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Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules

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Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules

Old 2nd Mar 2016, 11:24
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Flying Blunty

Originally Posted by 1066
Re Dougie's photo, post 4156
1066
Greetings to you all,

I am gradually getting through all the posts, up to page 178 out of 209. It's like doing a walk in the Brecons, you think you're nearly there, but as you crest a hilltop, it's only a ridge and the top is still ahead a long way off!

I'm hoping to have reached the thread summit soon, when I will post some of my C130K photos for you. My profile says that I haven't been on pprune for over three years, as it had lost it's shine, but I flew with one the gents in Dougie's Aux photo post 4156 the other day, who told me about this thread and said I should have a look. I was at Lyneham and on 1312 Flt between 1986 and 1988. I was only there a couple of years as an Engineer Officer on A-Line, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time and certainly had some tremendous experiences both down route with the crews and on detachments to place like West Freugh and Masirah. I have already recognised some faces from various photos, including Paul "270degrees-on" on 4156 pic.
Kind Regards
Steve
Here's one of my pics from Albert Square March 1988:
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Old 2nd Mar 2016, 12:34
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Welcome FF

I must admit that when I started this Thread nearly two years ago, with the kind help of AA62 and others, I didn't expect us to log over 4,000 contributions and over 680,000 hits ... and still going strong

I'm sure we are all looking forward to seeing your pics ... Everything shared here adds to the fantastic story that is RAF Albert !

Kind regards ...

Coff.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 08:45
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Flying Blunty



Thank you for the kind welcome and finally I have got myself up to speed by reading all those posts up to date! I have particularly enjoyed reading about the early Hercules days out in the Far East and seeing the chocolate colour scheme photos away in very exotic locations. I also was very interested in the Op Bushel photos and story, as this occurred just before my arrival at Lyneham in 1986 and some of my flight on ALSS had been out on detachment in Ethiopia.
I am off to a talk on Op Bushell and the C130 next Tuesday by a former RAF Sqn Ldr Pat **** who I have met through my local RAFA branch and was a Nav on that detachment.

The photo above shows a typical busy apron, props akimbo and also one of the lighting towers, which I climbed up with my camera to take the next photo:


I have seen a shot on this thread of the 15 ship flypast at RIAT over Fairford in 1987, but I took this picture probably the Sunday before on the practice day over Lyneham itself. It was a great sight, not least the empty pan, which was rare back then, but not now!

Finally a quick personal story. Do you remember the old Meteor that was parked over by the wash pan past the B-line hangar? I think the next hangar was the paint shop. Well, back around 1987 one of the Hercules went tech in Florida. The Nav Paul O**n had a PPL and took the opportunity to do some cheap flying out there and found out that the Piper Tomahawk he was flying was for sale for a song, so after a call to the boss, he bought it on his credit card and by the time Albert was fixed it was loaded, wings removed, onto his empty airframe to return home with him. He knew I had a PPL as well and was flying at the RAF Flying club at Brize and asked if I would want to fly it. Back in those days, lots of "things" could get sorted through phone calls and beer calls and in no time it was repainted, re-registered and living in the paint shop hangar ready to be flown by a small group of keen PPLs at the station. I have lots of memories of taking other people flying on glorious summer evenings to wander around the white horses of Wiltshire. The photo shows my late mum, bless her, trying not to look worried as I am about to depart with my father on a jolly. It was a great example of how the RAF was so "can do" back then. It would have been so easy for OC Ops to have said no to a civil aircraft living and flying off his airfield between the movements, but he was fine about it. I don't think we paid any landing fees or hangarage back then. Paul went on to get his commercial licences and flies for BA, I believe. I must have a check of where the old Tommy is now.
Cheers
Steve
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 09:08
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FF,
to echo the 'father' of this thread, Coffman, welcome. Excellent pics and yes in those days you could get things done. The main spar for our Super Cub rebuild arrived from the states via 'Hercair'. Later on it became so much more 'whose budget is it coming out of 'etc. More tales and pics please.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 09:21
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Flyer flier

Welcome! Keeping a civil aircraft there had been done before. In 1973 2 navs on 30 were doing PPLs at Staverton Flying Club, myself and Al Moffatt. I was hopeless and chucked it in, but Al M kept going and eventually became an airline pilot. His story is interesting but this is probably not the place for it!

I digress - the flying club had an old Cessna 150 for sale and it was bought by Al,"Benny' Hill ( also a nav on 30 ) and a Wing Pilot, Abe Lincoln ( RIP ). They obtained permission to keep it at Lyneham and I believe Abe gave them both private tuition.

