Your best moment in the military.
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Canada
Age: 77
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ref post 25 &37- better that than " rh generator out, bus-tie-in-the-open-position-when-flying-at-night" at which gnd school instructor taps blackboard. (hint- its an exam question...)
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No stick no vote.
. Bearing in mind of course that a lot of the OCU jobs were twin stick. In fact I remember one of the US exchange instructors having to take control from the back when one of the studes pulled a ludicrous amount of G and his brain went sleepys. (did the F4 tuck when dropping back below Mach 1? Seem to remember he was pulling hard anyway and went subsonic.) Just remembered another top moment for me. I was running around on one of those 'He might be officer stuff' courses that my boss got me onto. I used to like that sort of thing bizzarely enough. I had to lead a bunch of guys across Exmoor with some captured radar kit (a food box...) to rendevous with a Puma at a precise time at the top of a hill while avoiding capture by people who were of the capturing ilk. I did all the right stuff in the right order and as we hobbled and limped up to the top of this hill my heart was sinking by the moment as there was no sign of Puma shaped things, when...just like a scene from a war film this gorgeous bloody Puma appeared right on the dot from the other side of the hill and landed about 50 ft in front of me. We were bang on time and so was he. Absolute buzz city. Then he flew NOTE back to Bideford and dropped us off. Glowed for days after that.
Incidentally on the same course I did a beach assault from a landing craft (proper big job with the door that goes splash) and bearing in mind I was ultra fit and wearing only a light pack and carrying an SLR I was absolutely knackered by the time I got to the beach. I understand now how those poor buggers in Normandy drowned by the bus load.
It's a toss up.
First solo or beating a lot of very stiff competition to the Stn Cdr's daughter (no pun intended!). Being told I would never be a Fighter Controller comes in at a pretty close third!
Oh and MPN11, I wouldn't worry too much about your scroll, the signatures on mine weren't even signed in ink, merely printed on a pretty rubbish 90s printer.
First solo or beating a lot of very stiff competition to the Stn Cdr's daughter (no pun intended!). Being told I would never be a Fighter Controller comes in at a pretty close third!
Oh and MPN11, I wouldn't worry too much about your scroll, the signatures on mine weren't even signed in ink, merely printed on a pretty rubbish 90s printer.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After 8 years in a ground job - the award of a brevet was the day for me. Ive had the FJ rides, saved lives, and had a crap day at Lockerbie, but a flying badge is for life. Or at least for the 125 working days I have left to do. Walking out of the gate at that time may not rank anywhere near the 'best', but it will be special - after 37 years.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Or at least for the 125 working days I have left to do.
. Seriously best of luck to the big G. But your landings are still ****...
After 8 years in a ground job - the award of a brevet was the day for me. Ive had the FJ rides, saved lives, and had a crap day at Lockerbie, but a flying badge is for life. Or at least for the 125 working days I have left to do. Walking out of the gate at that time may not rank anywhere near the 'best', but it will be special - after 37 years.
To digress slightly from the pointy side, I did a trip out to California as a GE, mid GW1. I had never been anywhere near LA before (and was unlikely to again). Our task was to pick up some new variant Sidewinders as I remember. On arrival the Flight Eng gave me a few snags, but we had a 16 hour ground time and I thought around 4 hours should see me at the hotel. When the crew turned up to fly the next morning, I had just completed my tour of the base, trying to find the correct bleed air clamp to replace the broken one on our aircraft. Having fitted it, the Eng did the GTC run so that I could leak check the joint. In the process a huge wasp like thing decided to bite my arm. Moving on, we landed at Offutt AFB for a refuel en route to Gander. I awake from a slumber in my hammock with an arm looking like "the hulk" and being very "non compus mentis". The Nav took me to the flight surgeon who promptly grounded me. Now we come to a best moment in the military. The Captain spoke to Fatcock (ATFOC) and suggested leaving me at Offutt, there was bound to be a passing GE available at Gander, or the Flight Eng could do the flight servicing and refuel. Fatcock said no, stay with your GE, 24 hour delay we will instruct you further.
For once I took no part in the delights of night stopping "downtown USA" according to the crew, having sampled it, Offutt was the pits anyway (respects to ex V bomber crews). Next day the Flight Surgeon said I was clear to travel as a passenger ('twas ever thus) and we awaited orders. Flag Goose bay for Lyneham, was the plan from the heroes of Fatcock which put us back around 10 hours behind the original ETA. Now, why is this my best moment in the military ? On arrival back at Lyneham, we all went to the Bowl and had a few beers, I was very happy to buy the guys a beer for managing to hang on for me, waiting for the next ride home could have been purgatory. The lads though pointed out that I had done a none stop 34 hour work stint leading up to take off from Travis AFB. They felt I had done a good job, and that to me was a serious compliment from professional people who themselves took the rough with the smooth. To top it off they had a tee shirt printed up "I went to LA and never got there", a laugh for all involved. Sorry if it sounds sentimental, I have a great affection for my time as a GE which encompassed around a quarter of my service career.
