Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
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ExAscoteer wrote:
Short version
Oct 1993 Russian Cargo Ship sinks 400 miles South of Tristan de Cunha. Albert scrambled from RAF Mount Pleasant. Sea State on scene total crap and very heavy, cloud base very low and rain. Survivors located, flare pattern dropped, ASRA dropped on target. Time on Scene approx 2 hours, time airborne 14:45. On return to MPA, second Albert gets airborne, this time with tanker support and does the same thing all over again. All written up in Air Clues at the time. Yes Nimrod would have been preferable, but just like now, nil stock Nimrod. So we made do with the best we had.
In reality I doubt that Albert would have been any real use at SAR except in good weather conditions (as in AA62's 'photo above).
Oct 1993 Russian Cargo Ship sinks 400 miles South of Tristan de Cunha. Albert scrambled from RAF Mount Pleasant. Sea State on scene total crap and very heavy, cloud base very low and rain. Survivors located, flare pattern dropped, ASRA dropped on target. Time on Scene approx 2 hours, time airborne 14:45. On return to MPA, second Albert gets airborne, this time with tanker support and does the same thing all over again. All written up in Air Clues at the time. Yes Nimrod would have been preferable, but just like now, nil stock Nimrod. So we made do with the best we had.
Last edited by Top Bunk Tester; 26th Jul 2014 at 20:10. Reason: To maintain good nature
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Does anyone have images from the 1994 D-Day drops. I seem to remember fitting every available wedge platform in the RAF inventory. I was up on one of the frames & somewhere I do have some photos (I think I was on about the 10th frame in the formation) but can`t find them to contribute.
The Paras were chucking before we made the runway, we were on start for such a long time on what I can remember was a very hot day, just glad we weren't at the back (how many frames was it in total).
It must have looked very impressive to get so many frames in formation, had a look on the usual online media but can`t find anything there either.
If I find them I will post them up with the Purple helmet images as well.
The Paras were chucking before we made the runway, we were on start for such a long time on what I can remember was a very hot day, just glad we weren't at the back (how many frames was it in total).
It must have looked very impressive to get so many frames in formation, had a look on the usual online media but can`t find anything there either.
If I find them I will post them up with the Purple helmet images as well.
semmern,
You are blessed with a glorious country, with fantastic opportunities for air to ground photography. I'm sure, like many ex RAF personnel, we were only ever allowed to see it, at its most beautiful (My opinion) in winter. No one could ever change my opinion of the fantastic experience of a three hour low level "float" around Norway. Great pictures mate.
Smudge
You are blessed with a glorious country, with fantastic opportunities for air to ground photography. I'm sure, like many ex RAF personnel, we were only ever allowed to see it, at its most beautiful (My opinion) in winter. No one could ever change my opinion of the fantastic experience of a three hour low level "float" around Norway. Great pictures mate.
Smudge
As the one who in all innocence started this ASRA part of the thread may I respectfully suggest we do not allow this superb thread to degenerate into the type of slanging match that has blighted so many others. Disagree by all means but there are ways of doing so that will maintain the good nature of Coffman's inspiration.
AA62,
I rather suspect a little "banter" is as usual going on in this "crew room"! Nevertheless, there are still questions to be answered, why were the bloody rudder pedals so heavy? As a glider pilot, I was taught to lead with the rudder in a turn, in Albert, there was no chance, the first time I had a go I thought the Booster pack had failed. As a Captain once confirmed "directional control" is easier with differential throttle than rudder. Still awaiting info on the "Sept Isles" diversion, come on chaps, there are still loads of memory's to recall.
Smudge
I rather suspect a little "banter" is as usual going on in this "crew room"! Nevertheless, there are still questions to be answered, why were the bloody rudder pedals so heavy? As a glider pilot, I was taught to lead with the rudder in a turn, in Albert, there was no chance, the first time I had a go I thought the Booster pack had failed. As a Captain once confirmed "directional control" is easier with differential throttle than rudder. Still awaiting info on the "Sept Isles" diversion, come on chaps, there are still loads of memory's to recall.
