Taking friends up for a joy ride
Guetersloh to Topcliffe as a civvy Met Man, totally unauth. c. 1967 ......... a Topcliffe Varsity. My family were still in Thirsk after a 10 week wait for an OMQ at Guetersloh.
But how I got back to work I know not!
But how I got back to work I know not!
I as lucky in the 80s, ex GD and posted to Command Accounts at Brampton. Command Accountant (first non GD winner of the Sword at the Towers) not known for sense of humour. Nevertheless I suggested that as I had the budgie on my jumper I should inspect flying stations. The WO who did the programme agreed and so I visited all the Support Command flying stations. Flew in something at nearly all of the, Valley managed to get me Hawk (with Stn Cdr who had been my QFI for Ex 1 as Gnat stude) and rotary. I did Bedford-Farnborough-Boscombe Down by air then flew in the Harvard. It was one way of assessing the relationship of usually a first tour OC Accounts with the waterfront, I did the accounting stuff in the evening, and a good time was had by all, especially me. Thanks to all who fixed it 30 years ago, but bet it would not happen now. When I got back after the Harvard flight my wife said I had the widest grin on my face she had ever seen.
I don't know if they still do it, but back when I was flying KC 135s SAC had a program where we could take our wives along on a refueling mission. I got to do it twice at different bases. I actually got a little respect around the house for a couple of days after.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
TTN, me too. I was bomber ops at Tengah when the call came from 74. After a long search for a guy on 44, well 5 seconds i guess, I was on my way. My ops role really was to receive the codes when the Vulcan returned. No sweat and I was back in good time.
Got a rollicking from the flt cdr but as he wasn't in my CoC I couldn't be added to even apologise
Got a rollicking from the flt cdr but as he wasn't in my CoC I couldn't be added to even apologise
RAF Benson 1962; a small but vociferous section of the population of Benson village and Wallingford town were complaining about the noise that the new Argosys were making.
So, one Saturday, we had an open day and anyone from the area was welcome to come up to RAF Benson for a visit and go for a ride in an Argosy. I was escorting 40-odd locals out to one of our 267 Sqn machines. One of them was a vicar complete with dog collar. He earnestly told me that he had a confession to make!!!
"I don't really mind the noise but I have always wanted to go for a trip in an Argosy". I assured him that we didn't mind that at all and that I was sure that his AOC in C would also forgive him.
Come to think of it, I can remember a 53 Sqn reunion at Brize where we were all taken for a tour of SW England in a VC-10 flown by ex-53 crew members. (I was flying DC-10s for Fred Laker at the time).
So, one Saturday, we had an open day and anyone from the area was welcome to come up to RAF Benson for a visit and go for a ride in an Argosy. I was escorting 40-odd locals out to one of our 267 Sqn machines. One of them was a vicar complete with dog collar. He earnestly told me that he had a confession to make!!!
"I don't really mind the noise but I have always wanted to go for a trip in an Argosy". I assured him that we didn't mind that at all and that I was sure that his AOC in C would also forgive him.
Come to think of it, I can remember a 53 Sqn reunion at Brize where we were all taken for a tour of SW England in a VC-10 flown by ex-53 crew members. (I was flying DC-10s for Fred Laker at the time).
Former colleague of mine was in the MT at Binbrook.....Lightning needed an air test. Young pilot comes into the office where my colleague was. Asks if anyone fancies a quick trip.....former colleague says "no thanks...I'm off to play football". He's bitterly regretted that decision ever since! Hercules visits LBA back in the late '80's to drop the Red Devils over the Great Yorkshire show ground in Harrogate. My mother worked at LBA.....had a word with her boss who in turn was a friend of the airport chief exec (G.D.). Next thing I know, I'm in the back of the Herc with some airport firefighters being thrown around the sky over Harrogate, trying not to barf! I had asked if I could sit on the flight deck and was right royally f*@%ed off and sent down the back. It was only when I getting off, I noticed the 2 or 3 babes still on the flight deck!!!!!!! Understandable really!!!!
