Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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Dougie M, re your Imperial Valley pic, does the altimeter register height below sea level? I wasn't an aircraft trade and only flew on Hercs as pax.
Dan, can we be sure that the Altimeter actually registered with Doug M ? He was, after all, directional rather than vertically involved. Mind you, an electric orange and who knows ?
Worry not, I was an aircraft trade, and also flew as SLF (occasionally) maybe mostly. Never be afraid to ask a question on this thread, most will always respond with a knowledgeable reply, I'm sorry for my flippancy.
I can confirm that the altimeter does register negative figures. A beat up of a sub at Diego Garcia involved a call from the ATC local confirming that our Mode C was giving a -10 ft readout. I will say no more, I've already been bollocked for that story !!!!!!!!
Smudge
Worry not, I was an aircraft trade, and also flew as SLF (occasionally) maybe mostly. Never be afraid to ask a question on this thread, most will always respond with a knowledgeable reply, I'm sorry for my flippancy.I can confirm that the altimeter does register negative figures. A beat up of a sub at Diego Garcia involved a call from the ATC local confirming that our Mode C was giving a -10 ft readout. I will say no more, I've already been bollocked for that story !!!!!!!!
Smudge
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Altimeters
Dan.
Both pilots altimeters were set to the El Centro pressure (-40ft) before departure to 12,000ft drop height and on the run in for the DZ inspection they both read below sea level. The Radar Altimeter however, gave the height above the ground level.
R4. The most spectacular 321 ever, was concocted by the loadie, M***s when we were entertained in the dwelling of the 3rd secretary of the British High Commission in Dakar after M***s lost his passport. Help yourself to the cocktail cabinet said the 3rd secretary. The 321 was divine. "What 's different with this" we said. "Well I found the Southern Comfort and the Dry Ginger but there's no fizzy Lambrusco so I used Chateau La Fite and Roederers Crystal.
Worked for me.
Both pilots altimeters were set to the El Centro pressure (-40ft) before departure to 12,000ft drop height and on the run in for the DZ inspection they both read below sea level. The Radar Altimeter however, gave the height above the ground level.
R4. The most spectacular 321 ever, was concocted by the loadie, M***s when we were entertained in the dwelling of the 3rd secretary of the British High Commission in Dakar after M***s lost his passport. Help yourself to the cocktail cabinet said the 3rd secretary. The 321 was divine. "What 's different with this" we said. "Well I found the Southern Comfort and the Dry Ginger but there's no fizzy Lambrusco so I used Chateau La Fite and Roederers Crystal.
Worked for me.
Very professional Captain
Whilst serving with 48Sqn Changi we had an East African jolly, oops, I mean Trainer. The schedule took us to Gan, Mombasa, Nairobi, Mauritius, Majunga and back to Gan and Changi.
Upon arrival at Mauritius,for a night stop, we received a signal that all Alberts were grounded until the bolts (or pins) securing the flight deck escape hatch were replaced with new bolts of a certain specification. Great we thought that will take a day or two to get replacements to us and loads of time to enjoy the delights of Mauritius. Wrong! our captain, one Pete Burrage, said ' there's a RN dockyard here. I'll give them a ring and see if the have the required spec steel and ask them to turn a bolt or two for us'. Sure enough they had, they were fitted, and we were away on schedule the next day. Pete is a real gentleman and a very good pilot but it was frustrating.
Upon arrival at Mauritius,for a night stop, we received a signal that all Alberts were grounded until the bolts (or pins) securing the flight deck escape hatch were replaced with new bolts of a certain specification. Great we thought that will take a day or two to get replacements to us and loads of time to enjoy the delights of Mauritius. Wrong! our captain, one Pete Burrage, said ' there's a RN dockyard here. I'll give them a ring and see if the have the required spec steel and ask them to turn a bolt or two for us'. Sure enough they had, they were fitted, and we were away on schedule the next day. Pete is a real gentleman and a very good pilot but it was frustrating.
GW1
Does anybody have one of the Albert of Arabia T shirts that were around during the GW1. I saw one of the guys wearing one while operating out of Rhiyadh, I believe that a guy downtown used to print them but never managed to obtain one. Albert was depicted with an arab headdress on whilst in full flight.
