RAF Buccaneer - 12 Squadron Training Film - NATO OPEN GATE - 1978
I saw this film as a cadet back in the late 70s/early 80s and like one of the early posters on this thread I went out and bought the LP by Vangelis - still got it - sadly never got much closer to the Bucc than summer camps at St Athan when they were bringing the ex-RN airframes up to RAF standard, and then about ten years later probably visiting the same ones based at Lossiemouth.
In those days the careers office staff used to bring these along on 8mm cine film, I remember another one which I think was called Watchdogs and was all about RAF Germany as was. Happy - if a bit scary - days.
In those days the careers office staff used to bring these along on 8mm cine film, I remember another one which I think was called Watchdogs and was all about RAF Germany as was. Happy - if a bit scary - days.
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I noticed on one of the films the navy Phantoms were flying without the blue ballast sparrow missiles which in my experience were always fitted if they weren't carrying live missiles - anyone know why?
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IIRC the use of ballast missiles was to maintain C of G within limits, if fuel was in #7 tank. Ergo if #7 tank not used, ballast missiles not used. IIRC RAF removed functionality of #7 tank on some jets, it was still there but plumbing blanked off, after someone did something silly and forgot they didn't have ballast, and attempted aerobatics or something with a full #7 tank and aft cg.
Thereafter use of ballast missiles became a precaution rather than necessity.
Ttfn
My late Father was an OpsO for that Ex (RAuxAF) and bought the album 'Spiral' as a direct result. I still have it in my vinyl collection.
Last edited by ExAscoteer2; 8th May 2021 at 19:31.
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