PE Fleet
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PE Fleet
In days some time ago, late 80s, in a place called St Giles there was a fleet managed of all types. I wandered those corridors and sent things in directions to do all manner of things, but alas no pics. Anyone got any from that era to remind?
Goodness, for a moment there, I thought you were paying lip service to the infamous 'San Gillé' area, just north of Lincoln in the 1980's.
The only thing being passed around there at that time were wives and alcohol (often at the same time)...allegedly
The only thing being passed around there at that time were wives and alcohol (often at the same time)...allegedly
Spent many a `time wasting` meeting there in the 80s trying to get `stuff` procured..
Great fun.
Great fun.
As Mechta Senior worked for MOD (PE) in St Giles Court for many years, I tried to locate a picture of the place on the net. All I could find was a plan of the place and this quote:
"The building was constructed in the early 1950's and contributes little to the public realm."
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...MLm6nA&cad=rja
Presumably the enforced ban on cameras in MOD buildings in those days has a lot to do with the lack of photos.
I did find a picture here in post #5.
St Giles Court | West End | 49m | 15 fl - SkyscraperCity
Wikipedia describes the area thus:
To my mind, a rather harsh description of MOD(PE) civil servants, but I didn't work there...
"The building was constructed in the early 1950's and contributes little to the public realm."
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rc...MLm6nA&cad=rja
Presumably the enforced ban on cameras in MOD buildings in those days has a lot to do with the lack of photos.
I did find a picture here in post #5.
St Giles Court | West End | 49m | 15 fl - SkyscraperCity
Wikipedia describes the area thus:
The grim appearance of St Giles Court contributed to the area becoming a magnet for prostitutes and the homeless.
Last edited by Mechta; 2nd Nov 2015 at 09:48.
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That was it!
The very place. 
Working for PE I was called worse... That said the fleet was interesting in those days. Think the BAC1-11 flying lavs were the last I recall being added at that time. Around 1987/88 - any memories /images of the fleet out there?
Working for PE I was called worse... That said the fleet was interesting in those days. Think the BAC1-11 flying lavs were the last I recall being added at that time. Around 1987/88 - any memories /images of the fleet out there?
Like most "MoD" buildings in London, St Giles was leased. It made the numbers easy to justify the move to ShabbeyWood.
At one time or another I worked on every floor except the basement and ground. Around 1993 the ceiling in my 8th floor office collapsed, making a soggy mess of the engineering drawings for an upgrade.
To the original question, the PE Fleet flew under D/Flying (PE) rules, not the Release to Service. In technical terms, the aircraft usually evolved into the Sample or "Hack", which meant there was no expectation it would ever be fit for Service use again.
The concept still exists, but of course is no longer called the PE Fleet.
We were sat around as well waiting for Main Building to state their requirements. We usually gave up, stated them ourselves and carried on. In November 1994 I inherited a 5 year old programme. There was one file - containing 5 years of monthly cunning plans, each slipping the programmme a month with the statement "Await Requirement". Wrote the Cardinal Point Spec and had it under contract in 3 days. 4 years later the RN endorsed the requirement retrospectively. CDP then approved funding to enter Development, after the 5th Production set had been delivered and flown. You just gotta know how.
At one time or another I worked on every floor except the basement and ground. Around 1993 the ceiling in my 8th floor office collapsed, making a soggy mess of the engineering drawings for an upgrade.
To the original question, the PE Fleet flew under D/Flying (PE) rules, not the Release to Service. In technical terms, the aircraft usually evolved into the Sample or "Hack", which meant there was no expectation it would ever be fit for Service use again.
The concept still exists, but of course is no longer called the PE Fleet.
Spent many a `time wasting` meeting there in the 80s trying to get `stuff` procured.
We usually gave up, stated them ourselves and carried on. In November 1994 I inherited a 5 year old programme. There was one file - containing 5 years of monthly cunning plans, each slipping the programmme a month with the statement "Await Requirement". Wrote the Cardinal Point Spec and had it under contract in 3 days. 4 years later the RN endorsed the requirement retrospectively. CDP then approved funding to enter Development, after the 5th Production set had been delivered and flown. You just gotta know how.
Expe, If you search by the locations from which the MoD(PE) fleet were operated, you should have more joy. E.g.:
Mechta Senior mentioned how he observed contractors painting the window sills, straight on top of all the accumulated dirt and pigeon droppings. He contacted the building services manager, who effectively told him to mind his own business!
As Mechta Senior's work included helicopter winchmen's harnesses and devices for downed airmen to get out of tall trees in Belize, he kept samples in the office, as he didn't have a lot of faith in getting out the official way in the event of a fire.
I had a flight in the Farnborough BAC 1-11. It was being used for early GPS trials, and was bought secondhand from an airline as I recall. Our department used the Dakota for testing infra-red linescans before flying them on the XRAE2 UAV, and later I flew to West Freugh in the Andover for TIALD** trials, when the Navaho Chieftains were all sick or otherwise busy. The TIALD pod itself flew on the Buccaneer.
