Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
AA62,
A Loadie I might take issue with, his wife never !!
A quick story on prop parking. I am reliably informed that at Lyneham in the late seventies two ground servicing entities existed ALSS and BLSS. ALSS parked their props in a cruciform pattern, No1 blade at the top. BLSS, always wanting to emphasise the difference between them and their ALSS brethren, parked their props "the Cosford way"! A newly arrived OC Eng Wing looked from his office one morning then asked his deputies why the mixed parking looked such a mess with the props "higgledy piggledy" (it wouldn't have looked so bad if the aircraft of A & B LSS had been parked adjacent to each other)? On explaining "Le difference" between A & B he ordered that he had no care for that, but, all propellers should be parked in a standard way, so as to make the ASP look more uniform. As OC ALSS was the senior Squadron Leader, the ALSS method prevailed at Lyneham, and certainly did when I was posted to ALSS around 1986. Despite my, and others reasoning, of why the No1 blade should be parked at TDC, it appears that it came down to seniority in rank, as a choice, at Lyneham.
Dougie M, Only 50 beer mugs, that will have taken a few minutes then
Teej. Some good stuff on that short vid, the marching at Swinderby gave me a few shudders though! Even though I was a Halton Brat.
I'm away for a couple of weeks guys, I may have a little access to the interweb, but keep putting the pictures and stories up, it matters.
Smudge
A Loadie I might take issue with, his wife never !!
A quick story on prop parking. I am reliably informed that at Lyneham in the late seventies two ground servicing entities existed ALSS and BLSS. ALSS parked their props in a cruciform pattern, No1 blade at the top. BLSS, always wanting to emphasise the difference between them and their ALSS brethren, parked their props "the Cosford way"! A newly arrived OC Eng Wing looked from his office one morning then asked his deputies why the mixed parking looked such a mess with the props "higgledy piggledy" (it wouldn't have looked so bad if the aircraft of A & B LSS had been parked adjacent to each other)? On explaining "Le difference" between A & B he ordered that he had no care for that, but, all propellers should be parked in a standard way, so as to make the ASP look more uniform. As OC ALSS was the senior Squadron Leader, the ALSS method prevailed at Lyneham, and certainly did when I was posted to ALSS around 1986. Despite my, and others reasoning, of why the No1 blade should be parked at TDC, it appears that it came down to seniority in rank, as a choice, at Lyneham.
Dougie M, Only 50 beer mugs, that will have taken a few minutes then
Teej. Some good stuff on that short vid, the marching at Swinderby gave me a few shudders though! Even though I was a Halton Brat.
I'm away for a couple of weeks guys, I may have a little access to the interweb, but keep putting the pictures and stories up, it matters.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 5th Jan 2015 at 22:46. Reason: Notice of absence (leave request) !!!!!!!!
Pic taken at a Shoreham Airshow. 30 Sqn used to take a 'K' there and sell Benevolent Fund items as the public boarded the a/c for a walkround.
Due to the space taken up by the Herc it had to be in position early as a lot of other exhibits were placed adjacent to it.
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Good to see the Thread is still going strong
I was Googling RAF Albert the other day and got a bit sidetracked (as you do sometimes
) and stumbled across references to RAF Hercules Call Signs used by the Lyneham Transport Wing. Not just the usual Ascot 4000, 5000 and RAFAIR series.
That got me thinking ... maybe some of these Call Signs might jog a few more memories ... which might then prompt a few more stories to tell
Clearly ... as this is a public forum ... some ops will need to remain discrete.
As an aside ... I can only assume that the guy (who seems to be based in the Netherlands) who compiled this list also has a passion for car registration plates and/or train numbers
The Guide's Internet Callsign list - United Kingdom (GB)
Anyway ...
A few that caught my eye ... ELVIS, GUINNESS and STARTREK
SNOOPY is an easy one ... and I assume CIRCUS is likely to relate to support for the RAFAT.
There are some 40 other Call Signs attributed to RAF Albert on the list
Pictures
For those PPRuNe members who are possibly regular visitors to this Thread but are uncertain as to how to post pictures and would like to contribute ... please drop me a PM to make contact ... I'm only too pleased to help
Best regards ...