As an Air Cadet in the late 80s I used to make a regular nuisance of myself writing away to squadron commanders asking for trips. Every letter started with the line, if you don't ask you don't get. Don't think my CO was very approving but that wasn't going to stop me.
I received the full gamut of responses from "Sure, delighted to have you!" to a couple of pretty vociferous rejections. Most were in the positive however.
The odd one required that I go for a medical at my local station or get my ears syringed, but others not. Of course I had to do bang seat familiarisations and was invited to throw myself out of the odd cockpit trainer.
My very first attempt as a humble 15 year old, I was accepted for a trip with the Jag OCU at Lossie. Sadly upon arrival, I was advised that all their 2 seaters were U/S (did they really only have 2?). That has bugged me ever since but I still lucked out to an extent. The FRADU boys were visiting and I managed to bag a trip in one of their Falcon 20s. Pity all the Hunters seats were spoken for.
I subsequently managed trips in a JP3, Canberra, Victor, Shack, Nimrod (XV230!) and Wessex.
I even blagged a trip in the Sentry during my first employ which was with the MoD. Appropriate checks were apparently made from NATO High Command!
I also did a rapid decompression in the chamber at North Luffenham.
Sadly that fast jet trip eluded me. Still happy days though!
Cooch
I received the full gamut of responses from "Sure, delighted to have you!" to a couple of pretty vociferous rejections. Most were in the positive however.
The odd one required that I go for a medical at my local station or get my ears syringed, but others not. Of course I had to do bang seat familiarisations and was invited to throw myself out of the odd cockpit trainer.
My very first attempt as a humble 15 year old, I was accepted for a trip with the Jag OCU at Lossie. Sadly upon arrival, I was advised that all their 2 seaters were U/S (did they really only have 2?). That has bugged me ever since but I still lucked out to an extent. The FRADU boys were visiting and I managed to bag a trip in one of their Falcon 20s. Pity all the Hunters seats were spoken for.
I subsequently managed trips in a JP3, Canberra, Victor, Shack, Nimrod (XV230!) and Wessex.
I even blagged a trip in the Sentry during my first employ which was with the MoD. Appropriate checks were apparently made from NATO High Command!
I also did a rapid decompression in the chamber at North Luffenham.
Sadly that fast jet trip eluded me. Still happy days though!
Cooch
During my time on the C130K we used to have families days for all the squadrons and the various supporting wings at Lyneham. My late father in law had his one and only ever flight with us. We still have the framed autographed print. Usual route was down to the Severn bridges and back via Cheddar gorge. When my father in law flew we came back over the village where we lived so with the ramp and door open he had a very good view. If you read the Hercules thread you will come across the tale of the alleged 'Captain's friend' ! My brother was the squadron clerk on the Lightning training Flight at Middleton and got a trip in the T4. I may never forgive him. I worked on Javelins, Hunters and Lightnings and never came close. Do they still do Families Day flying ?
In 1966, a month before I was due to end my tour on 105 sqn in Aden, I was rostered to fly an Argosy back to Benson for servicing via Jeddah, El Adem and a night stop in Luqa. I put in a request to take my wife and two year old son with me and much to my surprise it was approved by MEAF HQ with one condition - the British Consul in Jeddah must agree to accommodate my family if we went unserviceable during the refuelling stop. This was a problem, but as luck would have it a couple of weeks before departure I met the Consul during a series of trips to Jeddah carrying 30mm canon shells to the Saudi Air Force. We did a deal - covert Pork Sausages and Bacon from Aden in return for a bedroom at the Consulate if we broke down. The return flight went smoothly and the offer was not taken up.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Finningley did in the 90s, Lyneham didn't in the noughtys, and Cranditz didn't even allow cockpit access last year although we blagged access for the grandchildren from one of the AAC studes after an RAF stude said no but then went for a break.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Doc at Lossie fancied himself as a psychiatrist and tried his hand at curing a 'wife of' of aviophobia. As part of his kill or cure treatment the victim, sorry patient, was strapped in to a beam seat in the Shackleton which then started engines and taxied with the door open.
