Skies above Britain
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Skies above Britain
What a good programme, good mix of aviation interests. Highlighting once again in an understated way the bravery and professionalism of UK SAR amongst the other excellent features.
I thought the SAR section was brilliant - is there an equivalent of the AFC for civvies? That woman (the "winch wench") deserved one. The Typhoon guys doing decompression training brought back memories of North Luffenham, but they should have shown the one when they make you hypoxic - that can be quite funny for the observer! Good programme - looking forward to the next one.
Anyone know what that old French job was right at the end?
Anyone know what that old French job was right at the end?
Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard, based at White Waltham....
And yes, a very good programme, I thought.
Turning trousers have obviously come a long way since the things we wore in Gnat/Hunter days! But we regularly pulled 5G in the JP without them, even when there wasn't the current fitness obsession. Didn't seem to be a problem; neither was 7G in the Hawk (or 8G once in a Hunter T7...
) - so I wonder whether there's some benefit from repeated exposure to G forces as well as the various straining manoeuvres taught nowadays? Although sustaining 9G is something very different, of course.
And yes, a very good programme, I thought.
Turning trousers have obviously come a long way since the things we wore in Gnat/Hunter days! But we regularly pulled 5G in the JP without them, even when there wasn't the current fitness obsession. Didn't seem to be a problem; neither was 7G in the Hawk (or 8G once in a Hunter T7...
) - so I wonder whether there's some benefit from repeated exposure to G forces as well as the various straining manoeuvres taught nowadays? Although sustaining 9G is something very different, of course.
Very impressive. The SAR bit had me holding my breath.
Best not tell the JB lot the BBC have made a good program.
Best not tell the JB lot the BBC have made a good program.
Thanks guys - yes very like a Beaver head on, with a Lanc tail bolted on the back!
I remember pulling 6G in a JP without too much trouble without a suit when being flown by a display pilot. Wouldnt fancy it much now though!
I remember pulling 6G in a JP without too much trouble without a suit when being flown by a display pilot. Wouldnt fancy it much now though!
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The lone Typhoon QRA jet scenario went through more colour schemes than a 70's airline disaster movie.
Good programme
Kudos to the winch wench
..
Good programme
Kudos to the winch wench
..
Last edited by NutLoose; 17th Aug 2016 at 23:54.
The lone Typhoon QRA jet scenario went through more colour schemes than a 70's airline disaster movie
How long have the RAF had 'Flight Lewtenants'?
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Best not tell the JB lot the BBC have made a good program.
Must agree though, excellent programme.
My esteem for the SAR crews has reached new heights and
why are people like the "winch wench" not given gongs by
outgoing Prime Ministers rather than the rabble that get them.
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I was also thinking "medals!" But then I wondered if the crew themselves would welcome this or if it would be seen as a slight against their MRT colleagues who had found, secured and stabilised the casualty.
Just speculating, for all I know the MRT were as agog as the rest of us.
Just speculating, for all I know the MRT were as agog as the rest of us.
What was that strange morning conference thing with the Stn Cdr? Everyone standing around - is that some modern day 'motivation' idea? I know that Oma.....Stelios used to hold all easyJet meetings with everyone standing, so has that idea migrated across to the RAF?
I thought they were standing to attention cos the Staish was in the room
He is a Group Captain after all
I couldn't have been the only one who yelled at the telly "It's LEFTENANT you pillock!"
I was surprised by the lack of intemperate language by the SAR crew. Obviously no ex Army guys there.
As it involved the Military, there was an all too predictably sneering review from....you know who!
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...me-out-of-here
Enough! Get me out of here! Preferably to somewhere more reassuring, such as, erm, the RAF Typhoon counter-terrorism base. This is where a select group of pilots who have been on £8m training courses are primed and ready to leg it on to hi-tech planes to deal with any unidentified craft in British airspace. When Nats can’t get a plane to communicate with them, we rely on this lot to sort it out by scrambling jets in a matter of minutes. Once there, they trail them for a bit then waggle their wings theatrically, before flying up beside them and revealing their massive missiles like some kind of aggressively militaristic mating call. If this doesn’t work, then the prime minister makes a call on whether or not to blast them out of the sky. Theresa May is on holiday right now, and Boris Johnson is in charge. Just a thought.
The show did its best to ramp up the drama, but actually there was precious little. The unidentified plane that wandered into Gatwick’s flight path and forced the cancellation of all arrivals turned out to be piloted by a plonker. The plane trailed by a Typhoon that refused to respond turned out to be a training exercise. Boring. Although probably for the best, no matter how much the start of the third world war would have made for a more exciting hour of television.
The show did its best to ramp up the drama, but actually there was precious little. The unidentified plane that wandered into Gatwick’s flight path and forced the cancellation of all arrivals turned out to be piloted by a plonker. The plane trailed by a Typhoon that refused to respond turned out to be a training exercise. Boring. Although probably for the best, no matter how much the start of the third world war would have made for a more exciting hour of television.