Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
November 4,
I suspect your second shot with the scorpions offloading May well have been at Akrotiri. Meanwhile, have you photoshopped that 70 Sqdn airframe airborne ? In the early 70s every detachment I was deployed on, the 70 Alberts broke down and we went on the whistling Tit.
Smudge
I suspect your second shot with the scorpions offloading May well have been at Akrotiri. Meanwhile, have you photoshopped that 70 Sqdn airframe airborne ? In the early 70s every detachment I was deployed on, the 70 Alberts broke down and we went on the whistling Tit.
Smudge
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I was passed the photos from someone who was there a while back and took it as Kingsfield as that is what he told me.
I was still in primary school at the time...
I was still in primary school at the time...
November 4,
No stress mate, its nice to see the shots, and I'm sure I meant no offence as to the veracity of location. All of these photographs contribute to the building record of the service of a great aircraft, I hope you had a smile about 70 getting an Albert airborne, its a personal thing for me, and may be worthy of a "tale from the hammock" at some point. Meanwhile, any thing you have is well worthy of posting mate on looking at the scorpion offloading shot, the lights are actually very reminiscent of Lyneham ?
Smudge
No stress mate, its nice to see the shots, and I'm sure I meant no offence as to the veracity of location. All of these photographs contribute to the building record of the service of a great aircraft, I hope you had a smile about 70 getting an Albert airborne, its a personal thing for me, and may be worthy of a "tale from the hammock" at some point. Meanwhile, any thing you have is well worthy of posting mate
on looking at the scorpion offloading shot, the lights are actually very reminiscent of Lyneham ?Smudge
Coffman,
ref 1292, the others are all there but obscured by smoke ! THE 'Detroit Diesel' needed no such command to produce the effect.
ref 1292, the others are all there but obscured by smoke ! THE 'Detroit Diesel' needed no such command to produce the effect.
Another view of the JATFOR stream taxiing.
Went to the Shoreham Airshow yesterday, and after an iffy start the WX improved s the day went on. Seeing the Falcons jumping (from a Cessna Caravan) reminded me of a funny story from the days when I was the ALM on the Hercules display crew.
We took the Falcons to some airshow (memory ?) and they were due to jump from the ramp. So we duly get the a/c set up, do the sighting run and commence the run in for the live drop. One of the PJIs tells me he needs a crap ASAP. He has already removed his parachute and is struggling with his jump suit.
For those not familiar with the Hercules sanitary arrangements I will explain.
We had four urinals and an Elsan chemical toilet. This was normally stowed out of the way on the port sidewall aft of the para door locked in the up position by a very dodgy spring loaded pin. For all airdrop sorties this was reinforced by nylon ties. The modesty curtain was also removed to stop it thrashing itself to death in the turbulent air.
Out came my survival knife , I cut the ties and lowered the Elsan. At the same time I called 'dummy run' and explained why. Much hilarity from the sharp end.
Of course there is much mirth down the back as the poor chap performed his bodily function. Eventually much relieved he puts all his kit back on we ran in again and dropped.
Sorry no pics !
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Just in case he's still with us, I'll not mention his name, but anyone remember the incident where a flight engineer used the Elsan for a gronk but hadn't dropped his flying suit quite far enough?
Arrived back on the flightdeck hors de combat and oblivious . . . initially
That's when you find out who your friends are.
Arrived back on the flightdeck hors de combat and oblivious . . . initially
That's when you find out who your friends are.
DD,
I thought it would not be long before other Elsan stories started to appear !
Sorry Coff, we seem to have lowered the tone (as well as the Elsan )at least for a while.
I thought it would not be long before other Elsan stories started to appear !
Sorry Coff, we seem to have lowered the tone (as well as the Elsan )at least for a while.
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AA62 ... All part of the rich tapestry old chap ... Carry on !
I nearly got caught short after a dodgy spam sandwich en-route to Coltishall in Chipmunk a long time ago ... It's the fastest I've ever moved
Oh dear ... I expect we'll have a few stories now about dodgy Aircrew Rations and the affect thereof
I nearly got caught short after a dodgy spam sandwich en-route to Coltishall in Chipmunk a long time ago ... It's the fastest I've ever moved
Oh dear ... I expect we'll have a few stories now about dodgy Aircrew Rations and the affect thereof
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Ah . . . the joys of the lumpy box:
Salmonella on a stick
Lark's vomit sandwiches
World's skinniest chocolate eclairs
Armadillos (unidentified meat sealed with grease en croute)
Weekend Pork Pies (my favourite)
et al
Forgot, the box lid for recording rollers, fullstops and overshoots (forerunner of the Go Around)
Salmonella on a stick
Lark's vomit sandwiches
World's skinniest chocolate eclairs
Armadillos (unidentified meat sealed with grease en croute)
Weekend Pork Pies (my favourite)
et al
Forgot, the box lid for recording rollers, fullstops and overshoots (forerunner of the Go Around)
Last edited by Dengue_Dude; 31st Aug 2014 at 14:39. Reason: Fading memory jogged.
