Apocryphal Tales
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I've a feeling this is actually true but then again, it may not be.
Baz Lennon was doing a display work up at Binbrook in an F3 (Lightning that is) and did a spectacular finale by burying the jet in the ground, departing courtesy of MB. We all applauded this stunning piece of showmanship. All that bit is true. Now the maybe not true bit. On being carted off to the med centre-he was OK by the way-he rang up the LTF boss and said 'That one's U/S sir, can I have another one?'
Baz Lennon was doing a display work up at Binbrook in an F3 (Lightning that is) and did a spectacular finale by burying the jet in the ground, departing courtesy of MB. We all applauded this stunning piece of showmanship. All that bit is true. Now the maybe not true bit. On being carted off to the med centre-he was OK by the way-he rang up the LTF boss and said 'That one's U/S sir, can I have another one?'
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Back in the days of yore at Kinloss, . . .Now the toilet in the Nimrod is forward,opposite the front entrance door, with the door opening onto the passageway to the flight deck. If pax needed to use the loo they generally approached from the Tac area,past the beam window seats and the rear face of the toilet wall. Attached to the rear face of the toilet wall was a small aluminium grill, for ventilation, and by happenstance it looked straight into the mirror,above the sink and opposite the pedestal.
'twas a GSU ride and the AEO trapper went in to the loo. The GSU AEO then found himself locked in the loo but had neglected to take his headset with him and was unable to raise the alarm
KS and Smuj ,actually we were going to put the GEs in black bin bags,as female baggage.....I`ve still got the photos of Sheik Yawad
ps anyone want a large white nightshirt,hat and scarf.....hardly worn...but easier than AR5kit.....
ps anyone want a large white nightshirt,hat and scarf.....hardly worn...but easier than AR5kit.....
Sycamore,
Not sure about the bin bags, but I would love a copy of any photos you may have. SWMBO doesn't believe me to this day that we did it, and no jail time. Go on, I'm the GE/Sheikh Yahwad guard to the right of the flight deck steps. Lets see it.
Smudge
Not sure about the bin bags, but I would love a copy of any photos you may have. SWMBO doesn't believe me to this day that we did it, and no jail time. Go on, I'm the GE/Sheikh Yahwad guard to the right of the flight deck steps. Lets see it.
Smudge
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RAF Regiment instructing 16 year old Boy Entrants in 1959 at Cosford. First Aid course in the large hangars with wooden screens seperating different classes/courses. Half way through a first aid course a Regiment corporal bursts through the wooden screen, face made up to look deathly white and hand clasped to his heart. We were supposed to sit there stunned whilst the instructor berated us for inaction. Unfortunately one of the 16 year old Boy Entrants was a qualified St John first aider and took the scenario for real - whipped out his trusty penknife and used it to loosen the said Regiment corporal's battledress blouse, shirt, collar, vest and tie before commencing mouth to mouth resuscitation. Cue cries of outrage from the "casualty" who now has to acquire a new battledress blouse, shirt & vest!
You will all be able to correct me on this, but didn't 'sheikh yawahd' also have a certificate of sanity, or something daft like that, after an incident earlier in his career? Where is he now?
The AVTUR doesn't burn incident is true. It happened, as said, at Detmold in the early 80s. The match wasn't thrown into the tank, but into a pool of fuel on the pan. As we know it can be difficult to light, but this was on a warm summers day, so up it went. The culprit's name was Brayne. Mine sounds the same, so when I was posted in following my pilot's course, they thought it was him returning.
Baz Lennon was doing a display work up at Binbrook in an F3 (Lightning that is) and did a spectacular finale by burying the jet in the ground, departing courtesy of MB. We all applauded this stunning piece of showmanship. All that bit is true. Now the maybe not true bit. On being carted off to the med centre-he was OK by the way-he rang up the LTF boss and said 'That one's U/S sir, can I have another one?'
