Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Ahh ..... the Deci sched ... if you didn't send someone to the shop to buy either an electric train set or a scalextrix (spelling?) ... your departure clearance always seemed to be delayed !! 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Wilts
Age: 58
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Smudger et al,
This thread has really brought it home to me how much I regret not putting the whole crews names in my logbook on decent routes/dets.
I know we've done some great trips together just boogered if I can remember which ones!
Were you with me when the lox trolley went bang in Singapore?
TB.
This thread has really brought it home to me how much I regret not putting the whole crews names in my logbook on decent routes/dets.
I know we've done some great trips together just boogered if I can remember which ones!
Were you with me when the lox trolley went bang in Singapore?
TB.
Hatchet 130,
You have me in one sir, I was that GE, along with another initials JH. We diverted in because the LOX was low, specifically to re LOX the aircraft. The LOX cart turned up, towed behind what looked like a small Massey Fergie, and we proceeded to "fill her up". Being unfamiliar with that particular trolley, I suspect I may have failed to re open the pressure raising valve, after the procedure. I've always felt fairly guilty on that. Anyway, as he drove away, the very helpful tractor driver got the shock of his life as the charging hose, or perhaps a safety bursting disc blew, with a bang like a bomb going off. I suspect that if you remember it, we were in close proximity when it happened. ISTR we got out of dodge as quickly as we could. Like you, I failed dismally to record the names of the great teams I had the pleasure of travelling with, I did record all of the flights I did, Squadron and Aircraft number, but little else. I've now lost my record of flights, or I could date precisely the exploding LOX trolley incident. Now I need to work out who TB was
Just from memory, a trip coming back from Hong Kong ? Two crews, one of the captains was A***** H*****, who gave up a day off to show me around HK.
Smudge
You have me in one sir, I was that GE, along with another initials JH. We diverted in because the LOX was low, specifically to re LOX the aircraft. The LOX cart turned up, towed behind what looked like a small Massey Fergie, and we proceeded to "fill her up". Being unfamiliar with that particular trolley, I suspect I may have failed to re open the pressure raising valve, after the procedure. I've always felt fairly guilty on that. Anyway, as he drove away, the very helpful tractor driver got the shock of his life as the charging hose, or perhaps a safety bursting disc blew, with a bang like a bomb going off. I suspect that if you remember it, we were in close proximity when it happened. ISTR we got out of dodge as quickly as we could. Like you, I failed dismally to record the names of the great teams I had the pleasure of travelling with, I did record all of the flights I did, Squadron and Aircraft number, but little else. I've now lost my record of flights, or I could date precisely the exploding LOX trolley incident. Now I need to work out who TB was
Just from memory, a trip coming back from Hong Kong ? Two crews, one of the captains was A***** H*****, who gave up a day off to show me around HK.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 18th Jul 2014 at 19:11.
Dougie M,
I am just back from my hol and catching up, so thanks for the confirmation that the 'K' minelayer did exist and that my few remaining memory cells do function now and then. As I recall the reason for all the roller conveyor was that there were four side guidance rails across the fuselage and the mines were fitted between them. As Dougie implies it would have been an interesting trip to do it for real.
I am just back from my hol and catching up, so thanks for the confirmation that the 'K' minelayer did exist and that my few remaining memory cells do function now and then. As I recall the reason for all the roller conveyor was that there were four side guidance rails across the fuselage and the mines were fitted between them. As Dougie implies it would have been an interesting trip to do it for real.
I thought it was time we looked inside the tanker to see where we kept some of the fuel that our customers needed. We are looking aft from the forward tank, and you can just make out the HDU sitting on the ramp. Anyone who has ever seen inside the tanker was always struck by how 'agricultural' it was. It was a lash up but done in around eight weeks by Marshalls (respect) and was used for over ten years after Op Corporate.
The HDU was the same as that used on the Victor, with mods to suit the Herc.
The internal tanks were Andover ferry tanks x4 each holding approx 7000 lbs of fuel each. To dispense their fuel we first needed to pump it up into the wing tanks. Due to the fact that the hose exited through an aperture in the cargo door was always had to tank depressurised.
A full tanker stood on the pan at approx 20000 lbs overweight.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,051
Received 2,925 Likes
on
1,250 Posts
Blimey, they got about, the first ferry tanks we had fitted to the Chinook were Andover items too.
When the tankers were withdrawn from use I wrote to Marshall's PR, RAF Lynham PR and IWM Duxford suggesting that one should be preserved as a tribute of how the services and industry pulled together to get the job done.
If it had been kept at Duxford perhaps Marshalls would have helped preserve it.
I didn't receive a single reply....!
mmitch.
If it had been kept at Duxford perhaps Marshalls would have helped preserve it.
I didn't receive a single reply....!
mmitch.
AA62,
What a smashing memory you have posted. As a smoker at the time, my trip ASI to MPA as GE on a tanker rotation, did nothing to alleviate my cravings (I've since quit). Also difficult to locate a decent "pitch" for a hammock. But we got there. As mmitch suggests, perhaps there was not enough enthusiasm to retain one as proof that industry and the military could overcome many challenges.
