Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
1,000,000 hours
I wonder what the final total was. Anyone know?
Sqn Ldr Graham Young was tragically killed on 23 June 1963 when, on a low level mission, Hercules XV193 crashed near Perth in Scotland. RIP
Photos courtesy of RAF News
Last edited by DeanoP; 18th Nov 2020 at 10:24. Reason: Reinserted photos deleted by photobucket!
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Nostalgia
Whilst we are in the memory mode how many of the original crew members trained at Sewart AFB. Tenn. are still warm, upright, sober (?) and above ground.
Hands up
Hands up
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Valentine's Day Drop
Some years back there was a winter of storms like this one and the resupply vessels could not dock on Lundy Island for weeks. The young lady who was caring for the small herd of animals on the island called the local radio station to ask for an emergency airdrop of fodder for her stock. Lots of PR kudos and permission from Group, Low Flying Uxbridge, et al, and LXX mounted a "routine training" mission to include a block 4 ME each onto Lundy. The AD boys had pinned Valentine hearts to the loads for the young lady marooned on the island and the usual romantic sentiments. The drop was on the wind limits and the DZ was unmarked but all landed on the island. The local TV station eventually interviewed the girl when the weather eased and we all realised why she was there all alone. Not to be disheartened, a chirpy 47 AD dispatcher commented "A kill's a kill, boss"
Last edited by Dougie M; 12th Feb 2016 at 12:55.
Early days.
Following on from the comments regarding training for techies, as one of the ground crew who saw in the first frame to Thorney Island in '67 the first A/F was completed with the flight servicing schedule in the left hand and a glossary in the right as we tried to decipher the American English and technical terms. All we knew was that the Lockheed rep said the Flt servicing started at the crew door and went clockwise round the aircraft! In the usual time honoured way I had worked on the Herc for nearly a year before getting on the ground school.
And doing the first prop change purely by the book produced some memorable moments, some of which we had rather that we didn't remember. Having come onto the Herc from the mighty Beverly it was just a little bit of a culture shock!
And doing the first prop change purely by the book produced some memorable moments, some of which we had rather that we didn't remember. Having come onto the Herc from the mighty Beverly it was just a little bit of a culture shock!
Gopher1
In the usual time honoured way I had worked on the Herc for nearly a year before getting on the ground school.
Aaron.
Ahh, Gopher and AARON.
Courses, aircraft, for the education of ? I managed 2.5 years at Colerne, involved in Base3 servicing on Albert, with no course. I was sent to Waddington and completed the Vulcan course, on posting from Colerne to Akronelli. Arriving with my newly awarded Q-AVUL-A I was employed initially in the Hydraulic bay, with Kilwhang, and ended up working on 56 Squadrons Lightnings. The next aircraft course I was "awarded" was the Q-ANEW-A course (AEW3 Nimrod). I'm sure both the Kinloss and Warton elements added to my understanding of the aircraft, though the aircraft singularly failed to add to my further employment. And so, I end up back on Albert, accepted for the Q-AHER-GE course, how did I get through that ? I reckon the HDU course also added to my vast knowledge. I did do a couple of tanker rotations to MPA in my time. I do know I learned a great deal about Albert from "proper" GE's and certainly some bloody good Pilots and Engineers.
Smudge
Courses, aircraft, for the education of ? I managed 2.5 years at Colerne, involved in Base3 servicing on Albert, with no course. I was sent to Waddington and completed the Vulcan course, on posting from Colerne to Akronelli. Arriving with my newly awarded Q-AVUL-A I was employed initially in the Hydraulic bay, with Kilwhang, and ended up working on 56 Squadrons Lightnings. The next aircraft course I was "awarded" was the Q-ANEW-A course (AEW3 Nimrod). I'm sure both the Kinloss and Warton elements added to my understanding of the aircraft, though the aircraft singularly failed to add to my further employment. And so, I end up back on Albert, accepted for the Q-AHER-GE course, how did I get through that ? I reckon the HDU course also added to my vast knowledge. I did do a couple of tanker rotations to MPA in my time. I do know I learned a great deal about Albert from "proper" GE's and certainly some bloody good Pilots and Engineers.
Smudge
In respect of type training for ground crew the attitude seemed to be 'well you have had a very good basic training just get on with it'. Which we did. I was trained on the Javelin radars, never on the Hunter, and worked on the Lightning for two years before my AI23 course.
It was probably fair enough for the basic a/c but hardly sensible or cost effective for the more complex types.
It was probably fair enough for the basic a/c but hardly sensible or cost effective for the more complex types.
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242 OCU
Aircrew courses weren't all that frequent either as I recall. After Canberras I attended 242 OCU twice in 50 years. 1965 at Thorney for Argosies (3 tours) then in 1975 at Lyneham for Hercules (8 tours). I stopped flying Auntie Betty's Alberts with the Auggies in 2006 and I still had my tatty OCU notes full of climatology and gyro navigation.
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AA62, Doug ...
Natural talent doesn't need too much honing they say
Glad to see there is still life in our little old thread ...
Best ...
Coff.
Natural talent doesn't need too much honing they say
Glad to see there is still life in our little old thread ...
Best ...
Coff.
Doug,
just adding up my Herc tours. 242 OCU, 47, 48, 242 as an airdrop instructor, JATE, EU, (then Henlow/Cranwell OCTU) back to the EU, 242 as CALMI, then eight years as the ALM Leader on 30.
just adding up my Herc tours. 242 OCU, 47, 48, 242 as an airdrop instructor, JATE, EU, (then Henlow/Cranwell OCTU) back to the EU, 242 as CALMI, then eight years as the ALM Leader on 30.
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Roy's boys
With each posting on Hercs I always thought "Well I hope the next tour will be as good as this one" and it always was, including the trials unit at JATE. With four detachments to the States each year and going places for hot weather and cold weather trials it was great. My Desk Officer was amazed that I wanted to go back to Lyneham after Brize Norton. "We have a posting for you here on a different type " he said. Me, a Spec Aircrew Tac nav said "No ta!
The final "tour" was 6 years on the Auggies with Roy's boys and that was the piece de resistance. I kept all my quals and dropped to Flt Lt. Secondary duties Nil, Station duties Nil, Superior officers the Duke of Edinburgh. All my old mates with centuries of experience. I knew all their war stories and they knew mine so we were comsec. An ideal way to downshift before final retirement. It's a shame that nobody has navs anymore.
The final "tour" was 6 years on the Auggies with Roy's boys and that was the piece de resistance. I kept all my quals and dropped to Flt Lt. Secondary duties Nil, Station duties Nil, Superior officers the Duke of Edinburgh. All my old mates with centuries of experience. I knew all their war stories and they knew mine so we were comsec. An ideal way to downshift before final retirement. It's a shame that nobody has navs anymore.
Doug,
fine lot in your pic. Be interesting to add up all their 'K' hours. After I retired I was offered a a job with the 'Oggies' as a F/L but family circumstances meant that I had to decline. Still I could not complain after the great time I had on the Herc. Happy days.
fine lot in your pic. Be interesting to add up all their 'K' hours. After I retired I was offered a a job with the 'Oggies' as a F/L but family circumstances meant that I had to decline. Still I could not complain after the great time I had on the Herc. Happy days.
No Coff,
The grow bags get lighter as they spend more time in the sun. It looks like those in the darker kit were the last to show up for the photocall
One wonders how many days/weeks it took to assemble such venerable personages. Nice to see though.
Smudge
The grow bags get lighter as they spend more time in the sun. It looks like those in the darker kit were the last to show up for the photocall
One wonders how many days/weeks it took to assemble such venerable personages. Nice to see though.Smudge