I'm not sure how long it was there, as Al resigned and left in the summer of '74 and Abe left in the big exodus in '76.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 10:32
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There was also a home-built (IIRC), of a type unremembered by me, residing in J2 Hangar during the early 70s, owned by a Loadie (ex-48?), I believe.
It made its maiden flight, flown by someone other than its owner-builder, then shortly afterwards, left Lyneham for somewhere with greener grass - all a bit vague, I know, but somebody on Prune will fill in the gaps - won't they?
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 15:56
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In my time as Chf Tech i/c the Structures Bay ('85-'88) in J1 hangar, an AirEng Chris ??? kept a Jodel in the hangar, close to the Bay's door. We kept a friendly eye on it for him.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 17:32
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Originally Posted by Lyneham Lad
In my time as Chf Tech i/c the Structures Bay ('85-'88) in J1 hangar, an AirEng Chris ??? kept a Jodel in the hangar, close to the Bay's door. We kept a friendly eye on it for him.
Yes, I believe his name was Chris, I wish I could remember his surname. He took me flying in his Jodel, rather old and creaky, but full of character,... just like an Albert!



Anyway, back to photos and this one was inspired by those old photos of aircraft manufacturers checking the bending stress of wings by all the workforce standing on them. I persuaded the 1312 boss Sir Matt (who was a famous Man Utd manager in his previous life) to get us up all on top for the team photo rather than just in front. Hopefully the resolution will be enough for you to enlarge and spot faces as required.
Cheers
Steve
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 18:26
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Lyneham Photos

Flyer Flier. Thanks for posting the photos. It brings back some great memories of what Lyneham was like when I arrived there in happier times rather than the sorry state it was in when I left after all the aircraft were gone.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 18:27
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LL

I think you mean Chris Philpot who sadly died whilst displaying on some airfield if memory serves. He was a nice guy. RIP.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 18:44
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Through the wonders of the inter web I have met some lovely photographers who are happy to share their handiwork with old Albert drivers. This shot by the talented Howard Sinclair who is happy for me to share with y'awl

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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 18:56
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Originally Posted by Alison Conway
LL

I think you mean Chris Philpot who sadly died whilst displaying on some airfield if memory serves. He was a nice guy. RIP.
Well, that is very sad to read. He was indeed a very pleasant chap who on occasion tried to persuade me to participate in a flight on the Herc when he knew it was a UK training trip. I have an aversion to spending time in a vibrating aluminium tube so always politely declined - until one Friday afternoon. He came into my office and said "come on, we are just off on a local trip and the frame is just across the pan outside your window." Hmm, nothing low level? "No, honest Injun, just a local sortie." Oh, OK then. Clamber aboard, doors closes, put headset and Captain announces "change of plan, we are going low level..." Chris looks over his shoulder, grins and gives me a thumbs up. The resulting disturbance to my internal functions will long be remembered.

RIP Chris (I forgive you).
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 19:25
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Originally Posted by Alison Conway
LL

I think you mean Chris Philpot who sadly died whilst displaying on some airfield if memory serves. He was a nice guy. RIP.
I think the airfield in question was Compton Abbas.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 19:57
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Compton Abbas

STF were asked to carry out a memorial fly past at Compton Abbas for Chris "Flipflop" and duly obtained low level clearance from Salisbury Plain. The approach was from the west and the airfield is perched on top of the scarp. The small party of guests were at the foot of the tower and unaware of the imminent arrival of three Hercs at low level which can be 50ft over the threshold. The tower was quite impressed and the lady controller used some non standard RT phrases as we appeared over the lip of the scarp in 15 second trail. I think we gave Chris a good send off though.


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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 20:37
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Originally Posted by Dougie M
I think we gave Chris a good send off though.
Good to know - thanks.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 20:52
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The approach was from the west
Surely, from that photo, the approach is from the East heading West?
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 20:53
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Lyneham Lad,
I am very sad like you to hear of Chris' early demise in an accident, but I could not match your magical words to make such an appropriate tribute of his natural charm and likeability.
Dougie M
Very suitable send off by the sounds, nice to see the fleet remembering its own in a manner they themselves would very much approve.
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 21:52
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FF,

If I may, welcome, and thanks for some great photographs and memories from "back in the day". Prior to my GE days, I too spent some time on B shift ALSS.

Chickenlover,

Superb shot of Albert, whoever took it, thanks for sharing it with us.

As someone who was fortunate enough to fly on several route trips with "flip flop" his passing was a great loss to many across the Herk fleet. He was a very special bloke.

Smudge
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Old 3rd Mar 2016, 23:07
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I had nothing professionally to do with the Herk fleet, apart from a single trip down the back from Boscombe to Gib - and, of course, thoroughly enjoying this thread..

I did. however, know flip flop as I was a junior member of the Yak 52 syndicate that he also belonged to when he had his accident.

That was 11 August 2001, from memory, and it doesn't seem that long ago somehow. As those who knew him better than I have already said, he was a fabulous bloke, with enormous enthusiasm for life and for flying. He seemed to just love negative g for some reason, and it was a massive blow when I heard the news that day; I'd flown with him less than a week previously and by example he taught me a lot in half an hour. Vale, Chris.
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Old 4th Mar 2016, 15:18
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Chris Philpott

If I remember correctly........
After leaving the service, Phil got a job flying tourists around Cornwall in a vintage Auster. I believe he was doing an air test when it crashed and he was killed.

Phil was a really nice guy.
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