Oh dear, the "Racasan Dan" rears its head. My last trip as a Ground Eng. Was the return from Dahran, having done the two day ground stay at Dharhan towers. They had banned us from eating in the US feeder on base, the British feeder had been shut due to the high levels of food poisoning, and we were all to eat in the Intercon ? Hotel, the one favoured by media crews during the conflict. Well us mere SNCOs ate with the rest of the non comms, in the downstairs restaurant, where we saw the waiting staff, sweating mightily bringing leftovers downstairs from the "Royals" dining room above, mostly in to the food. Suffice to say, I left Dahran in some considerable dis ease, and unable to enjoy the hammock as I had no way of leaving the elsan. Transitting through Akrotiri, in great pain, we eventually landed at the Home of the Hercules where I reported to sick quarters. The sample, duly tested confirmed full blown salmonella poisoning. I felt like crap, and my boss wanted to know why I wasn't ready for a return trip.
As a Ground eng, the Elsan and I had a love hate relationship. I loved it when no one used it, and we had no need to empty it. I loved it when Dehli belly struck. I hated the bloody thing when 80 pax all decided to use it on a transit from LYE to GUtersloh
there are some stories out there though, the lady Loadie given a kick on the rudder by the Co, shooting from the curtains in a state of undress, with a load of Paras all watching
I doubt a true narrative of Albert in the RAF can be complete without mention of "Racasan Dan".
Smudge
As a Ground eng, the Elsan and I had a love hate relationship. I loved it when no one used it, and we had no need to empty it. I loved it when Dehli belly struck. I hated the bloody thing when 80 pax all decided to use it on a transit from LYE to GUtersloh
there are some stories out there though, the lady Loadie given a kick on the rudder by the Co, shooting from the curtains in a state of undress, with a load of Paras all watching I doubt a true narrative of Albert in the RAF can be complete without mention of "Racasan Dan".Smudge
Ahh Coff,
I tried all that, but as you well know, pressure differential is everything as the cabin altitude increases funny your bodge tape is a grab from Farnell, a few years after leaving the mob, I actually worked for them. What a curious coincidence. I will say that my worst experience with the elsan was an El Centro detachment. Having arrived "in theatre" with a task of simple lifts of the Falcs, Pathfinders and the odd Air troop boys, it was decided to empty and clean the "bucket" (inner), remove it, and to recharge it only for the trip home. On around day 3, the crew were complaining of the foul smell of the aircraft, on investigatin we found that the "troops" were using the elsan "as normal"
Cleaning it out was not pleasant, and of course, the job fell to myself and my fellow GE. No names, no pack drill, but the Loadie knew that the elsan was a "no go", we also put a sign up to that effect and, no doubt, he could have stopped the faux pas. I'm sure AA62 might have thoughts on what we saw as a failure. I never agreed to operate "sans inner" on any det after that, SF or anyone who wanted the inner removed had to sign a chit agreeing to clean any resultant mess up.
Smudge
OK, a question for the more senior operators. I did a tour at Akrotiri 73-75. At the time 70 were the resident transport squadron with a mix of Alberts and Whistling tits. How did that work for the aircrew ? Were they only qualified on one type, or could they operate both ? I only ask because I would bet that the 70 Sqdn ground crew were ambidextrous at that time. Someone must know.
Smudge
I tried all that, but as you well know, pressure differential is everything as the cabin altitude increases
funny your bodge tape is a grab from Farnell, a few years after leaving the mob, I actually worked for them. What a curious coincidence. I will say that my worst experience with the elsan was an El Centro detachment. Having arrived "in theatre" with a task of simple lifts of the Falcs, Pathfinders and the odd Air troop boys, it was decided to empty and clean the "bucket" (inner), remove it, and to recharge it only for the trip home. On around day 3, the crew were complaining of the foul smell of the aircraft, on investigatin we found that the "troops" were using the elsan "as normal"Cleaning it out was not pleasant, and of course, the job fell to myself and my fellow GE. No names, no pack drill, but the Loadie knew that the elsan was a "no go", we also put a sign up to that effect and, no doubt, he could have stopped the faux pas. I'm sure AA62 might have thoughts on what we saw as a failure. I never agreed to operate "sans inner" on any det after that, SF or anyone who wanted the inner removed had to sign a chit agreeing to clean any resultant mess up.
Smudge
OK, a question for the more senior operators. I did a tour at Akrotiri 73-75. At the time 70 were the resident transport squadron with a mix of Alberts and Whistling tits. How did that work for the aircrew ? Were they only qualified on one type, or could they operate both ? I only ask because I would bet that the 70 Sqdn ground crew were ambidextrous at that time. Someone must know.
Smudge
As we are well and truly in the (cess) pit of 'K' recollections no doubt our non Herc readers will be appalled at the primitive nature of our conveniences (or in conveniences if you prefer). On long dets to 'interesting' places the usual drill was to line the Elsan bucket with a (strong) poly bag to aid emptying and to keep the innards clean. When we caught the 'squits' and the show had to go on we flew in nappies. I do not recall many problems with the in flight catering out of RAF bases but anywhere else could be dodgy at times. Of course the in flight meal often got the blame for the effects of the previous evening curry.
Another of the JATFOR series. I did most of the training drops and also flew on Ex Deep Furrow (Turkey ) and Bold Guard (Denmark). I have related elsewhere my experiences on Bold Guard but will repeat if anyone is keen.
Aaah - black bodge tape!
Does anyone know where one can obtain such a satisfactory product these days?
It's one of the things I really miss about the RAF as the "gaffer tape" sold by B & Q, et al, is merely a pale imitation of the stuff we used to scrounge from the Service.
Does anyone know where one can obtain such a satisfactory product these days?
It's one of the things I really miss about the RAF as the "gaffer tape" sold by B & Q, et al, is merely a pale imitation of the stuff we used to scrounge from the Service.
