Voyager To Falklands

[Ihadadream]

Heading way way South for a spot of work in the Falklands.
As a civvy, was wondering what to expect on the flight down from Brize to Mount Pleasant. Can't find any specs on the seating whatsoever.
s there a NAAFI if I have to checkin so early at Brize Norton?
Do the new planes have any IFE to while the 18 hours away?
Catering ? Standard box lunch with chicken drumstick?

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong place....

Thanks

[Deepest Norfolk]

When I went down years and years ago, it was proper food and films. But that was a real aeroplane, L-1011

DN

[tspark]

Have a look at the Trip Reports section on the Forums page on airliners.net - trip report on flight from Brize to Falklands on Hi-Fly A340. Hits all the spots you raised !

[lj101]

Details here;

Air Transport | RAF Voyager

RAF Voyager gives military passengers an early taste of home. Aircraft in either military or civilian configurations feature inflight entertainment with up-to-date movies shown from screens in the bulk heads above seats. Passengers are also able to stretch out down to a generous 34inch seat pitch.

[CoffmanStarter]

This might be worth a read ...

From the UK to the Falkland Islands with the Royal Air Force - FlyerTalk Forums



Although this appears to have been a Charter Flight ...

[BEagle]

What, no gristly 'Lamb Italian' and clapped out videoplayers with knackered batteries? With Pitch Black as the only movie choice?

That apart, the 216 team did at least try to make the misery of the BZN-ASI-MPA trip as painless as possible.

And they were everyone's favourite people on the trip North!

Is the MPA tanker now a 1312 Flt aircraft - or has sanity prevailed and the Voyager crews self-authorising these days?

[TheWizard]

Try here for the Brize Info RAF Brize Norton - Passengers

As for the 'tales from the crypt', don't waste your time reading what it used to be like.

The flight is about as comfortable as you would want for an 18 hour trip (refuel in ASI) in a modern wide bodied airliner, especially if your fare is being paid for you!

[Ihadadream]

Thanks for the info - obviously still too new for up to date info with Voyager with the exception of that luxurious 34" seat pitch lol.
All you had to say was it'll be fun and fake a smile.

I'll try and post an update if the benny has his internet is working.

BEagle - after 6 months in MPN, I'm sure Voyager will be like Upper Class to me when northbound!!!

[Willard Whyte]

especially if your fare is being paid for you!

It would be a little unfair to charge someone for a flight they didn't necessarily want to take, even for the raf.

[Ihadadream]

Willard, Although I am a civilian, the taxpayer is ultimately paying the airfare. I was just interested in what to expect given this has to be one of the very few destinations in the world that are served primarily by military charters.

Again, thank you for the input. I'll try and post info and photos when I get online down there.

[Warmtoast]

Passengers are also able to stretch out down to a generous 34inch seat pitch.

...and to think that when I was with 99 Sqn (Britannias) in the early 1960's standard seat pitch was 36-inches and often extended to 38-inches - that's progress for you!

[[email protected]]

The seats are comfy - more legroom than most cattle class operations - the IFE is OK, the food is average and some the hosties are easy on the eye.

Virgin Upper Class it isn't but it is far more comfortable now than it has been for many years.

Just don't come back when it is a RIC (Resident Infantry Company) changeover, my trip back in Feb was blighted by pissed squaddies (who on earth let them buy duty free?) who just gave the whole of the military a bad name. Unfortunately for their officers, there was a 3-star on board who took rather a dim view of it

MPA on the other hand is still a nightmare of petty minded SO1s and SO2s trying to make their mark in an 'operational' theatre and doing their level best to piss off the workers.

[Ihadadream]

Wow Crab - That's a first. I've been on a several long haul military charters in the US to the Mid East and back. And booze is a big no no. Even tech stops in Shannon it's basically no duty free, no drinking.

[Heathrow Harry]

which is why the wise top up to full tanks in the Beehive or the Chequers before leaving - not too much otherwise someone might turn you back but enough to induce the necessary lethargy of course

[Qfeye]

Don't forget to take your camera. Infact, don't worry if you do, I'm sure you will be able to borrow one from the flight deck crew

[BEagle]

That's SO funny, Qfeye....

In fact I haven't laughed so much since my dog died.

[Oldlae]

Get a blow-up neck cushion, there are two very long flights, UK to Ascension and Ascension to MP. Take a couple of books.

[BEagle]

I love it when a plan comes together....

216 were always prepared to go that extra mile to help out when they could...

We had to bring some soldiers back from Botswana (they had to get back asap for some reason) and it was known that ASI would be very busy (in their terms) with a VC10, a C-130J, a northbound Tommy and a southbound Timmy all due at the same time. ASI had told Arsecoat Ops that they would be pushed for accommodation, so I asked to flag ASI and overnight at Dakar. But this wasn't allowed....

Then ASI Movs decided that we would have to wait until they'd dealt with the 2 TriStars (the C-130J was no problem as it wasn't due out until much later). After much huffing and puffing, they agreed that we could go first and be out of the way before the TriStars arrived - but only if I signed something agreeing to waive the normal checks and for the pax to be bussed straight to the jet. So I checked with the senior bod in charge of the pax - who assured me that he'd make darn sure that his little angels behaved themselves as they would be only too glad to be brought straight to the aircraft.

All went as planned until the DAMO announced that she was taking one of our AT Sy Pol lads off, because she had a 'high priority' pax. Regrettably we didn't have a single spare seat, so off he came. I asked her to make sure that he was on the next available aircraft - but she just turned round and walked off saying "He can go on the Herk"....

As we launched northwards, I hear the inbound TriStar and asked him to come up on a discrete frequency. "Are you going to be seeing your Tommy colleagues? If so, could you ask them if they could take my copper on board their jet, to spare him hours in the bowels of an Albert?" "Sure thing - we'll sort that for you".

And they did. Soon after we'd QTR'd at Dakar and were on our merry way north, we heard the Tommy giving his position. Another discrete call and they told us that the AT Sy Pol lad was on board and enjoying the luxury of their wide-body jet rather than being squeezed into our 'Skoda'....the usual banter. We raced back, but the Tommy was thundering along flat out and got back to the UK first. I joined on left base as he was clearing the active, but they were first to the terminal. Apparently the AT Sy Pol copper greeted his colleagues with the words "Oh there you are - what kept you?".

So thanks, 216, for helping out - I love it when a plan comes together!