Phantom Friday
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Here's a couple more, featuring the F-4J(UK)s of 74(F) Tiger Sqn:
One of 101's earliest tasks in the 1983/4 era was to trail the F-4J(UK)s back from California to the UK. At the time, the Mk32 pods weren't cleared for that rancid fuel available at USAF bases, so we went via places such as Dayton International! Not a bad little number - bog off to San Diego wait for the jets to be ready, then bring them home. Plenty of time off too!
A typical Tiger Trail:
2 x VC10K2 trailing 3 x F-4J(UK)s somewhere near Greenland. The photo was taken by one of the 74 Sqn mates from the third F-4, but I'm not sure who it was.
The Victor crews were very envious of such fun!
One of 101's earliest tasks in the 1983/4 era was to trail the F-4J(UK)s back from California to the UK. At the time, the Mk32 pods weren't cleared for that rancid fuel available at USAF bases, so we went via places such as Dayton International! Not a bad little number - bog off to San Diego wait for the jets to be ready, then bring them home. Plenty of time off too!
A typical Tiger Trail:
2 x VC10K2 trailing 3 x F-4J(UK)s somewhere near Greenland. The photo was taken by one of the 74 Sqn mates from the third F-4, but I'm not sure who it was.
The Victor crews were very envious of such fun!
Not F-4s, this time, sorry.
There's always an element of luck when taking air-to-air photos, and I had 2 basic rules: 1. Never try to fly and take photos at the same time; 2. Never ask crews to pose for the camera.
So this early morning shot over the Alps during the last Lightning APC trail was part luck, part judgement. One of these days I must get round to having a decent scan made of the orginal Ektachrome:
The late 'Lord Percy' was at the helm of the VC10K.
There's always an element of luck when taking air-to-air photos, and I had 2 basic rules: 1. Never try to fly and take photos at the same time; 2. Never ask crews to pose for the camera.
So this early morning shot over the Alps during the last Lightning APC trail was part luck, part judgement. One of these days I must get round to having a decent scan made of the orginal Ektachrome:
The late 'Lord Percy' was at the helm of the VC10K.
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BEagle ... Maybe it's about time we had a VC-10 'Historic' Thread like we've done for the Herc ? I'm certain there would be considerable interest ... what do you think 
APC RAF Akrotiri August 1982. Can it really have been over 30 years ago?
Outbound on a Britannia, return in the para seats of Albert - now there's comfort. The Herc was stuffed with Houchins and other ground equip so leg-room was pretty non-existent. The upside of that was that there were plenty of hiding places for booze & fags, which was a good thing as Customs went through our holdalls etc with a fine tooth-comb.
Oh yes - plenty of sorties launched, lots of hard graft on the line making sure there enough frames for the next day, etc etc. One of the better detachments...
Hi Jerrynav! Great to hear from you! I wasn't sure whether it was you or SkidM who took the photo.
That's you hiding in the intake in the 1982 APC piccy, isn't it?
That's you hiding in the intake in the 1982 APC piccy, isn't it?
Last edited by BEagle; 14th Feb 2015 at 10:58.
Thought so, mate!
That OP TIGER TRAIL 3/84 was somewhat protracted! From what I've been able to recall, I flew out on 24 Oct 84 in the back of one VC10K as another crew was flying it. We also had some Victor and Group klingons with us, though heaven knows why.
We landed at Wright-Patt, then the next day we flew the jet down to NAS Miramar. 26th free - we went to SeaWorld. 27th free - we went to Laguna Beach, Universal Studios and Hollywood. 28th free - after brunch we went to Pacific Beach.
Monday 29th we set off for Wright Patt (the other crew was flying), only to blow an engine and return to Miramar. A minimum crew stayed with the jet, whilst the rest of us had to slum it in a C-130 from North Island to Wright Patt the following day (30th) - which seemed to take ****ing hours!
31st was another day off over at Dayton; 1st Nov was a weather scrub, but we finally trailed the F-4s up to Goose on the 2nd - which was also my IRT!
I can't recall whether it was just a straight transit back on Sat 3rd, or whether it was a trail; however, we flew ZA141 'B' which wasn't one of the VC10Ks in your photo. We had some severe turbulence in the climb which overstressed the aircraft and a lot of boxes had to be re-racked before we coasted out....
And when we landed back at Brize after our 11 days away, I found that someone had kindly joe'd me for SDO the following day...
That OP TIGER TRAIL 3/84 was somewhat protracted! From what I've been able to recall, I flew out on 24 Oct 84 in the back of one VC10K as another crew was flying it. We also had some Victor and Group klingons with us, though heaven knows why.
We landed at Wright-Patt, then the next day we flew the jet down to NAS Miramar. 26th free - we went to SeaWorld. 27th free - we went to Laguna Beach, Universal Studios and Hollywood. 28th free - after brunch we went to Pacific Beach.
Monday 29th we set off for Wright Patt (the other crew was flying), only to blow an engine and return to Miramar. A minimum crew stayed with the jet, whilst the rest of us had to slum it in a C-130 from North Island to Wright Patt the following day (30th) - which seemed to take ****ing hours!
31st was another day off over at Dayton; 1st Nov was a weather scrub, but we finally trailed the F-4s up to Goose on the 2nd - which was also my IRT!
I can't recall whether it was just a straight transit back on Sat 3rd, or whether it was a trail; however, we flew ZA141 'B' which wasn't one of the VC10Ks in your photo. We had some severe turbulence in the climb which overstressed the aircraft and a lot of boxes had to be re-racked before we coasted out....
And when we landed back at Brize after our 11 days away, I found that someone had kindly joe'd me for SDO the following day...