Ex Vulcan riggers/XM558 riggers
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
AS, last time I was there we had landed in the venerable Shackleton, can't remember why. The inimitable John Elias shut down and we enjoyed a picnic lunch in the lush grass outside the shed.
After lunch we departed but had an oil leak when in the vicinity of Wittering. Once ATC elicited the facts, like we had no civvies, we were told we would not be allowed in the mess and would have to stay down town in Stamford. We divert ed to Cottesmore instead.
Cottesmore allowed us in the mess but tried to banish us to a scruffs bar. Instead we joined the Germans in the main bar as they were in flying suits, unlike the brits in jacket and tie.
After lunch we departed but had an oil leak when in the vicinity of Wittering. Once ATC elicited the facts, like we had no civvies, we were told we would not be allowed in the mess and would have to stay down town in Stamford. We divert ed to Cottesmore instead.
Cottesmore allowed us in the mess but tried to banish us to a scruffs bar. Instead we joined the Germans in the main bar as they were in flying suits, unlike the brits in jacket and tie.
Ancient Squipper,
Sorry for the delay in responding. On return from Akrotiri after the Coup and the Turkish invasion, I was not sent to Wattisham with 56, but enjoyed a 3 year holiday at Cranwell, home of the brave, and the trainee pilots. JP5 & 3s, and Morelands were to become my acquaintance, and I learned to play Bridge. With respect to Akrotiri, I was on holiday at six and a half mile beach (Kyrenia) when the coup happened, and we managed to drive back to Limassol the day before the Turks invaded. Their marines landed on six and a half mile beach ! Sometimes you get lucky, other times you get posted to Cranwell.
Smudge
Sorry for the delay in responding. On return from Akrotiri after the Coup and the Turkish invasion, I was not sent to Wattisham with 56, but enjoyed a 3 year holiday at Cranwell, home of the brave, and the trainee pilots. JP5 & 3s, and Morelands were to become my acquaintance, and I learned to play Bridge. With respect to Akrotiri, I was on holiday at six and a half mile beach (Kyrenia) when the coup happened, and we managed to drive back to Limassol the day before the Turks invaded. Their marines landed on six and a half mile beach ! Sometimes you get lucky, other times you get posted to Cranwell.
Smudge
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Smudge
61/2 mile beach is now the Acapulco Hotel and Water Park but in our day there was just a few NAAFI caravans belonging to Akrotiri and a small restaurant/ shack. Always went to 6 mile beach as for a few pounds guys from the section would hire you their tent for the week that was permenanty pitched by the shoreline. It also had a restaurant of sorts with the advantage of a toilet block and showers. My children were straight in the sea as soon as it was light enough which was about 5am. What wonderful memories. Sadly it is now out of bounds as it is a Turkish army camp.
Paradise lost I think.
61/2 mile beach is now the Acapulco Hotel and Water Park but in our day there was just a few NAAFI caravans belonging to Akrotiri and a small restaurant/ shack. Always went to 6 mile beach as for a few pounds guys from the section would hire you their tent for the week that was permenanty pitched by the shoreline. It also had a restaurant of sorts with the advantage of a toilet block and showers. My children were straight in the sea as soon as it was light enough which was about 5am. What wonderful memories. Sadly it is now out of bounds as it is a Turkish army camp.
Paradise lost I think.
As an ex flat iron rigger, one of C/T "Topper" Browns lads at Waddo, I don't get all misty eyed on seeing a Vulcan flying, it was not an easy aircraft to maintain. Wing fuel tank bag change springs to mind, window box change on the line in a snowstorm, sweeping snow off the wing with no safety harness, (no hard points for a harness), air leaks from the ducting in the nose wheel bay, brake unit change on the taxy-way after the two winged master race overheated them on landing and caused them to weld together! We had a good laugh though when we saw the RCDS flypast with one aircraft the crew door open instead of the bomb doors! There was an airman killed by the crew entrance when it blew open when the aircraft was being pressurised in the hangar as he was checking for leaks around the door. So not my favourite aeroplane, much preferred the Hunter, and I don't mean the mighty one.
