Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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Barrows
For the youngsters amongst you I believe that The Barrows flew their first practice on the 24th March 1979. We then flew 4 further shows on the 18th, 22nd, 26th and 27th April. I think that HCS and HTS provided 2 crews but I don't know about the rest. On the practice I was RHS to OC HCS, formerly my Co-p in Changi and the future Station Commander Lyneham. (Where did I go wrong...answers on a post card to...) Three of the flights involved a flypast at a passing out parade somewhere, the Freedom of the City of Swindon and the visit of HRH Princess Anne on her annual visit to Lyneham as the Commodore? of the station. I don't recall seeing them after that
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More Barrows
I lied. The "team" reappears in my log book on the 14th/16th/24th/26th/28th/29thApril 1980, the 28th was the HRH flypast. This time was RHS to M**e All***t on all 5
R4 and Aeroid,
I'm sure that I watched an impressive display at the families day, circa 87/88 given by a four ship, introduced as The Green Barrows. Was that an attempt to revive the team, or did they carry on beyond the 70s ? I know that I was so impressed that I immediately abandoned by former trade and applied to become a GE, only to find that the Barrows were not an international team, and the visions I had of four ship winter dets to Barbados for "work ups" was not to be. Ahh well, GW1 almost made up for that.
Smudge
I'm sure that I watched an impressive display at the families day, circa 87/88 given by a four ship, introduced as The Green Barrows. Was that an attempt to revive the team, or did they carry on beyond the 70s ? I know that I was so impressed that I immediately abandoned by former trade and applied to become a GE, only to find that the Barrows were not an international team, and the visions I had of four ship winter dets to Barbados for "work ups" was not to be. Ahh well, GW1 almost made up for that.
Smudge
Aeroid,
I suspect your climb up the greasy pole to stardom may have been inhibited by your individual take on the correct way to wear one's hat ! I present the above picture in evidence m'lud !
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Flypast hold off
For a flypast at Lye we went out over Bristol Channel to get some practice before flypast. Held off until time to run in. Called Lye on run in to be told to hold off as zone was closed by NOTAM! The zone was closed for us to flypast! Sharp or what?
I was stationed at Lyneham and flew with Bannerdown G C at Hullavington. We used to have to call Lyneham ATC under certain circumstances. One day I called them to say I was descending through 1500 feet to land and was told "negative, maintain present altitude".
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Lyneham Formation Team
I only participated once in the famous formation when H****d E*e needed a substitute. The South Side weren't often included. The best bit was the "Families Day Break"
Great photo there Doug, that has to be the formation I watched at a families day in the past. I assumed that it was the premier formation team, the Green Barrows, but it looks like they were the stations fly past experts. Thanks for posting this one though, superb.
Smudge
Smudge
Albert at South Sandwich Islands/Grytviken
Dante's Inferno! Fire and Ice
Reconnaissance of S. Sandwich Islands on 30 May 1990 in XV204. Flew southeast from MPA for about 1100nm to Thule, and Bellingshausen islands and then followed the chain of islands up to Zavordoski island and then on to S. Georgia. Had to fly low to maintain VFR, overwhelming scenery tracking below the cloud with icebergs and many active volcanoes searching for any Argentinian landings. 7 Harness packs dropped at Grytviken at the end of the recce. 10hrs flight. Very nice to be in a tanker a/c and have stacks of fuel for a diversion to Rio de Janeiro if Mount Pleasant Wx closed in and became unusable.
(Photos not in geographical order necessarily)
Zavodovski Island and active volcano
Zavodovski Island and active volcano
Zavodovski Island and active volcano
Entrance to Cumberland Bay and Grytviken harbour South Georgia (below)
Grytviken harbour showing wall of rock necessitating a sharp turn left after the supply drop
Reconnaissance of S. Sandwich Islands on 30 May 1990 in XV204. Flew southeast from MPA for about 1100nm to Thule, and Bellingshausen islands and then followed the chain of islands up to Zavordoski island and then on to S. Georgia. Had to fly low to maintain VFR, overwhelming scenery tracking below the cloud with icebergs and many active volcanoes searching for any Argentinian landings. 7 Harness packs dropped at Grytviken at the end of the recce. 10hrs flight. Very nice to be in a tanker a/c and have stacks of fuel for a diversion to Rio de Janeiro if Mount Pleasant Wx closed in and became unusable.
(Photos not in geographical order necessarily)
Zavodovski Island and active volcano
Zavodovski Island and active volcano
Zavodovski Island and active volcano
Entrance to Cumberland Bay and Grytviken harbour South Georgia (below)
Grytviken harbour showing wall of rock necessitating a sharp turn left after the supply drop
Last edited by DeanoP; 18th Nov 2020 at 23:55. Reason: Reinserted photos deleted by photobucket!