Smudge
What a smashing memory you have posted. As a smoker at the time, my trip ASI to MPA as GE on a tanker rotation, did nothing to alleviate my cravings (I've since quit). Also difficult to locate a decent "pitch" for a hammock. But we got there. As mmitch suggests, perhaps there was not enough enthusiasm to retain one as proof that industry and the military could overcome many challenges.
Smudge
This is the view looking forward. Note the 'token gesture' standard fire ext. on the tanks. The tanks each had to be manually filled by dragging in the fuel line through the para door. It had a cut off just like those at your local petrol station.
They took a long time to fill and sometimes the chap doing the job would wander off and rely on the auto shut off. Which sometimes did not !
No-go item for the tanker was a broom or at least the handle. When the tanks were 'refurbished' the sight gauges were not. They were very difficult to see so the ALMs used the broom handle to dip the tanks.
The first thing the ALM and Air Eng did on arrival at the a/c was to open as many doors and hatches as possible to try to get rid of some of the fuel smell. especially if the a/c had been standing somewhere warm.
Smudge, I did a TX rotation with Colin B. a serial smoker. He smoked on the tanker, but he was such a nice bloke I was happy to accept the very small risk. You should have been with us !
Originally the tanker carried sections of boiler plate just aft of FS245 to help with the C of G. This was later removed and fuel was supposed to be left in the forward tanks as ballast fuel. On one trip we ended up having to use this fuel !
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Sneaking up on the Runway and leaping out to grab it unawares
Age: 61
Posts: 684
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He smoked like a bloody chimney but was a real gent to work with.
Ex Ascoteer,
you have missed out the fags consumed on the crew coach on the way out to the a/c ! As you say an absolute gent.
you have missed out the fags consumed on the crew coach on the way out to the a/c ! As you say an absolute gent.
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: UK East Anglia
Age: 66
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We also had a drinker and coined the phrase you are not allowed to smoke 8 hours before flying and drink within 50 yards of the aircraft. There was a fuss when one of our Army Officers refused to fly with him.
He went on to be one of the early J Captains. I met him in the mess at LYN a few times several years later. nothing had changed. he was still the last one out of the bar. Then all of a sudden he disappeared. Rumour had it he ended up behind other bars.
He went on to be one of the early J Captains. I met him in the mess at LYN a few times several years later. nothing had changed. he was still the last one out of the bar. Then all of a sudden he disappeared. Rumour had it he ended up behind other bars.
Coff,
very pleasant time away thank you.
Another pic of the internals of the tanker, showing what the well dressed tanker ALM wore. Visible in the foreground is one of the two seats fitted abeam the para doors for use during SAR tasks.
very pleasant time away thank you.
Another pic of the internals of the tanker, showing what the well dressed tanker ALM wore. Visible in the foreground is one of the two seats fitted abeam the para doors for use during SAR tasks.
As a first-tourist-one-stripe-wonder on 30 Sqn I enjoyed several bimbles to places distant with the fine chap pictured above. If that's you AA, then I very much hope that you and yours are all doing well!
Mal Drop,
guilty as charged m'lud. 'Tis indeed me. I am as well as age will allow and have no reason to complain. Trust you are too.
Best wishes.
guilty as charged m'lud. 'Tis indeed me. I am as well as age will allow and have no reason to complain. Trust you are too.
Best wishes.
One morning in Akrotiri (mid 1990s), it came to my attention that there might have been some damage caused to a car the night before. (It was in the way when some people were trying to walk in a straight line from the Sgts Mess to the block!)
To cut a long story short, it turned out to be a car hired by MT for a visitor. I despatched the guilty parties (GPs) off to MT with a slab of beer and told them to get MT to bill them directly for the damage and promise a cheque by return of post. This seemed a good plan for most GPs (avoiding RAF Police investigations, etc), but one young ALM could not see beyond what would happen if his ALM Leader should find out.
I wonder who that ALM Leader might have been - any ideas AA62??
To cut a long story short, it turned out to be a car hired by MT for a visitor. I despatched the guilty parties (GPs) off to MT with a slab of beer and told them to get MT to bill them directly for the damage and promise a cheque by return of post. This seemed a good plan for most GPs (avoiding RAF Police investigations, etc), but one young ALM could not see beyond what would happen if his ALM Leader should find out.
I wonder who that ALM Leader might have been - any ideas AA62??
WIDN62,
oh yes I remember it well. And other Akro incidents. I applied a very simple rule, that if you were in the poo, professionally, socially or otherwise you made sure I was told first. If I heard via another source then you really were in the poo !
oh yes I remember it well. And other Akro incidents. I applied a very simple rule, that if you were in the poo, professionally, socially or otherwise you made sure I was told first. If I heard via another source then you really were in the poo !
'Trawler' spotting down south. We used the generic term 'trawler' for any non military ship. No doubt some of the others will have pics/tales of what was not our favourite occupation.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Man known as Moose
In a previous life I had a position of authority at Akrotiri and one morning received a call from the O'Mess manager to say that the the Mess had been trashed. A call to Ops and a now ex-senior RAF officer elicited that it was either a Herc or Nimrod crew. Hats on shabby drill determined it was the the Herc crew who put flour and cereal on all the fans. Good drills that the Captain - known as a Canadian wild beast - fessed up and paid handsomely for the deeds of his crew.