Steve Chapple RIP. Can you remember what year that happened Haltonapp? I recall his parents coming down to Waddo from Finningley, to present the Raven Club with a painting in his memory. During a visit some years ago I went looking for the painting, not a sign of it. Most likely cast aside by someone who was unaware of its significance.
Did you work for Fat Mac before Topper took the reins?
Did you work for Fat Mac before Topper took the reins?
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As an ex flat iron rigger, one of C/T "Topper" Browns lads at Waddo, I don't get all misty eyed on seeing a Vulcan flying, it was not an easy aircraft to maintain.
Mind you as an Air Radio Fitter getting to play with the avionics which were the cutting edge of technology back then was something else again. I can well understand the grunts from Halton doing it tough. But hey that's life.
I believe XH558 was one of ours on 230 OCU B Sdrn at Finningley early '60's. So nothing new, got to play with her already.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Were you there in 68?
Operational generation, not a Mick, when every single window load out was wrong and hopper quantities unknown. The bay had to empty and reload a set, taken out to an aircraft already on state and crew in attendance, drop and reload.
Back to the bay and start again. 11 or 12 aircraft and IIRC each large box contained 1024 bundles. I think it took about 16 hours.
I had played a minor role in the cock up. The wing AEO hadn't told the engineers and i hadn't thought to ask the wing AEO. Similarly eng plans had never asked the AEO either. Complete c&c snafu.
Operational generation, not a Mick, when every single window load out was wrong and hopper quantities unknown. The bay had to empty and reload a set, taken out to an aircraft already on state and crew in attendance, drop and reload.
Back to the bay and start again. 11 or 12 aircraft and IIRC each large box contained 1024 bundles. I think it took about 16 hours.
I had played a minor role in the cock up. The wing AEO hadn't told the engineers and i hadn't thought to ask the wing AEO. Similarly eng plans had never asked the AEO either. Complete c&c snafu.
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sweeping snow off the wing with no safety harness
Morale was fairly low at Scampton anyway mostly thanks to an over zealous SWO, who held a parade every Friday at 5PM on the square for an hours drill,
for those who had had their name taken by him or one of his corporals during the week for some minor misdeed.
I enjoyed the techie work (instruments) on the Vulcan and went on some excellent detachments with 617
but after 2 years I wasn't sorry to leave Scampton.
Goudie, did they issue magnetised knee pads for polishing the underside of the wing 
I'm sure, having polished many a Lightning, I can't see the point of using Wadpol on a painted aircraft, apart from removing dried flies. Perhaps Scampton had some sort of Lightning envy ! And having looked on line, I have to apologise as it seems that ;
Wadpol Aircraft Polish
Wadpol is a highly effective impregnated wadding that cleans and polishes weathered or corroded aluminium and painted surfaces, giving a smooth finish and lasting protection thanks to its built-in corrosion inhibitors. It is widely used by airlines for polishing leading edges, and efficiently removes stains and exhaust emission deposits from engine cowlings.
As for the drill etc, I'm very glad I never served at Scampton. I know for sure, I would have enjoyed putting the Vulcan Q-AVUL-A qualification to use, some bloody good blokes on the squadron ground crews.
Smudge
I'm sure, having polished many a Lightning, I can't see the point of using Wadpol on a painted aircraft, apart from removing dried flies. Perhaps Scampton had some sort of Lightning envy ! And having looked on line, I have to apologise as it seems that ;Wadpol Aircraft Polish
Wadpol is a highly effective impregnated wadding that cleans and polishes weathered or corroded aluminium and painted surfaces, giving a smooth finish and lasting protection thanks to its built-in corrosion inhibitors. It is widely used by airlines for polishing leading edges, and efficiently removes stains and exhaust emission deposits from engine cowlings.
As for the drill etc, I'm very glad I never served at Scampton. I know for sure, I would have enjoyed putting the Vulcan Q-AVUL-A qualification to use, some bloody good blokes on the squadron ground crews.
Smudge
FAO Ancient Squipper
Ancient Squipper...We spoke! - I trust you are well
OK OK...I admit to a little poetic licence when talking of fitting one `on my own`. But it went a bit like this:
1. OOP chute change due on `X` jet whilst on Micky Finn deployment.. (Not streamed on landing - I guess aerodynamic breaking was simple into the teeth of a Brawdy gale).