Smudge
For once I took no part in the delights of night stopping "downtown USA" according to the crew, having sampled it, Offutt was the pits anyway (respects to ex V bomber crews). Next day the Flight Surgeon said I was clear to travel as a passenger ('twas ever thus) and we awaited orders. Flag Goose bay for Lyneham, was the plan from the heroes of Fatcock which put us back around 10 hours behind the original ETA. Now, why is this my best moment in the military ? On arrival back at Lyneham, we all went to the Bowl and had a few beers, I was very happy to buy the guys a beer for managing to hang on for me, waiting for the next ride home could have been purgatory. The lads though pointed out that I had done a none stop 34 hour work stint leading up to take off from Travis AFB. They felt I had done a good job, and that to me was a serious compliment from professional people who themselves took the rough with the smooth. To top it off they had a tee shirt printed up "I went to LA and never got there", a laugh for all involved. Sorry if it sounds sentimental, I have a great affection for my time as a GE which encompassed around a quarter of my service career.
Smudge
My best moments...
Winning the Sassoon Flying Award as a Halton Brat
Canberra T4 trip with 'Dusty' the 'trapper' on 231ocu
Lancaster ride (BA posn) with Jacko (Abingdon - 3 displays - coningsby)
Many engineering challenges over the last 40 odd years - been a civvy for 31 years and still working on RAF jets : )
Winning the Sassoon Flying Award as a Halton Brat
Canberra T4 trip with 'Dusty' the 'trapper' on 231ocu
Lancaster ride (BA posn) with Jacko (Abingdon - 3 displays - coningsby)
Many engineering challenges over the last 40 odd years - been a civvy for 31 years and still working on RAF jets : )
Difficult to decide on a 'best'.
Going forward to observe an advance under a creeping barrage. As the HE shells from our regiment warbled overhead we looked forward and down upon the PBI crawling under live tracer fire from fixed MG positions. "Sod that!" I thought, and resolved never to become directly involved with infantry warfare.
Being given a little JP4 to play with. Trying, and failing, to perform an outside square loop. Stall turns ('Avalanches' for the Europeans). Generally chucking an indestructible little jet around the sky.
Social events various
I then went on to transport support and then electronic Argosies which was interesting but not stunningly amusing.
Final vote has to be playing with the little jet. No-one but a mil student pilot gets a go at that - totally FOC. Thank you Kruschev, Kennedy and the British taxpayer
Edit to mention a Yorkshire friend and colleague's reply when his flight commander asked what he was going to do when he left the RAF: "Cartwheels, up the A1!"
(I know you're reading this
)
Going forward to observe an advance under a creeping barrage. As the HE shells from our regiment warbled overhead we looked forward and down upon the PBI crawling under live tracer fire from fixed MG positions. "Sod that!" I thought, and resolved never to become directly involved with infantry warfare.
Being given a little JP4 to play with. Trying, and failing, to perform an outside square loop. Stall turns ('Avalanches' for the Europeans). Generally chucking an indestructible little jet around the sky.
Social events various
I then went on to transport support and then electronic Argosies which was interesting but not stunningly amusing.
Final vote has to be playing with the little jet. No-one but a mil student pilot gets a go at that - totally FOC. Thank you Kruschev, Kennedy and the British taxpayer
Edit to mention a Yorkshire friend and colleague's reply when his flight commander asked what he was going to do when he left the RAF: "Cartwheels, up the A1!"
(I know you're reading this
)
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Swinton
Age: 35
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
. . . Best moment? . . . walking away from the vectored thrust thing for the final time after 19 years of Shennigans, looking over my shoulder and thinking, "thank f*ck I did it kill myself in that".
