Aircraft washing
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,921
Received 2,843 Likes
on
1,214 Posts
It was bad enough Wadpoling a Ten on a VIP
(Refers to RAF hicopleters)
Guest
Posts: n/a
On 110 in Burma, there was a superstition that a washing would always be followed by an accident to the airframe involved. This did seem to happen, more frequently than pure chance would suggest.
Moreover, a good coating of oil-soaked dust and mud improved the (already very effective) jungle camouflage, and was better left alone.
Nevertheless some VV-proud crews did do it - with 100 octane, as it was more plentiful than water down on the Flights. Never did it myself.
Moreover, a good coating of oil-soaked dust and mud improved the (already very effective) jungle camouflage, and was better left alone.
Nevertheless some VV-proud crews did do it - with 100 octane, as it was more plentiful than water down on the Flights. Never did it myself.
Last edited by Danny42C; 16th Jul 2018 at 12:24. Reason: Tidy up.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,921
Received 2,843 Likes
on
1,214 Posts
I still use 100 octane Danny 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: New Braunfels, TX
Age: 70
Posts: 1,954
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't speak for anything but UK C-17s which get sent here to San Antonio for depot maintenance. But when UK C-17s arrive here we (the contractor) do a thorough post flight inspection and then a very thorough wash. And by thorough I mean using hot water/detergents and pressure washers. The wash is so thorough that the aircraft needs to be regreased before leaving the wash rack. The aircraft then go to the depaint hangar to have the paint either scuffed or entirely removed.
Bristow and British Airways Helicopters did the same to the engines after every rig flight. I don't think they ignited, just turned them over whilst they sprayed something through that took the salt off anf prevented corrosion.
That was back in the seventies when I was but a youngun and standing in as Station Manager at Sumburgh for the airline I worked for.
That was back in the seventies when I was but a youngun and standing in as Station Manager at Sumburgh for the airline I worked for.
charliegolf - and the origin of 'hicopleters' for helicopters was ... Handling Squadron at Boscombe Down. Their AL (10, I think) for the Whirlwind 10 was quickly followed by an AL11, which was almost entirely composed of " for hicopleter read helicopter" 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: London/Fort Worth
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wadpol! - there's a blast from the past. I always remember Queens Flight at Benson used to spend hours with cans of that stuff polishing away like mad while us scrotes in ASF lounged around and laughed.
.......and then again the VIP Britannia and Comet, never be around the crew room on Aircraft Prep at Lyneham when a minor VIP was scheduled to go somewhere unimportant. Many hours spent using Wadpole to get the undersides nice and shiny. Then to our amazement the powers that be had the aircraft painted with a rough finish, explanation, the rough surface would catch air in the pockets and make the plane go faster.................. believe that if you will
.......and then again the VIP Britannia and Comet, never be around the crew room on Aircraft Prep at Lyneham when a minor VIP was scheduled to go somewhere unimportant. Many hours spent using Wadpole to get the undersides nice and shiny. Then to our amazement the powers that be had the aircraft painted with a rough finish, explanation, the rough surface would catch air in the pockets and make the plane go faster.................. believe that if you will
Cornish Jack:-
I don't know when AL11 for the Whirlwind 10 was, but my AP129 Vol1 Pt1 Sect1 Ch16 (Basic Helicopter Aerodynamics) was amended by AL8 April '59 in exactly the same way. Chicken or egg?
the origin of 'hicopleters' for helicopters was ... Handling Squadron at Boscombe Down. Their AL (10, I think) for the Whirlwind 10 was quickly followed by an AL11, which was almost entirely composed of " for hicopleter read helicopter"
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: raf
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Press a GS into the drain valve of one of the wing tanks. To get some avtur onto a sheet of blue roll. Then wipe the fin where the reverse thrust buckets have deposited loads of soot. Usually it was to rub out the "comedy cock" somebody had drawn in the soot with their finger.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Amazing how it sticks. I wonder how many aircrew of that period don't remember Hecopleter
Last edited by Pontius Navigator; 19th Jul 2018 at 12:45.
At Scamptom when The ‘V’s we’re white we had large canisters of Wadpole. We’d form up, on our knees, line abreast and get polishing. That’s when you realise just how big the Vulcan wing is. If night flying was cancelled, that’s how we’d spend the night shift. Aircrew never pitched in, as they did on my Sqdn in Germany.
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In late April 1986 (at the time of the Chenobyl disaster) we were deployed to Andoya from SM on a routine detachment. We returned the day after the disaster and were met by the groundies all in full NBC kit!!! No auto wash at SM. We were told to stay on board, and the ac was give a thorough hosing down. the crew were half expecting similar treatment as there was a 12 by 12 tent clearly marked PERSONAL DECONTAM at the side of the pan. Fortunately, the groundies got fed up of being masked up and allowed us off the ac with just a gentle spray down! Good spoof and typical of the good spirits of the time!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
