RAF Air Engineer Branch
Fergineer,
Just to update my ancient memory, can you confirm that you may have been the. "Fergie with the beard" that I may well have enjoyed a prop change/brake unit change/air display static exhibit, and Belize LOX run (ASCOT 5070 20-27 June 93) with ? Is my memory still correct that you were the only bearded Fergie I ever met ? Or have I got the wrong Fergie ? Like Smiths, Fergies can be confusing. If it was you, what a night in the O's Mess.
Smudge
Just to update my ancient memory, can you confirm that you may have been the. "Fergie with the beard" that I may well have enjoyed a prop change/brake unit change/air display static exhibit, and Belize LOX run (ASCOT 5070 20-27 June 93) with ? Is my memory still correct that you were the only bearded Fergie I ever met ? Or have I got the wrong Fergie ? Like Smiths, Fergies can be confusing. If it was you, what a night in the O's Mess.
Smudge
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A five year tour
goudie,
You memory serves you well. When I first thought about applying in 1962,
it WAS a 5 year tour as an FE but the catch was that you had to return to your previous trade after the 5 years. To retain rank you had of course to remain current in you old trade and I thought that it was just a bit too much for me so I delayed applying for the second time until 1965 when the MOD was obvously very short of FE's.
Thanks for your remarks fergi.
The grey cells are not what they used to be and I'm trying to remember I knew you. With me - it is "what you see is what you get nowadays"
You memory serves you well. When I first thought about applying in 1962,
it WAS a 5 year tour as an FE but the catch was that you had to return to your previous trade after the 5 years. To retain rank you had of course to remain current in you old trade and I thought that it was just a bit too much for me so I delayed applying for the second time until 1965 when the MOD was obvously very short of FE's.
Thanks for your remarks fergi.
The grey cells are not what they used to be and I'm trying to remember I knew you. With me - it is "what you see is what you get nowadays"
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Air/Flight Engineer information
Hi everyone, glad to hear that there are still a number of us alive and still 'reasonably' well!
You might be interested in looking at Wikipedia under Flight Engineer, in which it credits it's information to the very comprehensive 'History of the Air Engineer' which was written by Air Engineer Flt Lt Derek Stringman back in 1963.
A copy was given to every squadron in the RAF that employed Air Engineers at the time, with a few left over that were given to special friends.
Unfortunately there is no ISBN or publisher shown in the book and so it is almost impossible to get hold of now. I have a copy, which is unfortunately un-scanable, without taking it to pieces, but if anyone knows better they are welcome to give it a go.
Regards to you all
Tony P-J
You might be interested in looking at Wikipedia under Flight Engineer, in which it credits it's information to the very comprehensive 'History of the Air Engineer' which was written by Air Engineer Flt Lt Derek Stringman back in 1963.
A copy was given to every squadron in the RAF that employed Air Engineers at the time, with a few left over that were given to special friends.
Unfortunately there is no ISBN or publisher shown in the book and so it is almost impossible to get hold of now. I have a copy, which is unfortunately un-scanable, without taking it to pieces, but if anyone knows better they are welcome to give it a go.
Regards to you all
Tony P-J
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Tony, think you may have the date wrong? Fergie and I were instructing at Finningley in 83 when copies of the book were being handed out. Unfortunately although I read it, (an excellent read) I didn't keep hold of a copy-over to you Fergie!
Chapter 11 of the book refers to activities in March 1983 in the past tense, and activities due in 1984 in the future tense.. (p108) which fits in with my memories of its "production" in late 83.... I don't think it was ever "published" in the usual sense of the word, as it was a "private printing" to pre-ordered numbers IIRC.
I have a copy right here, and also think that trying to "flatten" it to scan it would destroy the binding ..
mmm.... Fergie & Grizz "instructing" ... was that down the Salutation ??? or was Grizz still learning to run pre the "frontal lobotomy" course at Cranwell ....
I have a copy right here, and also think that trying to "flatten" it to scan it would destroy the binding ..
mmm.... Fergie & Grizz "instructing" ... was that down the Salutation ??? or was Grizz still learning to run pre the "frontal lobotomy" course at Cranwell ....
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I've just checked my copy of Derek's book (we were Sergeants together on 30 Sqn) and it hasn't got a date on it.
I have the facility to have the book stripped and possibly scanned into an electronic file.
Is there any appetite for this if I get it done?
Derek gave me my copy and there's no copyright, personally I think he'd have been happy to perpetuate its distribution.
I have the facility to have the book stripped and possibly scanned into an electronic file.
Is there any appetite for this if I get it done?
Derek gave me my copy and there's no copyright, personally I think he'd have been happy to perpetuate its distribution.
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There will be a lot of ugly fat women around the world seriously upset by the demise of the Air Eng brotherhood!
How ugly and fat are we talking about?
mj,
From my experience of several thousand hours flying with Air Eng's, the common theme west of 10W appeared to be 'go ugly early' and to 'explore the full envelope of waistline challenged women'
If you know what I mean...
P.S. Avtur refers in #12!
From my experience of several thousand hours flying with Air Eng's, the common theme west of 10W appeared to be 'go ugly early' and to 'explore the full envelope of waistline challenged women'
If you know what I mean...
P.S. Avtur refers in #12!
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Normally always let the GE have first pick, that way you could always ensure there was someone worse off than yourself, this applied to him and his poor unfortunate 