Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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Taken at MPA, sometime in the early ´90s.
Can anyone comment on those pods hanging under the wings (not the fuel ones)? could they be EW devices?
I found out that VX204 (the plane pictured) was retired and probably scrapped by 1998. Anyone got to fly it?
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MAROC pods, ESM.
Also plotted positions of all surface warships (emitting) within the visible horizon . . . (weren't allowed to talk about it until we had satellite coverage).
Also plotted positions of all surface warships (emitting) within the visible horizon . . . (weren't allowed to talk about it until we had satellite coverage).
Last edited by Brian W May; 13th Jul 2015 at 15:40.
Last time in 204 was a TX rotation in Dec 1993 to MPA via Dakar, Asi and Rio. Brought home XV 203 via Rio Asi and Banjul.
XV204
One of the original 12 operated by 48 Sqn (XV 198-209 inclusive) - it occupies 29 lines of my log book while on the squadron.
Most significant entry was when I was the nav' on the crew returning from Kathmandu on the day I became a father! One of the few trips where I can remember all the names - skipper Shaun Fielding, co' Mike Preston, Eng' Roger Bowdler and Loadie Tony Johnson. All of us except the captain suffered badly from 'Delhi belly' for a few days, such that the co' was hospitalised. So I had two reasons to visit Changi Hospital for the next week, Mike P and the future Jag Mate!
I never logged 204 again after Changi, so I guess it must have eventually been allocated to the OCU at Thorney Island.
Most significant entry was when I was the nav' on the crew returning from Kathmandu on the day I became a father! One of the few trips where I can remember all the names - skipper Shaun Fielding, co' Mike Preston, Eng' Roger Bowdler and Loadie Tony Johnson. All of us except the captain suffered badly from 'Delhi belly' for a few days, such that the co' was hospitalised. So I had two reasons to visit Changi Hospital for the next week, Mike P and the future Jag Mate!
I never logged 204 again after Changi, so I guess it must have eventually been allocated to the OCU at Thorney Island.
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Last flew on xv204 June 14th 1988 AAR TX requal with a Captain from next door 24 Sqn.
But in March 1988 flew 39 hours out of MPA including a drop to Endurance at Anvers Island.
About the same hours on 204 in April and May (Captain who used to manage Man Utd) before back to UK.
But in March 1988 flew 39 hours out of MPA including a drop to Endurance at Anvers Island.
About the same hours on 204 in April and May (Captain who used to manage Man Utd) before back to UK.
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Clearly you guys have had your logbooks out this afternoon ... 
How about another angle ... Would anyone care to have a reasoned stab at how many miles XV204 might have flown in service whilst in your collective good care (and NO I don't know the answer) ... Moon and back type distance or greater ?
Best ...
Coff.
How about another angle ... Would anyone care to have a reasoned stab at how many miles XV204 might have flown in service whilst in your collective good care (and NO I don't know the answer) ... Moon and back type distance or greater ?
Best ...
Coff.
AA62 #3425,
My records show a trip in 204 as ASCOT4916, departed Lyneham 31 Aug 93, returned 9 Sep 93. A 30 Squadron crew, using Rio de Janiero on the way down. I broke my nose surfacing in the hotel rooftop pool on the very low diving board. Our Hotel overlooked Copa Cabana beach, are my dates out ? Were you on that trip ? Or did they rotate 204 back to UK between Sep and return it in December ? Whatever, that's my last GE trip in 204. Conversely, my first ever trip as a GE was XV204, as ASCOT5808 (Carrying a Mk3 Callsign ?) on a five day Calagry trip 26 Aug 89 - 30 Aug 89. With a 24 Sqn Crew.
ASCOT4012 3-13 Feb 1990 was my only other trip on 204, 24 Sqn did the driving on that one, with Tr*v R**fe as Captain. It was his birthday on the day we did the ASI/MPA leg, and is probably the aircraft I took this from;
My records also show a detachment with a 30 Sqdn crew to ASI, doing the ASI/Recife shuffle for about three weeks ASCOT 5420 1 Nov - 19 Nov 93 XV (trembling) 222. The reason being the re surfacing of ASIs runway, precluding use by the Tristar. I well remember a real gentleman, one Sqn Ldr C***s O'b***n being at ASI on a ground tour as OC Ops I believe, during our stay. An evening spent at the Officers Mess, drinking G&Ts watching UK trident missiles being tested from somewhere in the Carribean, his invite will always be a memory for me. I think most of us realised that seeing the warheads segment (MIRV) etc made us all realise we had seen everything up to the bucket of sunshine, for real. As an aside, I managed to get a few of the transient aircraft lads to accompany me to Recife as "SVC" during our time there. No cost to Aunty Betty as they shared my accommodation at no extra cost. One of the grateful Teckies was a bit of an artist, in more ways than one
and presented me with this on my departure for Lyneham ;
It still hangs on the wall of my second bedroom, and always raises a chuckle when I see it. Did 30 have exclusive rights to MPA/ASI trips ? particularly when Brasil was involved ?
