Global Aviation Magazine : 60 Years of the Hercules
Our local fish and chip wrapping has announced today that the Red Arrows will not be displaying at RIAT, as a result of the Shoreham accident. My son was moved to say that what a pity the RAF doesn't still have the Green Barrows, a team he was particularly fond of on the Lyneham families days during the 1980/90s. I had to agree that their displays would have been well within the current requirements, and likely thrill the attending crowds as they did back then. I did balk at his suggestion of 9, red painted, J's though. Happy Father's Day to all who are🍻
Smudge
Smudge
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: M4 Corridor
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The "Families Day Break" certainly used as much airspace as a diamond nine flypast but how the risk assessors can equate Shoreham with Fairford defeats me. I know it's under review but highly professional, serving pilots in highly maintained service aircraft at a huge airfield in the middle of nowhere are fundamentally a different proposition to a civvy pilot in a vintage jet of questionable serviceability at a tiny airfield in the middle of the south coast conurbation. What a shame for the RIAT.
I suspect that the local newspaper has extrapolated from the recent Farnborough announcement about the Reds to an assumption that they will not appear at RIAT. As Wander00 says, they are still shown this morning on the RIAT site amongst the Confirmed Aircraft for the show on all 3 days. I'd like to think that the assessment carried out that led to the Farnborough decision has already been applied to all locations for this season and that we will not be treated to a dripfeed of later announcements.
Now, back to C-130 material .....
Now, back to C-130 material .....
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Norwich
Age: 78
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ancientaviator62 we need more stories thanks for your last
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Norwich
Age: 78
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes....... I spent some time in the back of a C130 on para jumps South Cerney & Hendon I did my last descents.
Found my old log book. I was attached so the Para Regiment guys did lots more than us
Balloon x20
Argosy x 1
Andover x 2
C130 x18
Nigh decents x16
Aborts x20
Found my old log book. I was attached so the Para Regiment guys did lots more than us
Balloon x20
Argosy x 1
Andover x 2
C130 x18
Nigh decents x16
Aborts x20
I have a few ex para's who live near me. We often meet during the morning bimble and exchange pleasantries. What a fine bunch they all are, I often admired their grit getting on and departing a perfectly serviceable aircraft. Seriously, I've heard a lot of stories around the lads in purple, and I'm sure Alberts loadmaster fraternity at least must have a few they could share with us. I can only offer a tale of a trip to Deelen for a drop to commemorate Arnhem, with a night stop. As we approached the DZ the troops were still seated and a para at the front end in the LH centre seats did not have his skid lid on. The stanchion that supports the seats was not fitted correctly and collapsed, hitting the unfortunate para on the head. There was a lot of blood, and we removed him to the lower bunk, where he insisted he was fit to go with the rest. Thankfully the drop was aborted due to high winds. Thankfully, the seating was fitted by the roly squippers back at Lyneham, I would have hated to have caused that.
Smudge
Smudge
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: M4 Corridor
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No1 PTS
I found myself on the flying programme to go to PTS training the following morning. I wasn't expecting such a delight but at Oh Christ hundred hours there we were at Braize in the chilly dawn. A steady 20kt wind was blowing from the west at 1000ft but as usual the surface wind was 13kts (within limits). The course had assembled and were casting fearful looks in our direction. "Woss going on?" we asked. "Well the crew yesterday got the CARP wrong" they said. "Didn't they put out a drifter on the first pass?" I asked. There was a shaking of heads. "We had troops off the DZ" they said. "Well there's nothing too close to worry about" "The M40 is serious" they said.
It appeared that the Nav had applied the wind vector (which was prodigious) the wrong way, so the troops were released 650 yards early and still had 450 yards of canopy drift downwind. The first guy landed over 1000yards early adjacent to the morning rush hour traffic on the M40. Oops.
The PTS Sgt said "We were thinking of giving all the troops 20p each to phone for a taxi."
So that's why we were getting those strange looks.
It appeared that the Nav had applied the wind vector (which was prodigious) the wrong way, so the troops were released 650 yards early and still had 450 yards of canopy drift downwind. The first guy landed over 1000yards early adjacent to the morning rush hour traffic on the M40. Oops.
The PTS Sgt said "We were thinking of giving all the troops 20p each to phone for a taxi."
So that's why we were getting those strange looks.
Nice Doug,
I always understood the para's on the motorway was down to a certain Flight Engineer, one L*s E**ns. Perhaps those who related the story to me may have embellished it. Or, is there another event of delivering the purple hued warriors to the morning rush hour ?
Smudge
I always understood the para's on the motorway was down to a certain Flight Engineer, one L*s E**ns. Perhaps those who related the story to me may have embellished it. Or, is there another event of delivering the purple hued warriors to the morning rush hour ?
Smudge
Doug
Reminds me of one day at Boscombe; I was doing Aerodrome Radar and a Herc' came to drop para' at Fox covert from 12,000'. I can't remember whether he had taken off from DM or come in from Brize/Abingdon.