Or the comment from an aircraft ( allegedly a Hercules) holding after a Lightning performing at an air display went in:
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"Well, that's show business"
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"Well, that's show business"
The match wasn't thrown into the tank, but into a pool of fuel on the pan. As we know it can be difficult to light, but this was on a warm summers day, so up it went.
There was also the stunt of (quickly) putting out a match in a bucket of AVGAS.....
Allegedly the theory is that the petrol suffocates the flame before the air mix is achieved.
No , I haven't seen it done either.....(but I know a man who claims he did
)
AirTroopers on a fire awareness course are shown the old 'lit match into a bucket of AVTAG, goes out' thing.
Next day, one of the previous days students is refuelling a Scout.
Says to chum "this stuff don't even burn, I'll show you".
Flips open Skite fuel cap and chucks match in.
Whoomph!
Scratch on Scout.
Final bit of the story, A/Tprs name was P. Brayne.
It can't be true, surely?
Next day, one of the previous days students is refuelling a Scout.
Says to chum "this stuff don't even burn, I'll show you".
Flips open Skite fuel cap and chucks match in.
Whoomph!
Scratch on Scout.
Final bit of the story, A/Tprs name was P. Brayne.
It can't be true, surely?
Pat subsequently returned to his home-town, and joined the Fire Brigade, while Bill went on enjoy a successful career and retired as a WO2 (AQMS).
This tall tale deserves a mention even if its not linked directly to flying. I remember reading this in the 90's, then believed true, but now a myth apparently. Arizona Highway Patrol came across what they thought was a plane crash into a mountain side. Checks revealed no aircraft reported missing. They then discovered that the wreckage was that of a mangled car. Turns out the deceased driver was an x USAF Sergeant who had fitted rocket boosters to his car. It was estimated that the car had impacted the mountain at 250-300mph. The brakes were supposedly welded together as an attempt to stop said car took place. There was wasn't much left of the poor driver. The story is however a myth!
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Germany 1973. We hosted a flight of Norwegian F5's for a week exchange. At the end we waved goodbye in the morning and early that afternoon had a call saying one of the aircraft had crashed about 16nm short of its base. The pilot had done the MB let-down and survived without any injuries.
The BoI was going to be easy as it was found he had not fuelled his ferry tank but had used it to transport his duty free spirits.....
The BoI was going to be easy as it was found he had not fuelled his ferry tank but had used it to transport his duty free spirits.....
Sooty the glove puppet Army Air Corps pilot?
Back in the early 90s I was based at Netheravon and was told that a REME WO2 technician (who was on 658 at that time) had previously been a Gazelle or Scout pilot, but used to have a party piece which got him into a bit of trouble… its seems he used to fly with a glove puppet of ‘Sooty’ (of Sooty & Sweep fame) who he used to ‘let fly the aircraft’… On one occasion (I was told it was during GW1), Sooty was having a bit of an ‘off day’ and lost control of the aircraft whilst in the hover… clue one rather bent helicopter and one WO2 stripped of his wings. I think Sooty might have been retired at that point too!
Anyone confirm this?
Anyone confirm this?
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Akrotiri mid '60's . Javelin overhead ready to join circuit when canopy disintegrates. With debris flying everywhere, pilot says to nav. 'if we have to, can you eject?' Nav only hears key word 'eject' and bangs out. As he floats gently down into Episkopi bay he sees the a/c make a perfect touchdown. He was picked up very quickly by a chopper. BoI recommends the word 'eject' is only to be used as a command.
Haraka my late uncle was an AEOp in a Victor that was holding whilst a Lightning took off to display before them, it went straight up and then straight down, think something similarly uncharitable was mentioned at the time.
rolling20 Think there's a very similar Darwin award tale of a chap, who wanting more speed from his car, decided to fit JATO packs..
rolling20 Think there's a very similar Darwin award tale of a chap, who wanting more speed from his car, decided to fit JATO packs..