Coff.
I was Googling RAF Albert the other day and got a bit sidetracked (as you do sometimes
) and stumbled across references to RAF Hercules Call Signs used by the Lyneham Transport Wing. Not just the usual Ascot 4000, 5000 and RAFAIR series.That got me thinking ... maybe some of these Call Signs might jog a few more memories ... which might then prompt a few more stories to tell
Clearly ... as this is a public forum ... some ops will need to remain discrete.
As an aside ... I can only assume that the guy (who seems to be based in the Netherlands) who compiled this list also has a passion for car registration plates and/or train numbers
The Guide's Internet Callsign list - United Kingdom (GB)
Anyway ...
A few that caught my eye ... ELVIS, GUINNESS and STARTREK
SNOOPY is an easy one ... and I assume CIRCUS is likely to relate to support for the RAFAT.
There are some 40 other Call Signs attributed to RAF Albert on the list
Pictures
For those PPRuNe members who are possibly regular visitors to this Thread but are uncertain as to how to post pictures and would like to contribute ... please drop me a PM to make contact ... I'm only too pleased to help
Best regards ...
Coff.
Coff,
STARTREK was a 70 Sqdn Callsign for a Scottac formation as I recall. GUINNESS would relate to 47SF I suspect, considering their usual "après luft" lubricant of choice (well, certainly a particular Scots Co). I can certainly confirm that I once did a trip in the Gulf with a 47SF crew who used the callsign ALBERT 01. Off for a few days tonight, but couldn't resis a quick response. Keep it going Truckies.
Smudge
STARTREK was a 70 Sqdn Callsign for a Scottac formation as I recall. GUINNESS would relate to 47SF I suspect, considering their usual "après luft" lubricant of choice (well, certainly a particular Scots Co). I can certainly confirm that I once did a trip in the Gulf with a 47SF crew who used the callsign ALBERT 01. Off for a few days tonight, but couldn't resis a quick response. Keep it going Truckies.
Smudge
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Callsigns
All military formation callsigns for use in the U.K. had to be from an approved list which naturally was plundered by the pointy folk before slower formations got a look in. Startrek, Mallard and Snapdragon really didn't convey the idea of a small village with wings on using up several miles of airspace thundering across the U. K. at low level but that was our fate in S.T.S.
Overseas the choice was unfettered. Slipper 1 and Giver 1 raised sniggers in Southern California and the end of day call to the tower of "Elvis has left the theatre" was most righteous.
Overseas the choice was unfettered. Slipper 1 and Giver 1 raised sniggers in Southern California and the end of day call to the tower of "Elvis has left the theatre" was most righteous.
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From the early 1990s Snoopy used the call sign METMANnn when on task with nn being the captains assigned number. When in transit to go on det we occasionally used ASCOT. Still remember the selcall as AJDM.
Happy days
Happy days
Another pic of the Herc at Shoreham It is myself with my four year old grandson.
He is now nineteen and learning to fly in NZ. Where does the time go ?
We had a conducted tour of the flightdeck and he was amused to see the Co drying out his nav bag. Some things never change.
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callsigns
Coffers #2223
I think that the first ever callsign used by the 'K's was MPSL**** This was used on delivery flights from Lockheed at Marietta to Marshalls of Cambridge. The aircraft were not offically RAF property at this stage. I was lead to believe that we were operating on behalf of the Ministry of Technology.
I think that the first ever callsign used by the 'K's was MPSL**** This was used on delivery flights from Lockheed at Marietta to Marshalls of Cambridge. The aircraft were not offically RAF property at this stage. I was lead to believe that we were operating on behalf of the Ministry of Technology.
Callsigns
At the same time as we started the Banner Bs and because of the threat of IRA SAMs or gunfire on the approaches, somebody high up decided that we should start using call signs which sounded like civilian operators in the hope of fooling the opposition. The plan was to use the standard ASCOT until handover to local NI ATC then adopt the "civilian" one. The only source was the tactical call sign registry already mentioned. After we had culled the obviously useless for the subterfuge we had about 20 or so. We used those for a few weeks and then felt that another selection was needed. This time the C/S registry grumbled slightly but gave us another selection of about 40. When we went back the next time the grumble became a complaint and after we went back further it became a serious complaint direct to Gp Capt. AT/AAR that we were using them faster than they could generate them and please would we desist.
