Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Oxfordshire
Age: 53
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very impressive for the bird to achieve that. The usual glancing blow only to be minced by the prop was obviously side stepped.
At least the crew would have been aware of it, quite a bang for the smallest of birds never mind a beast like that.
Not quite a brown trouser moment as the cupola explosion whilst crewman in the bubble mind you!
Talking about South Wales strips where was it that a K bogged down and had to be dug out by engineers mid 90`s, props being vey close to the earth when slotted?
Another strip this time on the Plain saw another frame dug out using crash axes one night about 2010. Boring story but I think we assisted the job by transferring all the fuel into the STBD wing! did someone mention wing fatigue .......anyway, job done and achieved swiftly enabling a return to Lyneham within a few hours of arriving. We did forget to take the jacking handle (seat pole works wonders) and the MLG jack was at a 45 degree angle to the oleo but everything else was by the book.......the book being knowledge in the job and the limitations presented by environment and acceptance of risk by those I was lucky to be working with. The firemen looked on with furrowed brows at time, I hope they filled the hole in when we left.
At least the crew would have been aware of it, quite a bang for the smallest of birds never mind a beast like that.
Not quite a brown trouser moment as the cupola explosion whilst crewman in the bubble mind you!
Talking about South Wales strips where was it that a K bogged down and had to be dug out by engineers mid 90`s, props being vey close to the earth when slotted?
Another strip this time on the Plain saw another frame dug out using crash axes one night about 2010. Boring story but I think we assisted the job by transferring all the fuel into the STBD wing! did someone mention wing fatigue .......anyway, job done and achieved swiftly enabling a return to Lyneham within a few hours of arriving. We did forget to take the jacking handle (seat pole works wonders) and the MLG jack was at a 45 degree angle to the oleo but everything else was by the book.......the book being knowledge in the job and the limitations presented by environment and acceptance of risk by those I was lucky to be working with. The firemen looked on with furrowed brows at time, I hope they filled the hole in when we left.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: wiltshire
Age: 65
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bloody hell Doug, you were a Flt Lt once? Albert bogged in at Newton as the chap who recced the strip forgot the aircraft needed to turn at the ends of runway .
A340Yumyum , got my coat and hat waiting ... thought Skydrol was red coloured .... Perhaps 1st shot should read '' How do you fit a quart of tea in a pint mug '' ?
atb condor ,
PS keep 'em coming , still waiting for a pause so Green Barrow stories can be told .
atb condor ,
PS keep 'em coming , still waiting for a pause so Green Barrow stories can be told .
Doug,
You've not changed a bit since I last had the honour to accompany you on a route. Ignore Ksimboy, like me, he was always "follically" challenged. He could do a nice AA though
Smudge
You've not changed a bit since I last had the honour to accompany you on a route. Ignore Ksimboy, like me, he was always "follically" challenged. He could do a nice AA though
Smudge
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: M4 Corridor
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Memorable Routes
Smudge
I do recall a rather "hair raising" trip to Oz with a slightly mad a/c cdr who thought that he was invincible. The high spot was a "Hash Run" in the jungles of Brunei with M*** F** after which your little helper nailed his daughter in the hotel and had to come to the flight deck the following day to suffer a "Top of climb" debrief on the Brunei company frequency with the irate father.
Happy Days
Dougie
I do recall a rather "hair raising" trip to Oz with a slightly mad a/c cdr who thought that he was invincible. The high spot was a "Hash Run" in the jungles of Brunei with M*** F** after which your little helper nailed his daughter in the hotel and had to come to the flight deck the following day to suffer a "Top of climb" debrief on the Brunei company frequency with the irate father.
Happy Days
Dougie
Dougie, I certainly remember the hash run (more of a walk for me), the golfing in Aus and our lady Eng going "tits up" (can I say that?) in Darwin on the way back. That was the trip we went to Sydney to do a prop pull and replace the GITZ seal. I still have my souvenir boomerang. My fellow GE on that trip (one T***** T******n) is on holiday in Cyprus at present, but will enjoy reading this bit next week I'm sure. Hope you are well.
Smudge
Smudge
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Smudge wrote ...
Is that also in your Nav Bag that you (correction Mrs Smudge) can't find as yet ...
Dougie ...
I'll post those other pics you kindly sent me tomorrow
Coff.
I still have my souvenir boomerang.
Dougie ...
I'll post those other pics you kindly sent me tomorrow
Coff.