Coff,
204, from several posts did a few Lyneham/MPA trips in its day. As I accompanied the aircraft at least twice to MPA I reckon it felt like at least two orbits of the sun, with a "revitin" to Alpha Centauri! How's that for a stab in the dark ?
Smudge
My records show a trip in 204 as ASCOT4916, departed Lyneham 31 Aug 93, returned 9 Sep 93. A 30 Squadron crew, using Rio de Janiero on the way down. I broke my nose surfacing in the hotel rooftop pool on the very low diving board. Our Hotel overlooked Copa Cabana beach, are my dates out ? Were you on that trip ? Or did they rotate 204 back to UK between Sep and return it in December ? Whatever, that's my last GE trip in 204. Conversely, my first ever trip as a GE was XV204, as ASCOT5808 (Carrying a Mk3 Callsign ?) on a five day Calagry trip 26 Aug 89 - 30 Aug 89. With a 24 Sqn Crew.
ASCOT4012 3-13 Feb 1990 was my only other trip on 204, 24 Sqn did the driving on that one, with Tr*v R**fe as Captain. It was his birthday on the day we did the ASI/MPA leg, and is probably the aircraft I took this from;
My records also show a detachment with a 30 Sqdn crew to ASI, doing the ASI/Recife shuffle for about three weeks ASCOT 5420 1 Nov - 19 Nov 93 XV (trembling) 222. The reason being the re surfacing of ASIs runway, precluding use by the Tristar. I well remember a real gentleman, one Sqn Ldr C***s O'b***n being at ASI on a ground tour as OC Ops I believe, during our stay. An evening spent at the Officers Mess, drinking G&Ts watching UK trident missiles being tested from somewhere in the Carribean, his invite will always be a memory for me. I think most of us realised that seeing the warheads segment (MIRV) etc made us all realise we had seen everything up to the bucket of sunshine, for real. As an aside, I managed to get a few of the transient aircraft lads to accompany me to Recife as "SVC" during our time there. No cost to Aunty Betty as they shared my accommodation at no extra cost. One of the grateful Teckies was a bit of an artist, in more ways than one
and presented me with this on my departure for Lyneham ;It still hangs on the wall of my second bedroom, and always raises a chuckle when I see it. Did 30 have exclusive rights to MPA/ASI trips ? particularly when Brasil was involved ?
Coff,
204, from several posts did a few Lyneham/MPA trips in its day. As I accompanied the aircraft at least twice to MPA I reckon it felt like at least two orbits of the sun, with a "revitin" to Alpha Centauri! How's that for a stab in the dark ?
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 14th Jul 2015 at 21:29. Reason: Atrocious spelling
Smudge,
my log book for August 93 has a TX trip to MPA on 15th in XV303 via Porto Santo, Banjul and ASI. It does not show a return flight logged. I seem to recall there was another ALM with me so he would have operated the i/b bit if we brought another frame back.
The captain was that absolute gentleman Colin B. of ciggies fame
my log book for August 93 has a TX trip to MPA on 15th in XV303 via Porto Santo, Banjul and ASI. It does not show a return flight logged. I seem to recall there was another ALM with me so he would have operated the i/b bit if we brought another frame back.
The captain was that absolute gentleman Colin B. of ciggies fame
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Thanks Smudge
I bet the actual distance a single airframe traveled during it's service life would be staggering ... but for a total distance the entire fleet traveled over sixty years ... the mind boggles (not difficult in my case ... 'boggled mind' that is)
Best ...
Coff.
I bet the actual distance a single airframe traveled during it's service life would be staggering ... but for a total distance the entire fleet traveled over sixty years ... the mind boggles (not difficult in my case ... 'boggled mind' that is)
Best ...
Coff.
Coff,
when the first 'K' was being put up for sale some wag came up with the secondhand car dealer's description. One careful lady owner, full service history, mainly motorway miles and never raced or rallied !
when the first 'K' was being put up for sale some wag came up with the secondhand car dealer's description. One careful lady owner, full service history, mainly motorway miles and never raced or rallied !
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C***n B****r of ciggies fame : Positive Rate of Climb, Gear UP. Safe Height and Speed, Flaps UP. Cigarette LIT.
I did a trip with C**** late summertime to Reims with a bunch of Army Staff Course guys down the back. Working London Centre we hear some Delta Airlines jet come up with an American drawl: "Say Ma'am, what are all those yellow fields down there?".