In no particular order
Being awarded my wings
Having a pair of F4s flying same way, same day with my Chinook
Carrying USL to and from MV St Brandon
Flood relief
Snow relief
Doing the Cresta Run in the Falklands...you need to be helicopter aircrew of a certain vintage to appreciate that one
Getting a guided tour of Babylon by Saddam Hussein's archeologist
3 years on exchange
Flying along the beaches of the Côte d'Azur at 50'
Any mountain flying
Flying in dreadful weather
Carrying loads that were heavier than my aircraft
Fighter affiliation....or whatever it's called these days
Flying 3 heads of state, a PM and a 5* in the back of my cab
Flying in Afghanistan
Preventing studes from being chopped by giving them some instruction instead of just assessing them
Coming close, but never actually having a major incident
Working with some of the best people I could ever have hoped to meet
To be honest scores more will come to mind once I press send....no question, SH aircrew has been the place to be for the last 30 years (and if you were very lucky you got to fly the best SH platform of them all...by a country mile!!!)
Being awarded my wings
Having a pair of F4s flying same way, same day with my Chinook
Carrying USL to and from MV St Brandon
Flood relief
Snow relief
Doing the Cresta Run in the Falklands...you need to be helicopter aircrew of a certain vintage to appreciate that one
Getting a guided tour of Babylon by Saddam Hussein's archeologist
3 years on exchange
Flying along the beaches of the Côte d'Azur at 50'
Any mountain flying
Flying in dreadful weather
Carrying loads that were heavier than my aircraft
Fighter affiliation....or whatever it's called these days
Flying 3 heads of state, a PM and a 5* in the back of my cab
Flying in Afghanistan
Preventing studes from being chopped by giving them some instruction instead of just assessing them
Coming close, but never actually having a major incident
Working with some of the best people I could ever have hoped to meet
To be honest scores more will come to mind once I press send....no question, SH aircrew has been the place to be for the last 30 years (and if you were very lucky you got to fly the best SH platform of them all...by a country mile!!!)
. . . Best moment? . . . walking away from the vectored thrust thing for the final time after 19 years of Shennigans, looking over my shoulder and thinking, "thank f*ck I did it kill myself in that".
Lancaster ride (BA posn) with Jacko (Abingdon - 3 displays - coningsby)
Sorry about the thread drift.
Yes I believe he was Ken (KR) Jackson...he was ok with me - but then again he was an ex brat as well ; ).
He certainly gave the young Nav a hard time during my 2.20 hrs of 4 merlin bliss...it was a chance in a million thanks to a weather diversion and spare seat due to dropping off a techie somewhere else...and I certainly was not about to let it go
rgds LR
- but then again he was an ex brat as well ; ).He certainly gave the young Nav a hard time during my 2.20 hrs of 4 merlin bliss...it was a chance in a million thanks to a weather diversion and spare seat due to dropping off a techie somewhere else...and I certainly was not about to let it go
rgds LR
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 59°09N 002°38W (IATA: SOY, ICAO: EGER)
Age: 80
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Being half of the FAC team that won the FAC phase of "Bulls Eye 69" in Denmark, beating the other NATO teams (including the Danish FAC who set fire to his own truck). Have still got the cigarette lighter that was my "prize".
Thanks to FltLt Peter Maillard who did most of the work.
High spot was having General Darling (yes, that was his name) appear on the hillside in his British Warm and complementing us on going tactical, unaware that the only reason we had gone on foot was that our Land Rover was bogged down a couple of miles back
Thanks to FltLt Peter Maillard who did most of the work.
High spot was having General Darling (yes, that was his name) appear on the hillside in his British Warm and complementing us on going tactical, unaware that the only reason we had gone on foot was that our Land Rover was bogged down a couple of miles back
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,150
Received 3,008 Likes
on
1,273 Posts
Oddly enough not any of the flying I did,
My lasting memories are of Brize Norton LSS night shifts, looking out over the Tens majestically protruding out from the early morning mist, those still quiet mornings, a chill in the air, dew on the ground and gin clear blue skies as dawn comes up and the station appeared to start to come alive with the sound of a Houchin starting in the distance.....
Perfection..
My lasting memories are of Brize Norton LSS night shifts, looking out over the Tens majestically protruding out from the early morning mist, those still quiet mornings, a chill in the air, dew on the ground and gin clear blue skies as dawn comes up and the station appeared to start to come alive with the sound of a Houchin starting in the distance.....
Perfection..
Yes I believe he was Ken (KR) Jackson...he was ok with me - but then again he was an ex brat as well ; ).
He certainly gave the young Nav a hard time during my 2.20 hrs of 4 merlin bliss...it was a chance in a million thanks to a weather diversion and spare seat due to dropping off a techie somewhere else...and I certainly was not about to let it go
rgds LR
He certainly gave the young Nav a hard time during my 2.20 hrs of 4 merlin bliss...it was a chance in a million thanks to a weather diversion and spare seat due to dropping off a techie somewhere else...and I certainly was not about to let it go
rgds LR
Best
MD