Coff, the Boomerang is still on a wall in my bedroom. The Nav bag remains elusive at present, I'm hoping to make my way up the ladder myself shortly, Im sure it's up there. Mrs Smudge wimps out too quickly for my liking, so time to resolve it once and for all.
Meanwhile, the boomerang that accompanied Dougie and myself home was purchased in Sydney after a very busy day, and night. Our trip was to collect and return the remnants of a Nimrod detachment to Adelaide as I recall, and we were routed down through Brunei to Darwin, then Adelaide. Our return being another night stop at Adelaide northbound and then the usual track. The No2 prop had been throwing oil since heading south from AKR, and both TT and myself were concerned at the potential for bother it offered. By the time we arrived at Adelaide, we had a real problem. Our concern was that at the rate the leak was worsening, we would end up asking for spares and a team in a remote location heading north, which would delay us considerably. We took the opportunity to phone the Duty Engineering Officer at Richmond (Sydney), where the Aussie C130s were based, and he quickly offered a prop pull, GITZ change and ground runs. We then called ATFOC with the proposition that it would be folly to turn the "in theatre" assistance down, to break down in Singapore/Bangkok on the way back.
So, next day we transited the one hour or so to Richmond, where Dougie and the rest duly went to sample Sydney. Us two GEs spent the next twelve hours with some great Aussie tradesmen pulling off No2 prop, replacing the GITZ etc etc. We got to the hotel around 2300 local as I remember, and decided to sample Sydney for ourselves. We both had a great night out and arrived back at the hotel, in good time to shower, shave and "shampoo" before the transport arrived. I have some good photographs from that trip, not in my Nav bag, and will post some soon, it may make Dougie chuckle a bit. Perhaps he remembers our Sydney divert.
Smudge
Meanwhile, the boomerang that accompanied Dougie and myself home was purchased in Sydney after a very busy day, and night. Our trip was to collect and return the remnants of a Nimrod detachment to Adelaide as I recall, and we were routed down through Brunei to Darwin, then Adelaide. Our return being another night stop at Adelaide northbound and then the usual track. The No2 prop had been throwing oil since heading south from AKR, and both TT and myself were concerned at the potential for bother it offered. By the time we arrived at Adelaide, we had a real problem. Our concern was that at the rate the leak was worsening, we would end up asking for spares and a team in a remote location heading north, which would delay us considerably. We took the opportunity to phone the Duty Engineering Officer at Richmond (Sydney), where the Aussie C130s were based, and he quickly offered a prop pull, GITZ change and ground runs. We then called ATFOC with the proposition that it would be folly to turn the "in theatre" assistance down, to break down in Singapore/Bangkok on the way back.
So, next day we transited the one hour or so to Richmond, where Dougie and the rest duly went to sample Sydney. Us two GEs spent the next twelve hours with some great Aussie tradesmen pulling off No2 prop, replacing the GITZ etc etc. We got to the hotel around 2300 local as I remember, and decided to sample Sydney for ourselves. We both had a great night out and arrived back at the hotel, in good time to shower, shave and "shampoo" before the transport arrived. I have some good photographs from that trip, not in my Nav bag, and will post some soon, it may make Dougie chuckle a bit. Perhaps he remembers our Sydney divert.
Smudge
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Earthboundmisfit
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re the pics posted by A340YY - The 2 low level shots were taken by a friend of mine who lives in the Lakes area, which means they were almost certainly taken at Dunmail Raise, his usual haunt. He was a wildlife enthusiast who was self-teaching photography when one day we clattered past below him. Grumpy that we'd spoiled his shot, he pointed the camera at us and captured one of my favourite photographs of me flying at low level. Being a top bloke, when he got the picture developed, he enlarged it and sent it to the CRO at Lyneham Field. It eventually found me and we've been in touch ever since. I got to take him flying on one of my last trips with the RAF, the formation with 5 Spitfires.
The air to air one, I believe was during the 'official shoot' with Pickers in the lead, that produced some of the best air to air shots of the Herc at that time. I've got copies of the official snaps which I can post if anyone is interested. Similarly, I've got 2 albums full of Adrian's photos from Dunmail Raise if there is an appetite for those ?
Dougie M - I've got some pics from our Charleston escapade I can post if you like
The air to air one, I believe was during the 'official shoot' with Pickers in the lead, that produced some of the best air to air shots of the Herc at that time. I've got copies of the official snaps which I can post if anyone is interested. Similarly, I've got 2 albums full of Adrian's photos from Dunmail Raise if there is an appetite for those ?