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Great pics Dean ... Thanks for posting
Any stories connected with those trips you could share
PS. We are fast approaching the 600,000 Thread Hit Mark and 4,000 contributions ... And we've been on the Mil Front Page since April 2014 ... That's got to say something about the affection everyone holds for RAF Albert and the times shared with him on his wide and varied travels
Long may it continue ...
Any stories connected with those trips you could share
PS. We are fast approaching the 600,000 Thread Hit Mark and 4,000 contributions ... And we've been on the Mil Front Page since April 2014 ... That's got to say something about the affection everyone holds for RAF Albert and the times shared with him on his wide and varied travels
Long may it continue ...
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 30th Nov 2015 at 07:41.
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Recall my crews adventure to South Georgia, the usual full of all the folk who had helped the crew out as a thank you. Net up at ramp hinge, Despatcher at the edge of the armp with Harness packs ready as we did the dummy run to get a handle on the drop. Rotor off the glacier sent Albert into slight reverse, call from eng of "overtorque all 4" , I look at scenes of carnage in front of net, then pull 2 bemused AD chaps back in to the aircraft. They hadnt let go of HPs as no one had said "green on"!! Closed ramp and door then started tidying vomit, camera parts et all from the freight bay. We didnt complete the drop that day but did get specatcular views of the icebergs on the way home.
All set to fly on a S Georgia run early 86, but had to butt out as the MPA camp heating system failed (AGAIN, so guess it must have been April rather than earlier) so had to stay behind and liaise with PSA on the fix. Very disappointed at missing that experience
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South Sandwich, South Georgia and Antarctica
South Sandwich then to South Georgia for 9xHP drops and back to Falklands 10:50 day. Very impressive to see South Sandwich islands sticking out of ocean in middle of nowhere and imagining the mountains beneath.
Did SAR escort to South Georgia. Someone needed casevac and RFA Black Rover was heading home and sent to a position such that Sea King could refuel on board then casevac. We escorted SK out to RFA, ran ahead to check wx then back to SK then to South Georgia, held off then escorted SK back to RFA, held off then escorted back to Falklands. 11:20 day/night. A very satisfying task and impressed by the planning effort by HQ guys and real admiration for SK guys on their efforts that day.
Most interesting trip of detachment was to Antarctica. Their ship had broken down and British Antarctic Survey Team had to get down there. Landed them at Teniente Marsh base on Antarctica. Had a walk around, exchanged plaques etc then back to Falklands.
Did SAR escort to South Georgia. Someone needed casevac and RFA Black Rover was heading home and sent to a position such that Sea King could refuel on board then casevac. We escorted SK out to RFA, ran ahead to check wx then back to SK then to South Georgia, held off then escorted SK back to RFA, held off then escorted back to Falklands. 11:20 day/night. A very satisfying task and impressed by the planning effort by HQ guys and real admiration for SK guys on their efforts that day.
Most interesting trip of detachment was to Antarctica. Their ship had broken down and British Antarctic Survey Team had to get down there. Landed them at Teniente Marsh base on Antarctica. Had a walk around, exchanged plaques etc then back to Falklands.
Turbulence
After a successful drop at Grytviken we headed for Mount Pleasant at low level to look for wrecks in the fjords and sightsee. Very calm and clear conditions at the start but then hit by massive rotor turbulence, one giant hit! Our lovely ALM, Teri, became airborne in the freight bay and was thrown from FS245 to the top of the rear fuel tanks-luckily unhurt. Rapid application of power and soared out of trouble. Quite a dangerous place with the katabatic winds coming down the glaciers. Another lesson learnt.
R4H,
" interesting trip of detachment was to Antarctica. Their ship had broken down and British Antarctic Survey Team had to get down there. Landed them at Teniente Marsh base on Antarctica. Had a walk around, exchanged plaques etc then back to Falklands."
Very early on in this threads proceedings there was some discussion of most Northerly and Southerly destinations for Albert. Not sure if anyone actually claimed Antarctica, so you may have just got the most southerly claim in.
Smudge
" interesting trip of detachment was to Antarctica. Their ship had broken down and British Antarctic Survey Team had to get down there. Landed them at Teniente Marsh base on Antarctica. Had a walk around, exchanged plaques etc then back to Falklands."
Very early on in this threads proceedings there was some discussion of most Northerly and Southerly destinations for Albert. Not sure if anyone actually claimed Antarctica, so you may have just got the most southerly claim in.
Smudge
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Post #262 ...
Coff ...
So RAF Albert's most Northerly (Wheels On) trip has been Thule AB Greenland @ 76°31'N and the most Southerly (Wheels On) Williams Field Antarctica @ 77°52'S. Which now begs the question ... Has RAF Albert made 90°N or 90°S whilst airborne ? I bet the probability is quite high ... but let's see