Smudge
Still with 48 Sqn this time a picture of the runway at Penerak on Ex Bersatu Padu in 1970.
Top Bunk Tester,
thanks.
thanks.
Has anyone heard the tale of how the a/c ELFAK was dropped to a distressed yachtsman ?
Gentlemen, and ascoteers, it's Sunday evening, a fine venison steak has been devoured, the wine has flowed, so, as usual, I will pop a question. Does anyone remember the "chap in the white suit" from Banjul ? Rumour had it, in my day, that he had scavenged every bit of lashing tape available on our runs to ASI, and southwards. To the extent that his wife had unpicked the lashing tape, and woven it, eventually producing a nice white suit. I certainly remember seeing this chap, and I'm sure I once saw a photograph of him, in his suit. Anyone else have memories ?
Smudge
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 27th Jul 2014 at 21:05.
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Funny thing is I still have one of the brown tin boxes the Smoke Floats came in - in my shed.
Along with the orange HUPRA bag, God I had to do some negotiating with the Squippers to get that. I've had it for 40 years!!!
Along with the orange HUPRA bag, God I had to do some negotiating with the Squippers to get that. I've had it for 40 years!!!
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That'll be the HUPRA that was due to be withdrawn from service as it had never been used in anger. The week it was due to go guess what? The first hang up occurred ..... Withdrawal withdrawn 
Another pic of Penerak.
Ah HUPRA, I never used it in anger, but did use it for the 22 foot steerable parachute tailgating hang up trials.
Smudge,
I certainly remember the chap at Banjul and his lashing tape ! A spare roll of this tape was a no go item for Banjul trips for without it you could get nothing done. Made a change from the 'local gratuities' (bribes) that you had to pay out to get anything done at many other places.
I certainly remember the chap at Banjul and his lashing tape ! A spare roll of this tape was a no go item for Banjul trips for without it you could get nothing done. Made a change from the 'local gratuities' (bribes) that you had to pay out to get anything done at many other places.
AA62,
You are absolutely correct sir, and what a service we got from the man in the white suit. Another useful "bung" were the poly bags of water sediment drain samples. He told me once that he and his family relied on them for cooking and lighting. With FSII and corrosion inhibitor added, I doubt it would have made his home environment that healthy. Still, at least we disposed of it properly in that case, mostly, the bags became donations to a Houchin
Nice seeing 306 in true colours peeking in to that last shot.
Smudge
You are absolutely correct sir, and what a service we got from the man in the white suit. Another useful "bung" were the poly bags of water sediment drain samples. He told me once that he and his family relied on them for cooking and lighting. With FSII and corrosion inhibitor added, I doubt it would have made his home environment that healthy. Still, at least we disposed of it properly in that case, mostly, the bags became donations to a Houchin
Nice seeing 306 in true colours peeking in to that last shot.Smudge
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I can't see why one would covert a HUPRA bag. True; the Mk 1 bag was more durable than the Mk2. One of the adverse comments when I took the prototype Mk2 bag to show the squippers at LYN to ensure the contents would all fit was the zip was not up to much. (big black plastic not brass) Was it fit for purpose or unsafe? Could you undo it in a hurry? The zip was changed to make the bag more desirable. I think we bought around 50 each with a set of brand new 10K and 5K floor fittings and a shinny new T handle J knife. (what they called an Air Sea Rescue Knife). Several years later having seen these things being bay serviced at AFPSU all of the new fittings had been swapped out for old ones. I blew my top as I had personally supervised the kitting of the new bits for this critical lifesaving bit of kit.
I wonder how much the Mod cost to have the fittings removed from the bag and the AP changed when the K went out of service.
OK - on the topic of bags - how many of you own up to having one of the para recovery bags for their garden rubbish? The heavy duty canvas ones cost £196 each hence we introduced the £5.60 one made in Mumbai. 0.25p was to cover the stencilling to stop you buggers pinching them!!!
