle a '21 awfully, to make it want to tuck its nose. Does any amazingly talented aerodynamicist have any idea why? I alway suspected it was something to do with the CofG, but technical matters were beyond me. I just pressed buttons, moved the stick and stuffed chocolate under my mask.
AFAIK, the game is still running, albeit at a scaled down level. If you're interested, you'll need to get up early. Show's normally over by 6:30 am.
Which reminds me... rapidly putting on power close to the ground straight and level seemed to unsettle a '21 awfully, to make it want to tuck its nose. Does any amazingly talented aerodynamicist have any idea why? I alway suspected it was something to do with the CofG, but technical matters were beyond me. I just pressed buttons, moved the stick and stuffed chocolate under my mask.
Last edited by hanoijane; 16th Oct 2013 at 21:42. Reason: To add the bit about nose tuck
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That graduation clip with the whooping and whistling is definitely Halton.
Does nobody do dignified appreciation anymore?
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Does nobody do dignified appreciation anymore?
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Following the various links, how sad that the Cranwell parades are but a shadow of former times. Smartly and well done of course - but numbers of cadets? Formation flypast in graduating entry number?
Ah well....
Ah well....
Last edited by chopd95; 17th Oct 2013 at 10:21.
Gentleman Aviator
Even got a JP 9-ship at Syerston when I got my "gutter entry" Wings from a one-armed 4-star! 
But not anywhere near as low as the F-4s!
(I've seen the vid)
But not anywhere near as low as the F-4s!
(I've seen the vid)
Last edited by teeteringhead; 17th Oct 2013 at 10:53. Reason: ..on reflection, thought I should capitalise the "cloth moth"
I was the cadet in charge of No. 2 Flight of the graduation that day (be tall and a bit shouty, wave pointed stick and hope others are following duties). It was forecast to be v. gusty so chinstraps were worn down (which also countered the poor fit of quite a few SD hats - they were supplied under contract and only delivered a few days before amongst rumours that we might have to graduate in berets).
The final pass was the one that made things interesting. A large number of hats were blown off (including the cadet Parade Commander's) and one of the RAF Regt Flt Sgts picked up the first hat he saw, slapped it on the recently liberated and tousled locks of aforesaid Parade Commander such that he was appropriately dressed to give the order to march off. The slight snag was that the hat (grabbed at random from the many now redistributed around the area) was not well-matched to the cranial circumference it was now embracing and tilted forward and down to the extent that forward vision was now a fond memory.
The result was a slightly creeping-line-ahead pattern march toward CHOM with me (with a hat size too small rendering it essentially welded to my head) giving slight course corrections and a countdown to the steps.
Talking to one of my flight later, he noticed that the earlier 'full dirty' pass had the arrestor hooks down which apparently was verboten. About 20% of the graduating personnel's hats were left on the Parade Ground after we had made our way into CHOM and there was a wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Directing Staff (we heard the saluting dias was lifted - complete with understandably quite peeved Reviewing Officer - by the afterburners). My mother who was one of the spectators lost her hat (never found) but declared it all a great success having not realised that anything was actually amiss.
Happy days...
The final pass was the one that made things interesting. A large number of hats were blown off (including the cadet Parade Commander's) and one of the RAF Regt Flt Sgts picked up the first hat he saw, slapped it on the recently liberated and tousled locks of aforesaid Parade Commander such that he was appropriately dressed to give the order to march off. The slight snag was that the hat (grabbed at random from the many now redistributed around the area) was not well-matched to the cranial circumference it was now embracing and tilted forward and down to the extent that forward vision was now a fond memory.
The result was a slightly creeping-line-ahead pattern march toward CHOM with me (with a hat size too small rendering it essentially welded to my head) giving slight course corrections and a countdown to the steps.
Talking to one of my flight later, he noticed that the earlier 'full dirty' pass had the arrestor hooks down which apparently was verboten. About 20% of the graduating personnel's hats were left on the Parade Ground after we had made our way into CHOM and there was a wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Directing Staff (we heard the saluting dias was lifted - complete with understandably quite peeved Reviewing Officer - by the afterburners). My mother who was one of the spectators lost her hat (never found) but declared it all a great success having not realised that anything was actually amiss.
Happy days...
Last edited by Mal Drop; 17th Oct 2013 at 21:01.
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"and there was a wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Directing Staff (we heard the saluting dias was lifted = complete with understandably quite peeved Reviewing Officer - by the afterburners)."
I would have thought at his level, after doing so many of these types of parades that a bit of a difference would have been welcomed ?
I would have thought at his level, after doing so many of these types of parades that a bit of a difference would have been welcomed ?
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I seem to recall "the Flypast" at Cranwell, resulted post bollocking with the pilot concerned taking up the post of boss of the JP low level Nav training unit IRRC