Dougie M - I've got some pics from our Charleston escapade I can post if you like
Chickenlover,
Dunmail raise was a happy haunt for me too (sans camera unfortunately) when I lived up there for a few years in the early naughties. I may well have waved at you in passing. I'm sure we would all like to see some more of your superb shots of Albert, all of the pictures on this thread contribute to the record of a "good old mate"!
Smudge
Dunmail raise was a happy haunt for me too (sans camera unfortunately) when I lived up there for a few years in the early naughties. I may well have waved at you in passing. I'm sure we would all like to see some more of your superb shots of Albert, all of the pictures on this thread contribute to the record of a "good old mate"!
Smudge
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: M4 Corridor
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The wizard of Oz
Further to the Aussie saga above. When the decision was made to go to Richmond with our leaky seal there was much rejoicing from the front end because the weekend beckoned and a prop pull and seal change would have kept us in Sydney for at least 3 days, or even "munce" as one Co put it. We had 3 of them. Even our lovely lady Eng. was making plans to go to Bondi for some mussels or at least I think it was that. Imagine our surprise and delight when Smudge and TT arrived back at the Hyatt in Kingsgate to announce that Albert was "fixed". Wow! we said....so soon?
I have to admit a grudging acknowledgement of some fine recovery work and dedication to the task. It's a bloody shame that they were so good at their job. The voyage still had some spectacular events including the Loadie being seduced by the hotel receptionist in Fannie Bay. when his rear end was covered in mossie bites.
Smudge, I may have maligned TT about Brunei. It was an SVC who was snagged by F**ies daughter so it may not be the same trip. Too many hours (14K) Albert time tends to blend the events. I must write my memoirs.
Dougie
I have to admit a grudging acknowledgement of some fine recovery work and dedication to the task. It's a bloody shame that they were so good at their job. The voyage still had some spectacular events including the Loadie being seduced by the hotel receptionist in Fannie Bay. when his rear end was covered in mossie bites.
Smudge, I may have maligned TT about Brunei. It was an SVC who was snagged by F**ies daughter so it may not be the same trip. Too many hours (14K) Albert time tends to blend the events. I must write my memoirs.
Dougie
Dougie,
I'm sure TT won't mind, he's used to being maligned. Sydney was a great place
And as for the Boomerang Coff;
It had been a long night
Smudge
I'm sure TT won't mind, he's used to being maligned. Sydney was a great place
And as for the Boomerang Coff;
It had been a long night
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 5th Oct 2014 at 17:28.
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Trumpville; On the edge
Posts: 435
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The voyage still had some spectacular events including the Loadie being seduced by the hotel receptionist in Fannie Bay. when his rear end was covered in mossie bites.
TT,
I have a photograph of both of the Loadies, either of which could be the one "affected". I've just had another look and can confirm neither look like people ripe for seduction. Im sure the receptionist had lost her glasses, or was it a he
Smudge
I have a photograph of both of the Loadies, either of which could be the one "affected". I've just had another look and can confirm neither look like people ripe for seduction. Im sure the receptionist had lost her glasses, or was it a he
Smudge
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Just to close off Alberts escapades at the seaside ... Dougie sent me three cracking pics taken on Pembury Beach. Just helped re-size the images for him
So I understand that it wasn't too uncommon for Albert to be in the Wash Bay for up to a week to sluice out all the sand and salt along with applying copious amounts of PX24 after such trips ... I wonder what SPF Rating PX24 is
Thanks for sharing the pics Dougie
Coff.
So I understand that it wasn't too uncommon for Albert to be in the Wash Bay for up to a week to sluice out all the sand and salt along with applying copious amounts of PX24 after such trips ... I wonder what SPF Rating PX24 is
Thanks for sharing the pics Dougie
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 5th Oct 2014 at 12:48.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: M4 Corridor
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Pics
Thanks Coff
I couldn't have done it better myself. Smudge,....Argh! Looks like a grimmie contest but I can't tell from whose side. Chickenlover, if the ones from Charleston are as bad as that I would rather you didn't post them.
"Speech on this phone is not secure"
Ta
Dougie
I couldn't have done it better myself. Smudge,....Argh! Looks like a grimmie contest but I can't tell from whose side. Chickenlover, if the ones from Charleston are as bad as that I would rather you didn't post them.
"Speech on this phone is not secure"
Ta
Dougie