*"Raspberry Ripple" was the nickname for the colour scheme used on most MoD (PE) aircraft
**Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator
- RAE Farnborough (Try Googling RAE Farnborough "raspberry ripple"*)
- RAE Bedford http://www.pprune.org/flight-testing...thurleigh.html
- RAE Llanbedr
- RAE Aberporth
- RAE West Freugh
- A&AEE Boscombe Down
- RRE Pershore http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...-pershore.html
- Shoeburyness
At one time or another I worked on every floor except the basement and ground. Around 1993 the ceiling in my 8th floor office collapsed, making a soggy mess of the engineering drawings for an upgrade.
As Mechta Senior's work included helicopter winchmen's harnesses and devices for downed airmen to get out of tall trees in Belize, he kept samples in the office, as he didn't have a lot of faith in getting out the official way in the event of a fire.
I had a flight in the Farnborough BAC 1-11. It was being used for early GPS trials, and was bought secondhand from an airline as I recall. Our department used the Dakota for testing infra-red linescans before flying them on the XRAE2 UAV, and later I flew to West Freugh in the Andover for TIALD** trials, when the Navaho Chieftains were all sick or otherwise busy. The TIALD pod itself flew on the Buccaneer.
*"Raspberry Ripple" was the nickname for the colour scheme used on most MoD (PE) aircraft
**Thermal Imaging Airborne Laser Designator
Last edited by Mechta; 2nd Nov 2015 at 22:30.
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Memories
Fantastic, thanks all. I worked under a certain D/Flying(PE) around the name of Schooler (sp?) late '80s. Fun watching people trying to procure anything. I moved engines around and found some merlins hiding in a wind tunnel, probably Farnborough. Being youthful and all that was keen to rescue for BBMF. Went grey trying and left. Guess they are still there.
Fantastic, thanks all. I worked under a certain D/Flying(PE) around the name of Schooler (sp?) late '80s. Fun watching people trying to procure anything. I moved engines around and found some merlins hiding in a wind tunnel, probably Farnborough. Being youthful and all that was keen to rescue for BBMF. Went grey trying and left. Guess they are still there.
He presented me with a 'Good Show' award in the mid '80s after he had moved to Boscombe, I think Graham Williams was his successor as COEF at Farnborough. Last heard of David instructing on microlights at Old Sarum.
I happened to visit Coningsby for summer camp with my ATC cadets about the time the RAE Transport Flight Devons were being replaced with Navajo Chieftains. The BBMF people told me they had a 'hack' Devon which they'd literally 'pinched' from Wyton as it was about to be retired, problem was as it wasn't officially on charge, they couldn't get any spares for it. I told them about the Farnborough Devons being retired and a few weeks after summer camp, the BBMF Devon arrived at Farnborough. It was pushed into 'A' Shed (where the Devons had been serviced) and the doors were closed. About 2 hours later, it was pushed out, noticeably lower on its oleos than when it went in!!
BBMF later replaced this Devon with Farnborough's Dakota ZA947 which had been erroneously registered KG661 while at West Freugh, the 'real' KG661 having apparently being written off whilst serving with the RCAF.
Re the BAC 111s; the one at Farnborough (XX919) was already on strength when I was posted there in March '74 although I didn't see it until August as they were re-surfacing the main runway until then. Bedford's 1-11s came along later, the last one being about '92 I think (may be wrong) .
By the way, I don't think there were any MOD(PE) aircraft actually based at Aberporth, all the ones used for Cardigan Bay trials were based at Llanbedr.
Last edited by chevvron; 4th Nov 2015 at 00:43.
It was Mike who flew a Harvard through a deploying parachute which had just emerged from a Hercules over Salisbury Plain. Fortunately the parachute was being used to drop a vehicle so no-one was hurt in the ensuing heavy touchdown.
Who was the Farnborough CO from the late 80s who was CFI at Old Sarum in the early 2000s? When I started flying there he kept asking where he remembered me from - since he was likely to do my skills test I was reluctant to remind him that I had conducted his Command Accounts Inspection!
It was Mike who flew a Harvard through a deploying parachute which had just emerged from a Hercules over Salisbury Plain. Fortunately the parachute was being used to drop a vehicle so no-one was hurt in the ensuing heavy touchdown.
Actually it was three 60 ft parachutes. The Harvard shredded one and damaged another, so the vehicle (A Supacat) came down on one and a half parachutes and was undamaged. I know 'cos I was there.
Boscombe's Blower Tunnel hasn't been used for several years and its rumoured to be due for scrapping.
Actually it was three 60 ft parachutes. The Harvard shredded one and damaged another, so the vehicle (A Supacat) came down on one and a half parachutes and was undamaged. I know 'cos I was there.
Boscombe's Blower Tunnel hasn't been used for several years and its rumoured to be due for scrapping.
Yes, I think you are right. thanks. That Command accounts Inspection was when I started the week at Bedford, flew in the Raspberry Ripple to Farnborough, did that inspection then flew on to Boscombe Down, where I had a trip I the front seat of the Harvard, did that inspection and at the end of the week flew back to Bedford. Great way to do business.
*"Raspberry Ripple" was the nickname for the colour scheme used on most MoD (PE) aircraft