Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
I recognise some of the faces in the Ground School photos, especially that of my former colleague from A-line H---- D----, pictured in the 'giant flight director' shot. We were on the same shift (when HD was not (1) down-route, (2) on stand-down following a route trip, or (3) in bed in his AMQ!!).
We shared some common ground down the route, too - an incident combining fluctuating RPM on No 2, his falling out with the captain on his swan-song (the captain's) and a long trip for me, via Air Canada
springs to mind.
The four days in Ottawa were best forgotten, especially the 'dry Sunday' on the wrong side of the river.
We shared some common ground down the route, too - an incident combining fluctuating RPM on No 2, his falling out with the captain on his swan-song (the captain's) and a long trip for me, via Air Canada
springs to mind.The four days in Ottawa were best forgotten, especially the 'dry Sunday' on the wrong side of the river.
Coffman,
have been suffering from the flu so head even more woolly than usual !
have been suffering from the flu so head even more woolly than usual !
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Interestingly the sextant housing AA62 mentions was the same as that on the Lancaster. (and several other flying machines I worked on). I loose track of time but it was probably 2004/5 Chelton Electrostatics devised a GPS aerial that went into the housing.
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Back at Albert's former home...
Swindon Advertiser
HERE’S the latest work going on at the former RAF Lyneham airbase as work continues to turn the site into a 83 hectare solar farm.
The aerial images have been submitted by reader Matthew Williams.
The farm, approved at the end of last year by Wiltshire Council, will take up an area greater than 100 football pitches when it is complete and consist of around 160,000 solar panels.
It will have the capacity to generate 40MW of power which will be enough to supply the Defence College of Technical Training which is set to open at the former base in November.
It is thought that the farm will also be able to generate enough surplus power to fuel around 10,000 homes with electricity.
“The use of solar energy to power the college reinforces MoD’s commitment to the use of renewable energy sources,” said Steve Jeffries, principal project manager for DIO, who are overseeing the project.
“By bringing together training in one place we are not only improving efficiency but also helping to save money for the taxpayer by rationalising the Defence estate.”
The aerial images have been submitted by reader Matthew Williams.
The farm, approved at the end of last year by Wiltshire Council, will take up an area greater than 100 football pitches when it is complete and consist of around 160,000 solar panels.
It will have the capacity to generate 40MW of power which will be enough to supply the Defence College of Technical Training which is set to open at the former base in November.
It is thought that the farm will also be able to generate enough surplus power to fuel around 10,000 homes with electricity.
“The use of solar energy to power the college reinforces MoD’s commitment to the use of renewable energy sources,” said Steve Jeffries, principal project manager for DIO, who are overseeing the project.
“By bringing together training in one place we are not only improving efficiency but also helping to save money for the taxpayer by rationalising the Defence estate.”
A few posts ago we were discussing the carriage of four legged SLF in the 'K'.
On the Sri Lankan Air Force website there is a video of two elephants (in crates !) being loaded on a Sri Lankan Herc. They were on their way to Prague Zoo. Sri Lanka has two a/c I believe both ex RAF 'K' models but which serial numbers I know not. Cue Coffman and his forensic skills.
There is a suggestion that they backloaded some equally exotic animals back to Sri Lanka.
Must have been an interesting and smelly trip.
On the Sri Lankan Air Force website there is a video of two elephants (in crates !) being loaded on a Sri Lankan Herc. They were on their way to Prague Zoo. Sri Lanka has two a/c I believe both ex RAF 'K' models but which serial numbers I know not. Cue Coffman and his forensic skills.
There is a suggestion that they backloaded some equally exotic animals back to Sri Lanka.
Must have been an interesting and smelly trip.
Coff,
having some experience of the tanker and the overload weights it regularly operated at I would not have bought XV 203 ! But fair play it still seems to be doing the job for them.
having some experience of the tanker and the overload weights it regularly operated at I would not have bought XV 203 ! But fair play it still seems to be doing the job for them.
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AA62 ... I think we've got the correct frames 
More info here with some pics (click details link) ...
Sri Lanka Air Force C-130s
And here is the Elephant and other Animal PAX Video link ...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cMAjh89W49c
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KN9HDIdFIrU
More info here with some pics (click details link) ...
Sri Lanka Air Force C-130s
And here is the Elephant and other Animal PAX Video link ...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cMAjh89W49c
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KN9HDIdFIrU
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 22nd Feb 2015 at 13:16.
Coff,
thanks for that. I have just noticed that their Hercs are minus the external tanks. Not needed for the usual internal routes I suppose.
thanks for that. I have just noticed that their Hercs are minus the external tanks. Not needed for the usual internal routes I suppose.