The answer was somewhat unequivocal.
The answer was somewhat unequivocal.
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Aeroid's Funny Loads
I was trawling through some old posts recalling unusual loads and thought that this might ring some old bells.
Early in 1971 I was night stopping Hong Kong from Changi when the Changi Station Commander arrives with a broken Herc. He"asked" if I could swap aircraft with him as his need to return to Changi was greater than mine. Ever mindful of pro(de)motion prospects, Form 1369 (more stars than a bottle of Martel Brandy) Pixie points(running low) I happily agreed. Fifteen - Love.
Now, Turn the clock forward and read on.
Captain Slog, Stardate July1971. Star Colony Changi. The Almighty FEAF instruct me to take Star Truck XV 203 To Star Base Lyneham, its new home.
SCC soon to close so good opportunuity to take home a few domestic items as crew baggage, Camphorwood Chest, Rattan Chairs etc. Blond haired Co-p requests that he take his Ski boat as crew baggage. Agree providing that if Star Colonies at Bahrein and Akrotiri have any freight his boat goes off first. FHC gets lucky and boat arrives at SBL. Loaders at SBL not happy with Ski boat as crew baggage. Soon Very Senior Movements Officer approaches and asks how far to SCC as it will cost us 3p per mile! Eventually peace breaks out... but not for long.
Arrive back at SCC and 48 Squadron Commander says welcome home, you are on a Unit Enquiry.Tell him have not done one before therefore not qualified. Tells me "you are not running it, you are the cause of it!" VSMO has spilt the beans. UE carried out, results passed on to SCC Station Commander. My presence requested. No mention of tea and biccies. Look for best hat, not route one, sphincture goes sixpence, half a crown, dustbin lid. SCCSC asks" How do you want to pay, cash or cheque?" then smiles and goes on to tell me of some of his exploits in Habanya in 19thingy thingy.
Mind goes back to a certain day in Hong Kong. Fifteen - All.
Never worked out how the loaders at SBL missed the box with the engine and fuel tank in it. Now that would have been tricky.
Early in 1971 I was night stopping Hong Kong from Changi when the Changi Station Commander arrives with a broken Herc. He"asked" if I could swap aircraft with him as his need to return to Changi was greater than mine. Ever mindful of pro(de)motion prospects, Form 1369 (more stars than a bottle of Martel Brandy) Pixie points(running low) I happily agreed. Fifteen - Love.
Now, Turn the clock forward and read on.
Captain Slog, Stardate July1971. Star Colony Changi. The Almighty FEAF instruct me to take Star Truck XV 203 To Star Base Lyneham, its new home.
SCC soon to close so good opportunuity to take home a few domestic items as crew baggage, Camphorwood Chest, Rattan Chairs etc. Blond haired Co-p requests that he take his Ski boat as crew baggage. Agree providing that if Star Colonies at Bahrein and Akrotiri have any freight his boat goes off first. FHC gets lucky and boat arrives at SBL. Loaders at SBL not happy with Ski boat as crew baggage. Soon Very Senior Movements Officer approaches and asks how far to SCC as it will cost us 3p per mile! Eventually peace breaks out... but not for long.
Arrive back at SCC and 48 Squadron Commander says welcome home, you are on a Unit Enquiry.Tell him have not done one before therefore not qualified. Tells me "you are not running it, you are the cause of it!" VSMO has spilt the beans. UE carried out, results passed on to SCC Station Commander. My presence requested. No mention of tea and biccies. Look for best hat, not route one, sphincture goes sixpence, half a crown, dustbin lid. SCCSC asks" How do you want to pay, cash or cheque?" then smiles and goes on to tell me of some of his exploits in Habanya in 19thingy thingy.
Mind goes back to a certain day in Hong Kong. Fifteen - All.
Never worked out how the loaders at SBL missed the box with the engine and fuel tank in it. Now that would have been tricky.