I don't think the cure worked.
I don't think the cure worked.
During my time on the C130K we used to have families days for all the squadrons and the various supporting wings at Lyneham.
Was fortunate enough to get a pax ride in a Sea King from RAF Boulmer in the mid 80's as an ATC cadet-a prize for having the highest marks in one exam.
I also managed an AEF trip in a Chipmunk the previous year (pilot was a Sqd Ldr Leathers IIRC)
There endeth my military flying career.....
I also managed an AEF trip in a Chipmunk the previous year (pilot was a Sqd Ldr Leathers IIRC)
There endeth my military flying career.....
We must have been pretty lucky in my CCF days, the AAC were positively itching to get us airborne. I was treated to multiple rides in Scouts and Lynxes; one of the Lynx rides was quite sporty, but the highlight was a ride in the front of a Gazelle over West Berlin, some time in the early 80s. Exciting stuff for an impressionable schoolboy on his first trip outside the UK!
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: AKT no more
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It can still happen.
As recently as 2008 or 9 my wife and a small number of her friends flew in a Herc whilst the Red Devils did a practice drop over Akrotiri.
A call had gone into TPMH that there would be spaces available as a thank you for being there in case they were needed.
Some uniformed types took up the offer and selected friends went along too.
As recently as 2008 or 9 my wife and a small number of her friends flew in a Herc whilst the Red Devils did a practice drop over Akrotiri.
A call had gone into TPMH that there would be spaces available as a thank you for being there in case they were needed.
Some uniformed types took up the offer and selected friends went along too.
LL, I recognise that view ! But not on that exact trip. After being rehoused from our 'slum' (the description on the letter my parents received) I was very lucky to find myself 100 yds from RAF Usworth, now the Nissan car factory. My friend worked there as a tarmac hand waiting for his RAF joining instructions. So in my ATC uniform and armed with my parents permission I did a lot of flying in Ansons Chipmunks and Oxfords. Almost got a night flight in the Harvard after cleaning it but the ungrateful thing went u/s. Another cadet complained about my 'hogging' but it was just a case , as we have seen above, of right place right time. And as I spent most of my free time there cleaning pushing polishing and sweeping I was always available. The ATC CO forbid me to do any more flying. But I did keep up the flying but just did not log it. I was aided and abetted in this by all concerned at Usworth.
I have recently read Tony Blackman's excellent book, Vulcan Test Pilot. I know it isn't RAF but, during his displays of the Vulcan at Farnborough, members of the Avro office staff were invited to sit in with him. On the flight back to Woodford, his wife sat in the righthand seat. How things have changed?
If we are happy to talk about unauthorised military pax - one of the most famous ones must have been Roly Beamont CBE, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar - he was court-martialled for transporting a WAAF to a dance at another RAF station in his single-seat Hurricane, and was severely admonished.
West Falkland (Cape Orford), 1983. Army chopper lands at Cara Cara radar to deliver Senior Officer for a visit. I am tasked with looking after the pilot and getting him some lunch.
I ask pilot (Army Major) for a trip up the coast. Lectured about how it isn't a a fairground ride blah blah blah.
Had lunch and Major asks if I have a spare cigarette as he left his in Stanley. Yes, say I, I have a store room with loads of them. Long story short, 200 Benson & Hedges and a drop of fuel (As a JO, was trained in refuelling due to our location) later, I am whizzing about at not a lot of feet for 20 minutes.
Also got 30 minutes in a Gazelle in exchange for some oranges.
Those were the days.
I ask pilot (Army Major) for a trip up the coast. Lectured about how it isn't a a fairground ride blah blah blah.
Had lunch and Major asks if I have a spare cigarette as he left his in Stanley. Yes, say I, I have a store room with loads of them. Long story short, 200 Benson & Hedges and a drop of fuel (As a JO, was trained in refuelling due to our location) later, I am whizzing about at not a lot of feet for 20 minutes.
Also got 30 minutes in a Gazelle in exchange for some oranges.
Those were the days.