I remember flying through Colombo many years ago, carrying a trainee IntO who was given a camera and told to take pictures of anything interesting he saw. He was wetting himself with excitement at 'spotting' the Sri Lankans new purchases and was frantically trying to find a location to take a subversive picture......meanwhile at the other end of the aircraft, our GE was talking to an Ex-RAF engineer working for the Sri Lankans on the delivery of these aircraft.
Said IntO very disappointed some days later when we let the cat out of the bag and told him the identity of the airframes and that I had many hours flying both!!!
Said IntO very disappointed some days later when we let the cat out of the bag and told him the identity of the airframes and that I had many hours flying both!!!
Last edited by DCThumb; 23rd Feb 2015 at 15:00. Reason: Missed a word....
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Something a little odd here ?
I came across this pic on the C-130.net recently ... but there is something a bit odd about it. The pic purports to be a Crown image of RAF aircrew posing for a group shot after the last C-130K operational sortie on October 25, 2013. However, up close, it appears to be a composite image ? The aircrew look as though they have been superimposed on a different background (aircraft) and even some aircrew have the appearance of being added ?
Image Credit : Purports to be a Crown Image
Is it just me or do other members think the same ?
If so ... does anyone know the story here ... there has to be a reason for going to such photographic lengths
I came across this pic on the C-130.net recently ... but there is something a bit odd about it. The pic purports to be a Crown image of RAF aircrew posing for a group shot after the last C-130K operational sortie on October 25, 2013. However, up close, it appears to be a composite image ? The aircrew look as though they have been superimposed on a different background (aircraft) and even some aircrew have the appearance of being added ?
Image Credit : Purports to be a Crown Image
Is it just me or do other members think the same ?
If so ... does anyone know the story here ... there has to be a reason for going to such photographic lengths
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And an image that I thought we must just include in our Thread ... The first of many arriving at RAF Thorney Island all those years ago
Image Credit : Crown
Coff.
PS. More Air Clues coming up ...
Image Credit : Crown
Coff.
PS. More Air Clues coming up ...
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 24th Feb 2015 at 07:52.
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Aaaargh . . . no! A Yellow Peril!
God I still remember trying to start those bloody things to drag a power set out for engine runs at Colerne's Fosse-Way Air Force.
Single cylinder diesel and vibrating like a nun's dormitory . . .
God I still remember trying to start those bloody things to drag a power set out for engine runs at Colerne's Fosse-Way Air Force.
Single cylinder diesel and vibrating like a nun's dormitory . . .
Coffman,
ref the 'last flight pic' you may well have a point but I am sure that someone may be able to give a definitive answer.
Very nice pic of some very shiny new 'K's at Thorney Island.
My pics have finally run out but when I get most of the flu out of my memory cell I have a story of a trip in a not so shiny a/c.
ref the 'last flight pic' you may well have a point but I am sure that someone may be able to give a definitive answer.
Very nice pic of some very shiny new 'K's at Thorney Island.
My pics have finally run out but when I get most of the flu out of my memory cell I have a story of a trip in a not so shiny a/c.
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Brian,
I had an official towing licence for the yellow peril, in order to tow Wessex helicopters at Tengah ('72-'75) from the 1st line (by the golf club) to Hangar 2 (our 2nd line shed) on the other side of the runway. If you were practiced enough (and I was) you could walk alongside it and then hop on and sit on the engine being careful not to drop the steering arm or the brakes would apply. It was a fair old walk across the runway, but if the tower spotted you sitting on the "donkey" then according to them you were not in full control and an interview with the WO man awaited you on return. As the Wessex was a "taildragger" you could get a really serious turning circle with a "donkey" and that was required to park them in our strange 3 sided big "tent" that passed for 1st line repairs storage. Ah the days..........
I had an official towing licence for the yellow peril, in order to tow Wessex helicopters at Tengah ('72-'75) from the 1st line (by the golf club) to Hangar 2 (our 2nd line shed) on the other side of the runway. If you were practiced enough (and I was) you could walk alongside it and then hop on and sit on the engine being careful not to drop the steering arm or the brakes would apply. It was a fair old walk across the runway, but if the tower spotted you sitting on the "donkey" then according to them you were not in full control and an interview with the WO man awaited you on return. As the Wessex was a "taildragger" you could get a really serious turning circle with a "donkey" and that was required to park them in our strange 3 sided big "tent" that passed for 1st line repairs storage. Ah the days..........
Found this pic in the pages of my course notes ! The heading is the attribution for the pic. These were the official pics at the start of the course of the AQMs on 8 course at Thorney Island.
You may recognise some of them.