Quick as a flash C**** comes back with: "They're Chinese Golf Courses!"
I did a trip with C**** late summertime to Reims with a bunch of Army Staff Course guys down the back. Working London Centre we hear some Delta Airlines jet come up with an American drawl: "Say Ma'am, what are all those yellow fields down there?".
Quick as a flash C**** comes back with: "They're Chinese Golf Courses!"
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Same Cigarette Capt, but we used to run the checks as Gear Up, Flaps up, Light Up. I used to be a smoker at the time but after flying with him, I never smoked on the flight deck again as it taught me consideration for others. I used to banish myself to squatting on the Ramp/Door next to the outflow valve, assuming no pax or bang on board.
Coff'
Back in the day (67-73' ) each airframe did about 700hrs per annum, so if 204 was scrapped in '98 and entered service in '67 it did about 20,000hours.
If it had all been route flying at 320knots TAS ( Did the RAF continue to fly at 1010 TIT ? ) then that is 6,400,000 nautical miles. But of course a lot of the flying was circuit bashing and tac' low level, the latter in my day at 190kts - so perhaps reduce the above figure by a third, a figure I have snatched out of the air, so still over 4 million miles!
Perhaps someone should check my figures - the old grey cells aren't as sharp as they were 40+ years ago!
If it had all been route flying at 320knots TAS ( Did the RAF continue to fly at 1010 TIT ? ) then that is 6,400,000 nautical miles. But of course a lot of the flying was circuit bashing and tac' low level, the latter in my day at 190kts - so perhaps reduce the above figure by a third, a figure I have snatched out of the air, so still over 4 million miles!
Perhaps someone should check my figures - the old grey cells aren't as sharp as they were 40+ years ago!
Gentleman Aviator
Moon and back type distance or greater ?
Lots more at a guess - let's do some back of fag packet stuff.
Average distance to Moon is about 385 000 Km, so there and back is 770 000 Km which is about 415 000 nm.
So even with a modest overall average speed of say 250 kts (me simple rotary pilot - just guessing to get in the right ball park and make the sums easier
), that's fewer than 2000 hours (1660 to be precise).And I'll bet the frames (not to mention lots of the crews!) have many many more than that. I understand some USAF C-130 frames have done 20 000 hrs (?), which would - on similar calculations - make 5 million nm or more than 9 million Km - or a quarter of the way to Venus at its (her?) closest.
So even with my rotary average of - say - 50 kts (all that hoverin' ye know), I've just about cracked the Moon and half way back. But of course, my nose bleeds above 1500 ft!
Edited to add:
I bow to Brian's superior sums! But we're in the same ball park.
Last edited by teeteringhead; 15th Jul 2015 at 11:06. Reason: Brian responded while I was on the calculator!!
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Cigs
As a baby co-pilot I was checked back from Norway by Mick B**he. Taxying out he lit up. Didn't know what he was doing or whether he wanted me to say anything. On the runway he just laid it across the throttle quadrant against the condition levers and away we went!
Interestingly he had been my father-in- law's pilot on Meteor nightfighters and had been his best man. Saw him in flight planning in Gutersloh a couple of years later and just to make him feel old explained that I had just married the daughter who hadn't been born when he had been best man.
Later I was in FI when the Captain of the other crew told me that I had flown Chipmunks on a holding post with his father!!!! Also had a Co-pilot in Nellis celebrating his 21st, alive for less time than I had been flying!!!!! I let him buy the drinks.
Interestingly he had been my father-in- law's pilot on Meteor nightfighters and had been his best man. Saw him in flight planning in Gutersloh a couple of years later and just to make him feel old explained that I had just married the daughter who hadn't been born when he had been best man.
Later I was in FI when the Captain of the other crew told me that I had flown Chipmunks on a holding post with his father!!!! Also had a Co-pilot in Nellis celebrating his 21st, alive for less time than I had been flying!!!!! I let him buy the drinks.
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Brian, Teeter's ... Thanks for having a go chaps
I did a few assumption based calcs using a TAS of 300Kts against speculative hours utilisation per day/month/year and came up with circa 6 million nm but I was a bit out with total length of service
Even at a speculative 4 million nm ... that's some travel (if only AirMiles could be claimed !)
Bit of fun ...
Best ...
Coff.
I did a few assumption based calcs using a TAS of 300Kts against speculative hours utilisation per day/month/year and came up with circa 6 million nm but I was a bit out with total length of service
Even at a speculative 4 million nm ... that's some travel (if only AirMiles could be claimed !)
Bit of fun ...
Best ...
Coff.
