Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Just in case any of the readers missed this pic. It is an RAF 'K' and a Chilean Hercules at Easter Island. I took the pic as we departed after leaving the a/c to be 'redecorated' and used by SF.
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Ksimboy, I was alm on the day Janet Ellis did her C130 jump. The crew were given cloth Blue Peter badges and my voice appeared on the clip shown on the tv programme. The only problem, they showed our takeoff while you could hear me saying "nose wheels chocked, main wheel chocks removed"!
XV305 CMk3 Flt Lt Harris 9 Nov 1983.
Nige Rogoff, who 15 years later was to lose a leg in the "Aston Villa" incident, was the trainer/despatcher.
XV305 CMk3 Flt Lt Harris 9 Nov 1983.
Nige Rogoff, who 15 years later was to lose a leg in the "Aston Villa" incident, was the trainer/despatcher.
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I didnt realise that it had such a rich history until I googled it. In fact I didnt even know where it was! :-(
Note to self, watch Skyfall.
Easter Island photo
As Max Boyce used to say " I know because I was there ", the slight repaint was OK but the cutout sticky registration numbers to put on the frames for the trip home were the laugh as one of the original aircraft went U/S before departure from Lyneham so we came back with the wrong tail number on the aircraft as they didn't have time to prepare the correct numbers for the new frame and nobody noticed all the way home. Mind you we did stick them on the para doors which I believe is not legal as they are supposed to be a fixed part of the frame.
A good and interesting trip which got me a week in Fiji and a week in Hawaii !
A good and interesting trip which got me a week in Fiji and a week in Hawaii !
Forgot to say the Easter Island 'K' was XV 292, at least that's what my log book says !
I have a very dim memory of two of the 'K's ending up at Lyneham with the same numbers before normality was restablished. Anyone recall this ?
I have a very dim memory of two of the 'K's ending up at Lyneham with the same numbers before normality was restablished. Anyone recall this ?
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show of hands
Loving this thread and many others (the pilot's brevet in WWII thread has kept me going for years).
Yours, wishing I'd joined up,
NRT
NRT,
glad you are enjoying the thead. If you had joined up and joined us on the 'K' you can see what an interesting time you could have had. It was not all beer and barbies (both types) as the fatalities have shown but I doubt that I would change a thing from my time in the RAF.
glad you are enjoying the thead. If you had joined up and joined us on the 'K' you can see what an interesting time you could have had. It was not all beer and barbies (both types) as the fatalities have shown but I doubt that I would change a thing from my time in the RAF.
AA62,
Interesting article re the noise in Albert. I know for fact that my hearing definitely suffered after 5000 hrs plus of hammock operations. Although my "reduced auditory acuity" was noted on my discharge, no one suggested it was anything unusual. Pardon ?
Doug M, Mz Chalmers, now there's one for the books, I will tell him you remember when I see him next.
Drag, just finished Exocet Falklands myself, and found it a very "eye opening" tome. Knowing some of the named characters in the book put it into some perspective, and probably, like you I have nothing but respect for their determination to do their best, should they be asked to go.
Smudge
Interesting article re the noise in Albert. I know for fact that my hearing definitely suffered after 5000 hrs plus of hammock operations. Although my "reduced auditory acuity" was noted on my discharge, no one suggested it was anything unusual. Pardon ?
Doug M, Mz Chalmers, now there's one for the books, I will tell him you remember when I see him next.
Drag, just finished Exocet Falklands myself, and found it a very "eye opening" tome. Knowing some of the named characters in the book put it into some perspective, and probably, like you I have nothing but respect for their determination to do their best, should they be asked to go.
Smudge
Last edited by smujsmith; 9th Jun 2015 at 19:12.
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The sad thing is that for some years now, los of hearing due to flying in Albert is considered an "occupational hazard" and not the fault of the Services for some inexplicable reason.
If you try to cite it as a disability the SPVA will tell you that it's not admissible as being caused by, or made worse by your service. You are still high tone deaf with tinnitus though. I have learned sign language.
If you try to cite it as a disability the SPVA will tell you that it's not admissible as being caused by, or made worse by your service. You are still high tone deaf with tinnitus though. I have learned sign language.
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In about 1988, I was issued with a nice set of ear defenders whilst on MAMS. A couple of week later they were taken off me as they were being recalled as they did not offer enough protection. Personally I always used the yellow ear plugs and those ear defender.