I wonder how much the Mod cost to have the fittings removed from the bag and the AP changed when the K went out of service.
OK - on the topic of bags - how many of you own up to having one of the para recovery bags for their garden rubbish? The heavy duty canvas ones cost £196 each hence we introduced the £5.60 one made in Mumbai. 0.25p was to cover the stencilling to stop you buggers pinching them!!!
dragartist,
ah the para bags ! Very long lasting I understand !!!
ah the para bags ! Very long lasting I understand !!!
Another pic of our much loved colour scheme. Even better with 'Royal Air Force Far East' on the side (sigh). Not sure where this is but I think India somewhere !
Smudge, you can tell from the state of the props that this was in pre G/E days.
Last edited by ancientaviator62; 29th Jul 2014 at 07:48. Reason: mistake on lettering
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Great Herc Pics
Got directed to this forum by H... B... and all these old pics and stories bring back memories. Early on there was some discussion about how far N and S the machine had been. As regards N on 10 June 69 on Crosscheck 1 two of our Ks and two RCAF aircraft flew low level from Thule northwards and landed at Alert (someone has already given lat & long). In fact the routine resupply RCAF landed at the same time and we had five Hercs doing a ramp dance as there was not a lot of space. We then flew low to Eureka and Resolute Bay overflying the Magnetic NP. The old whisky compass did not like that!! XV192 was one of the two RAF aircraft.
As regards S in Nov 72 a crew from each squadron and two Herc Ks took part in Op Deepfreeze based in Christchurch flying to McMurdo. The background was the USN had crashed two ski birds in the previous season and they were short of airlift to move materials to Antarctica to rebuild the South Pole station. One of the USN birds crashed because a JATO rocket came free and took out the starboard engines. The aircraft crashed straight ahead; the crew survived and the aircraft was recovered a few years later. Anyway as part of the RAF deployment we flew XV193 from Williams Field to overfly the South Pole 'to show the flag' before returning to Williams Field, McMurdo.
As regards how high I was once asked by some strange boffins to fly as high as we could get Albert so that they could get 'air samples'. We did not have a lot of fuel and got up to 42,000ft but the paddles could not find enough air to go any higher!!
Happy Days and a long time ago.
As regards S in Nov 72 a crew from each squadron and two Herc Ks took part in Op Deepfreeze based in Christchurch flying to McMurdo. The background was the USN had crashed two ski birds in the previous season and they were short of airlift to move materials to Antarctica to rebuild the South Pole station. One of the USN birds crashed because a JATO rocket came free and took out the starboard engines. The aircraft crashed straight ahead; the crew survived and the aircraft was recovered a few years later. Anyway as part of the RAF deployment we flew XV193 from Williams Field to overfly the South Pole 'to show the flag' before returning to Williams Field, McMurdo.
As regards how high I was once asked by some strange boffins to fly as high as we could get Albert so that they could get 'air samples'. We did not have a lot of fuel and got up to 42,000ft but the paddles could not find enough air to go any higher!!
Happy Days and a long time ago.
AA62,
Of course, had anyone ever briefed the crew on where the ladder was stowed, you may never have had need of AGEs As you can tell, I'm very taken with that paint scheme. My first few Base 3 Servicings at Colerne in the early 70s, were in that very finish. Colerne was a great place, and any photograph like yours brings back memories of happy days. Curiously, I was such a fan, I was pleased that our team Painters were able to complete my £90 Morris Oxford in the same scheme.
Smudge
Of course, had anyone ever briefed the crew on where the ladder was stowed, you may never have had need of AGEs
As you can tell, I'm very taken with that paint scheme. My first few Base 3 Servicings at Colerne in the early 70s, were in that very finish. Colerne was a great place, and any photograph like yours brings back memories of happy days. Curiously, I was such a fan, I was pleased that our team Painters were able to complete my £90 Morris Oxford in the same scheme.Smudge