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Thanks for the replies to my altimeter question. As I said I was only ever pax on the Herc except for an AAR jolly in the Falklands. Always enjoyed my flights on them as you knew you were flying. My first flight on the mighty Albert was in Dec 77, when the RAF used to organise a seasonal turkey tour to move folk around the country who were going on leave for Xmas. Lossie to Leuchars 40 mins and a landing that was less of a touchdown, more of a throw it on the deck. It would have been quicker to get the train and bus home on leave, but I couldn't resist the chance of a flight. Managed some time on the Omani and Saudi fleets also.
Really enjoying reading this thread, and hope there are loads more stories waiting to be told.
Really enjoying reading this thread, and hope there are loads more stories waiting to be told.
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Green Barrows.
What-ho chaps,
Have been lurking on this thread for a while now but haven't posted yet as haven't dug my "K" pics ('89-'01) out of the cellar yet.
However, I found this on youtube, no apologies if it's been posted before as always worth a refresh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SK3YV5E1ZQ
I was No 4 and proud to be part of the tribute to Steady and his crew.
However, as with most Albert stories there is a tale behind the scenes.
In the finest traditions of the Service, there was a last minute change when someone came up with the idea of swapping round the formation positions so that it was a 47 Sqn "K" doing the missing man, and quite right too.
Re-brief on the crew coach and teach myself a new formation position during the transit and hold!
Happy with the finger four now and then my formation references pulled up!
Still, I think we got away with it and a lot of "dust in the air" on the ground apparently.
RIP fellas.
Have been lurking on this thread for a while now but haven't posted yet as haven't dug my "K" pics ('89-'01) out of the cellar yet.
However, I found this on youtube, no apologies if it's been posted before as always worth a refresh.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SK3YV5E1ZQ
I was No 4 and proud to be part of the tribute to Steady and his crew.
However, as with most Albert stories there is a tale behind the scenes.
In the finest traditions of the Service, there was a last minute change when someone came up with the idea of swapping round the formation positions so that it was a 47 Sqn "K" doing the missing man, and quite right too.
Re-brief on the crew coach and teach myself a new formation position during the transit and hold!
Happy with the finger four now and then my formation references pulled up!
Still, I think we got away with it and a lot of "dust in the air" on the ground apparently.
RIP fellas.
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XV179 Funerals
I had the privilege of flying the flypast for all of the funerals bar one where two funerals clashed. Realised that lots of guys would want to attend on the day and that it would be easier for co-ord on the station and external agencies if everything went through one unit and crew I volunteered us, OEU, to sort it all out. Support at Lye and from ATC agencies on each day was excellent.
On the downside there was a real case of sloping shoulders in the planning. Gp rules were quite specific as to min heights, authorisation etc. I did ground recces of most sites and found run-ins that would work while avoiding local hospitals etc while being ideal on positioning. Drew up maps, briefing points and notes on each run-in and submitted them to Wg Cdr Ops for Stn Cdr approval. Wg Cdr didn't do anything with it all but eventually told me that I should auth all sorties simply as a training sortie that happened to be in the area at the time! Basically any crap hitting the proverbial fan would stop with me. I duly authed each trip as being iaw all maps and briefings submitted to Wg Cdr Ops.
On the downside there was a real case of sloping shoulders in the planning. Gp rules were quite specific as to min heights, authorisation etc. I did ground recces of most sites and found run-ins that would work while avoiding local hospitals etc while being ideal on positioning. Drew up maps, briefing points and notes on each run-in and submitted them to Wg Cdr Ops for Stn Cdr approval. Wg Cdr didn't do anything with it all but eventually told me that I should auth all sorties simply as a training sortie that happened to be in the area at the time! Basically any crap hitting the proverbial fan would stop with me. I duly authed each trip as being iaw all maps and briefings submitted to Wg Cdr Ops.
It's beginning to look a lot like ...........
Seasons greetings all, sorry if it's a bit early, lots to do !!
Thanks to all for some interesting and entertaining posts this year, any more snowy Albert cards ?
Smudge
Thanks to all for some interesting and entertaining posts this year, any more snowy Albert cards ?
Smudge
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Seasons Greetings
It's not very Christmassy in Wiltshire where the lawn is growing again. Here's a snowier scene from Ex Frozen Star in Goose Bay, when it took so long to drive the cherry picker up for the photo we were nearly all snowmen ourselves.
The Port Stanley pic seems to be of the same Herc' (#205) pictured in Smuj's Christmas pic.
Globalnav, it certainly is.
