One for the maintainers, hardest job you have done
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: uk
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WORST AIRCRAFT EVER. BAe ATP
All the quotes above are for isolated jobs on particular aircraft. ATP is all bad. Even simple jobs like removing four screws will turn in to a nightmare. However no aircraft looks better when viewed in a rear view mirror.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, New York, Paris, Moscow.
Posts: 3,632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Except after 17+ hours there are NO mirrors on the wind turb jeep!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Good guys - you and everyone else will remember Taff Walker, the last Master Pilot in the RAF on active flying duties, no doubt?
Nut Loose: re cold weather clothing. When I was at Gut on Harriers we had the pathetic CW gear that we were issued. It used to p*** us of mightily when headquarters guys used to come for a visit in the winter with full cold weather parkas. I remember one of our guys was threatened with a charge for wearing his own sheepskin jacket on the line and believe me, it got bloody cold at Gut in the winter.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,064
Received 2,935 Likes
on
1,250 Posts
Yep, Mr Wessex, used to relate the odd story from the War if you asked. I walked across the apron at Odi on the open day with him and coming upon a MK 19 Spit he regaled that they wouldn't let him near the last one he saw as it was still secret. 
Yup the green cold weather kit that leaked when wet and made you sweat when dry so either way you ended up wet.. What really pissed us we knew it was minus 20 plus and they still wouldn't even issue cold weather kit on short term loan, even the proper gloves which were essential in those temperatures.
Yup the green cold weather kit that leaked when wet and made you sweat when dry so either way you ended up wet.. What really pissed us we knew it was minus 20 plus and they still wouldn't even issue cold weather kit on short term loan, even the proper gloves which were essential in those temperatures.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yep, Mr Wessex, used to relate the odd story from the War if you asked.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: South of Old Warden
Age: 87
Posts: 1,375
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Yes, the Winters in Germany could be extremely cold.
During my first Winter, '55 we were issued with WW11 flying suits used by Bomber Command crews. I think they were made from canvas!
We were then issued with kapok filled jackets and trousers, which were very warm but not waterproof! There were, apparently, waterproof outers but we never received them. There was a rumour they were left overs from the Korean war!
During my first Winter, '55 we were issued with WW11 flying suits used by Bomber Command crews. I think they were made from canvas!
We were then issued with kapok filled jackets and trousers, which were very warm but not waterproof! There were, apparently, waterproof outers but we never received them. There was a rumour they were left overs from the Korean war!
Arthur Vine
A legend. Not only was he one of the last Typhoon (not Mustang) pilots in the RAF but he regularly got at least 100 hours a year more than me on 228 (F4) OCU, The old bugger!.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: 23, Railway Cuttings, East Cheam
Age: 68
Posts: 3,115
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not only was he one of the last Typhoon (not Mustang)
If you were there 74-78 on the OCU then I probably knew you...I was a techy on the line and in the shed at various intervals.
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: South Africa
Age: 87
Posts: 1,329
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seeing as the thread has wandered to ColdWet clothing.
I was at RAFLP Istres. near Marseille, 57/58.
We wore KD from May to Sept, but we had a cool breeze called the Mistral that blew at any time of the year. When it blew in KD season, it was the only place I was at, where we wore anoraks with KD
I was at RAFLP Istres. near Marseille, 57/58.
We wore KD from May to Sept, but we had a cool breeze called the Mistral that blew at any time of the year. When it blew in KD season, it was the only place I was at, where we wore anoraks with KD
Anyone enjoyed an oil pressure switch change on a C130K GTC, in situ. Did one in ASI some time back. You needed 5ft long arms, and an ability to "visualise" the reality of what your fingers were doing, wire locking the nuts after replacing it was fun, one handed at full stretch, but then, I suspect all ground crew were masochists in one way or another.
Smudge
Smudge
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: The Fletcher Memorial Home
Age: 59
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Smudge, you hit the nail on the head, masochists to a man (or woman).
You can spot real aircraft maintainers because they put their kids christmas toys together whilst lying upside down on the sofa, in the dark, armed with a Leatherman, holding a penlight torch with a failing battery between their teeth.
Old aircraft maintainers use a GS screwdriver (or a No 8 bit for the anglo-french contingent)
You can spot real aircraft maintainers because they put their kids christmas toys together whilst lying upside down on the sofa, in the dark, armed with a Leatherman, holding a penlight torch with a failing battery between their teeth.
Old aircraft maintainers use a GS screwdriver (or a No 8 bit for the anglo-french contingent)
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,064
Received 2,935 Likes
on
1,250 Posts
As someone once said to me, Aircraft Engineering is like Gynaecology, you spend hours peering up into dark small holes and trying to reach things just out of reach, the only difference is on the whole the work place tends to smell better.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: PETERBOROUGH
Age: 62
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
F4 throttle controllex cx while on 56 sqn, did two in 6 1/2 yrs, the last at Akrotiri Golf dispersal hangar in '92. Working in a sweatbox for 5 days until it was finished