5 years ago, I put a claim in for tinitus and hearing loss. Even though it was stated on my med docs that it was caused through aircraft noise, I was told it was not due to that but down to old age and I would get nothing for it.
Funny how the tinitus started in 1991 and I was under a consultant at Wroughton at the time...
5 years ago, I put a claim in for tinitus and hearing loss. Even though it was stated on my med docs that it was caused through aircraft noise, I was told it was not due to that but down to old age and I would get nothing for it.
Funny how the tinitus started in 1991 and I was under a consultant at Wroughton at the time...
I suspect that many, including non Albert operatives, have suffered the same fate regarding hearing. I know that my usual adornment for "a few minutes nap" in the hammock usually entailed the yellow pellets, covered by either Ear Defs, kept from my linie days, or, a Mk4 Headset. None of it seems to have helped when communicating with my fellow human beings, but it has at least given me an excuse for missing every utterance that SWMBO utters 
Smudge
Smudge
When I was with the HEART I dug into the archives to see if I could discover a staff response to this report as non of the recommendations were ever implemented during my time. I found a letter from SM59 at Wyton to ATAR at MOD asking for advice 'on how to proceed' and whether funding would be provided for 'further investigation and remedial action'. There the paper trail went cold.
When the HEART visited Abbey Wood and spoke to the 'J' team one of my questions concerned the noise level in the 'J'. After much shuffling of feet it was finally admitted that the noise level in the 'J' cargo compartment would be higher that the 'K' ! Never having flown in a 'J' I have no way of knowing just how bad it is.
My retirement medical was done by the SMO who had my hearing test repeated as it was 'too good to be true'. But it has not deteriorated very much even years later. I had a free hearing test six months ago when I had my eyes retested and apart from a slight attenuation of the HF it was still very good. My wife is always asking for the TV/radio sound to be turned up and I cannot stand the sound to be too loud !
After all those years on the Hastings/Hercules I have no idea why my hearing has held up, nor it appears does anyone else.
When the HEART visited Abbey Wood and spoke to the 'J' team one of my questions concerned the noise level in the 'J'. After much shuffling of feet it was finally admitted that the noise level in the 'J' cargo compartment would be higher that the 'K' ! Never having flown in a 'J' I have no way of knowing just how bad it is.
My retirement medical was done by the SMO who had my hearing test repeated as it was 'too good to be true'. But it has not deteriorated very much even years later. I had a free hearing test six months ago when I had my eyes retested and apart from a slight attenuation of the HF it was still very good. My wife is always asking for the TV/radio sound to be turned up and I cannot stand the sound to be too loud !
After all those years on the Hastings/Hercules I have no idea why my hearing has held up, nor it appears does anyone else.
I wonder how the MoD gets away with classing loss of hearing due to Albert flying as an "operational hazard".
My father-in-law did two tours on the Shack, one as a co-pilot and one as a captain; hence he is deaf in both ears! Because of this he gets a disability pension from the MoD.
My father-in-law did two tours on the Shack, one as a co-pilot and one as a captain; hence he is deaf in both ears! Because of this he gets a disability pension from the MoD.
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High tone deaf with tinnitus . . . now that sounds (sic) familiar.
I spent two years at Colerne sat outside as safety man everytime we had to do engine runs - several hours each aircraft.
My head would ring afterwards, it was such a relief to be inside it, but I'm sure that exacerbated an increasingly bad situation.
The tinnitus is constant now and expensive stereos definitely a no-no.
I spent two years at Colerne sat outside as safety man everytime we had to do engine runs - several hours each aircraft.
My head would ring afterwards, it was such a relief to be inside it, but I'm sure that exacerbated an increasingly bad situation.
The tinnitus is constant now and expensive stereos definitely a no-no.
Used to be that deafness due to weapon firing attracted a disability payment, but ISTR that got binned. However, especially in this day and age, might be worth consulting RAFA/RBL/Forces Pension Society to find out current position on that, and more particularly Shack or Albert loss of hearing. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, and an e-mail is free.
Show of Hands
Despite no connection with the K (or any C-130, save one A), I continue to enjoy this thread for the insight into the Herc, its operation, and of course the tales of tribulation and derring-do of the operators. (Notwithstanding the occasionally baffling flow of Briticisms!) 
Please continue!
Please continue!