Doug and Chickenlover, great Christmassy shots both. Weren't we lucky to do such deployments. Doug, get yourself an artificial lawn, retire the mower and enjoy the results.
Ksimboy, ahh, what at an easy life the loadies had.
Keep the winter theme going chaps, I'm sure a snap of the approach to Christmas Island might work too
Meanwhile, a proper Christmas scene ;
Snowbound at Lyneham
Credit Patricia Forrest and RAFBF, contributions always welcome.
Smudge
Doug and Chickenlover, great Christmassy shots both. Weren't we lucky to do such deployments. Doug, get yourself an artificial lawn, retire the mower and enjoy the results.
Ksimboy, ahh, what at an easy life the loadies had.
Keep the winter theme going chaps, I'm sure a snap of the approach to Christmas Island might work too
Meanwhile, a proper Christmas scene ;
Snowbound at Lyneham
Credit Patricia Forrest and RAFBF, contributions always welcome.
Smudge
Nothing to do with Crimble or cold-climes...
A distant view of two of the mighty beasts of 34 Sqn that provided FEAF's heavy lift prior to the arrival of 48 Sqn. Taken early '66 with a little Olympus half-frame jobbie. One can almost hear the roar of those mighty Centaurii
And now back to your regular programme.
A distant view of two of the mighty beasts of 34 Sqn that provided FEAF's heavy lift prior to the arrival of 48 Sqn. Taken early '66 with a little Olympus half-frame jobbie. One can almost hear the roar of those mighty Centaurii
And now back to your regular programme.
Merry Christmas
I might be a week early, but as a former airlifter myself (C-141) I know most of you have spent many a Christmas (and other holidays) away from the home fires and family comfort. Hopefully those days are past and now you can enjoy this Christmas in a very merry fashion.
Cheers
Cheers
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Unlamented Christmas Past .
It could be relied upon that this time of year, somewhere in the entrails of the Upper Echelons of power there lurked a Grinch type staff officer who would order a repeat of "Operation Deny Christmas" on some vague precept. The phones would ring in little family homes around Wiltshire and Ascoteers would launch a slip pattern to somewhere obscure, or Akrotiri, to await orders to proceed to a perceived threat area. After a few days of inactivity there was usually a general recall and the slip crews returned to Braise on a VC10. At this stage the fog would roll in over southern England and Alberts would be scattered around the country.
To those of us now retired it is but a bad memory but in this season of good cheer there remains a fervent hope that even now the Grinch bloke suffers from inoperable piles.
It could be relied upon that this time of year, somewhere in the entrails of the Upper Echelons of power there lurked a Grinch type staff officer who would order a repeat of "Operation Deny Christmas" on some vague precept. The phones would ring in little family homes around Wiltshire and Ascoteers would launch a slip pattern to somewhere obscure, or Akrotiri, to await orders to proceed to a perceived threat area. After a few days of inactivity there was usually a general recall and the slip crews returned to Braise on a VC10. At this stage the fog would roll in over southern England and Alberts would be scattered around the country.
To those of us now retired it is but a bad memory but in this season of good cheer there remains a fervent hope that even now the Grinch bloke suffers from inoperable piles.
Oh Doug, you are a wag 
No apologies 205 and a winter deployment yet again. Ash previoushly reported Merry Chrishsmas !!!! Oh dear, a flip of the lip !!!
Smudge
No apologies 205 and a winter deployment yet again. Ash previoushly reported Merry Chrishsmas !!!! Oh dear, a flip of the lip !!!
Smudge
To quote Dougie M: 'After a few days of inactivity there was usually a general recall and the slip crews returned'
Not a Christmas callout but towards the end of May 1978. The battle of Kolwezi (SE Zaire)was taking place and several Alberts were sent to Lusaka to evacuate nationals from Kolwezi.
Sat there for 6 days unused, hence the cartoon, the French did the business and we flew back. Anti-climax but not an over reaction by the planners. We could have been required.
Not a Christmas callout but towards the end of May 1978. The battle of Kolwezi (SE Zaire)was taking place and several Alberts were sent to Lusaka to evacuate nationals from Kolwezi.
Sat there for 6 days unused, hence the cartoon, the French did the business and we flew back. Anti-climax but not an over reaction by the planners. We could have been required.
Last edited by DeanoP; 17th Nov 2020 at 15:11. Reason: Reinserted image deleted by photobucket