2. SAC Me - summoned by the Crew Chief (Robbo the Screaming Skull??) and told to get it done.
3. Crew chief details A N other to help.
4. We get the new chute from the nose, We put it up on a raiser and he goes off to supper.
5. I get the door open, disconnect the shackle etc and push the old chute out of the stowage by increment until gravity takes over and the whole lot drops to the ground on the other side of the ECM bay. The shackle bounces off the duct on the way past changing the duct shape only slightly..
6. I drag new chute strop and shackle into chute bay, motor the hook shut and then start snaking the big brown slug into position. (At this point I cant remember the exact sequence and point at which I had to check the dolls eye indicator) but anyway....
7. I remove the door tool so I could swing into the bay kicking the big slug into an `S` shape
8. I fit the door tool back in position and close the door making sure the latch/lock had closed (This may have been when the dolls eye was checked, and if incorrect, the crew chief was summoned to poke a broom handle up through the ECM bay to gently thump the microswitch `helping the travel` of the latching system)
9. When all the hard work was done A N Other returns from supper and..if I am lucky helps me lift the old chute back into the cockpit....
10. If I am not lucky, the old chute remained on the pan and is probably still there..
If the jet streamed on landing ignore step 1
So; Not entirely on my own...but blo*dy nearly!
OK OK...I admit to a little poetic licence when talking of fitting one `on my own`. But it went a bit like this:
1. OOP chute change due on `X` jet whilst on Micky Finn deployment.. (Not streamed on landing - I guess aerodynamic breaking was simple into the teeth of a Brawdy gale).
2. SAC Me - summoned by the Crew Chief (Robbo the Screaming Skull??) and told to get it done.
3. Crew chief details A N other to help.
4. We get the new chute from the nose, We put it up on a raiser and he goes off to supper.
5. I get the door open, disconnect the shackle etc and push the old chute out of the stowage by increment until gravity takes over and the whole lot drops to the ground on the other side of the ECM bay. The shackle bounces off the duct on the way past changing the duct shape only slightly..
6. I drag new chute strop and shackle into chute bay, motor the hook shut and then start snaking the big brown slug into position. (At this point I cant remember the exact sequence and point at which I had to check the dolls eye indicator) but anyway....
7. I remove the door tool so I could swing into the bay kicking the big slug into an `S` shape
8. I fit the door tool back in position and close the door making sure the latch/lock had closed (This may have been when the dolls eye was checked, and if incorrect, the crew chief was summoned to poke a broom handle up through the ECM bay to gently thump the microswitch `helping the travel` of the latching system)
9. When all the hard work was done A N Other returns from supper and..if I am lucky helps me lift the old chute back into the cockpit....
10. If I am not lucky, the old chute remained on the pan and is probably still there..
If the jet streamed on landing ignore step 1
So; Not entirely on my own...but blo*dy nearly!
Riggers? Who needs em?
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Sounds like you had a bundle of fun Old Man. When you were bashing bits off tin triangles with that monster of a shackle I was at Barkston Heath and later Syerston and Hullavington during that time, All very low tech compared to you. Piston Provosts, Varsity and Valettas and J/Ps and lots of U/T baby Pilots and Navs.
Did you look at the Vulcan Video not like any LB54s that I have ever seen unless there was an earlier version?.
Never got the answer that I was looking for but not to worry the videos and the photo were a great bonus.
Regards Ancient.
Did you look at the Vulcan Video not like any LB54s that I have ever seen unless there was an earlier version?.
Never got the answer that I was looking for but not to worry the videos and the photo were a great bonus.
Regards Ancient.
We had engine blanks that were only used in adverse weather. Jet pipe covers even less. There were also 'spats' to cover the wheels. When we took an aircraft to Bitteswell they would become agitated if we didn't have all the kit. Of course we never did.
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Things don't change. In 1957 I did a Victor course at Gaydon, and was then posted to Transport Command
Apologies for thread drift.
I only remember "Topper" Brown, I arrived at Waddo in June 69, and left in October 70. Great memories of the Raven Club, the place to be in Lincoln on a Saturday night, and Sunday night with the pig and piglet of the week competition was always a hoot! The fatal incident with the door was in that period.