There was a fair old Nor Westerlie blowing and after the paras left the aircraft I thought this doesn't look right. Had it been a Free-Fall drop I shouldn't have seen the paras as they would have been descending too fast - 5 seconds/1000' IIRC. As I could see the paras on radar after they had left the aircraft I guessed they were doing 'stand-off' ( descent rate 60 seconds/1000' ) and warned the other guys around me that they were liable to drift across our climb out lane. They certainly did and the furthest point of impact from Fox Covert was Downton some 5 miles south of Salisbury!
You may ask, didn't I say something, but it was 12 years since I'd been a Herc' nav and there was no direct safety issue for the aircraft i.e. high ground, active danger areas etc so we just tracked the paras and made sure none of our traffic went near them.
There was a fair old Nor Westerlie blowing and after the paras left the aircraft I thought this doesn't look right. Had it been a Free-Fall drop I shouldn't have seen the paras as they would have been descending too fast - 5 seconds/1000' IIRC. As I could see the paras on radar after they had left the aircraft I guessed they were doing 'stand-off' ( descent rate 60 seconds/1000' ) and warned the other guys around me that they were liable to drift across our climb out lane. They certainly did and the furthest point of impact from Fox Covert was Downton some 5 miles south of Salisbury!
You may ask, didn't I say something, but it was 12 years since I'd been a Herc' nav and there was no direct safety issue for the aircraft i.e. high ground, active danger areas etc so we just tracked the paras and made sure none of our traffic went near them.
Last edited by Brian 48nav; 20th Jun 2016 at 18:32. Reason: Worded badly
Been on several drops where ,for a variety of reasons, the paras 'avoided' the DZ.
On one of the Arnhem drops a good percentage landed in the car park and elsewhere other than the DZ. We had pointed out that the wind was marginal at best but the Army insisted that the 'show' went on. No serious injury amongst the paras as I recall.
On one of the Arnhem drops a good percentage landed in the car park and elsewhere other than the DZ. We had pointed out that the wind was marginal at best but the Army insisted that the 'show' went on. No serious injury amongst the paras as I recall.
Brian48Nav,
when we did FF para from 35000 ft Boscombe could count the troops as they exited. This was especially so on HAHO drops where they were attempting to 'drive' as far as they could. I have already told the tale of the blind drop using Decca that missed the DZ by miles.
when we did FF para from 35000 ft Boscombe could count the troops as they exited. This was especially so on HAHO drops where they were attempting to 'drive' as far as they could. I have already told the tale of the blind drop using Decca that missed the DZ by miles.
Let's be careful what we say please. This is a very good thread with great stories. We don't know if said individual or members of their family frequent it. The K fleet was full of characters of whatever ilk, that's what made it so great!
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: M4 Corridor
Posts: 561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Back to Arnhem
The aforementioned car park was the best acquisition aid for the drop zone. En route from the south for a noon drop the sun's reflection in 2000 car windscreens was blinding. We had spent a quiet evening the night before like England footy supporters in Brussels being royally entertained by M***y B****s the exchange officer, and had sampled most of the trappist beers. The last one I recall was drunk from a china skull in a subterranean bar with coffin lids as tables. We didn't need a complicated plot for the lowlevel across Belgium the following morning so the brief was simple "Keep up and cope". After getting a priority departure demanded by the Belgique crew in Flemish as a War Memorial flight the gaggle of 5 Brits and 2 Belgian a/c launched out to the north east. As luck had it we picked up the car park at 10 miles to go but we were running 20 seconds early. The Brigadier in charge was not jumping and on the flight deck. "Would you like to fly over the Jack Frost bridge, Sir? " I solicitously enquired. "Oh, very much so" he replied. So the whole formation turned 30 deg right for 1 minute over to the "bridge too far" then came back onto the run in at 2 minutes "Action Stations" bang on time. It's WHO you know.
Doug,
that picture really triggered my memory of all the roads choked with cars as far as I, in the open para door could see. You would have needed to be up early to get a spot in the car park proper. And yes I do recall the endless hospitality !
that picture really triggered my memory of all the roads choked with cars as far as I, in the open para door could see. You would have needed to be up early to get a spot in the car park proper. And yes I do recall the endless hospitality !
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: East Sussex UK
Age: 66
Posts: 6,995
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Good afternoon Alberteers ...
I've just been watching this video of the 'Red Arrows' during Operation Longbow back in 1972.
Just wondered if we had any members who 'crewed' the two support Hercules ? Must be a few interesting stories to tell from that trip
I'm afraid the video is not of good quality as I tried to make out the airframe numbers with no luck. However at the beginning and end of the film there are quite good profile shots of the LH and RH occupants
Operation Longbow 1972
I've just been watching this video of the 'Red Arrows' during Operation Longbow back in 1972.
Just wondered if we had any members who 'crewed' the two support Hercules ? Must be a few interesting stories to tell from that trip
I'm afraid the video is not of good quality as I tried to make out the airframe numbers with no luck. However at the beginning and end of the film there are quite good profile shots of the LH and RH occupants
Operation Longbow 1972