'Unknown' aircraft at Akrotiri
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Of course It isn't secret, but the pompous old farts of PPruNe, none more so than the even more pompous and even older and fartier Mil Aviation regulars love to do this stuff; Hint heavily that they were privy to hush hush stuff, while really openly stating where, when and who it was that they "definitely didn't see". Just so you know they were actually there, so you can doff your cap to them. It's just a form of attention seeking really. If it was really secret, and someone was involved directly, it wouldn't be discussed here.
If you want to experience having a similar personality disorder, just hang around a bar wearing a veteran badge, occasionally touch your nose and say something like "I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you", and you too can feel like BEagle and a lot of the other old wrecks that make up the Mil (or rather the RAF of the 1960s and 70s) forum.
If you want to experience having a similar personality disorder, just hang around a bar wearing a veteran badge, occasionally touch your nose and say something like "I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you", and you too can feel like BEagle and a lot of the other old wrecks that make up the Mil (or rather the RAF of the 1960s and 70s) forum.
If your username is anything to go by then you too are an 'old fart' .. and it just goes to show how humourless one can become in old age. IF one does not frequent PPRuNe often enough !!
Happy whinging Mr Meldrew.
Last edited by cargosales; 13th Jan 2019 at 22:17.
cargosales
I do so agree. Hopefully the culprit will take his admonition and indeed his medications and return in a more positive frame of mind.
NB. Take note that I am known as Captain Grumpy hereabouts, having inherited the title when the incumbent left the village. I am also the goulasch inspector for Europe, using the ten factor scheme introduced by my brother in law in 1980.
I do so agree. Hopefully the culprit will take his admonition and indeed his medications and return in a more positive frame of mind.
NB. Take note that I am known as Captain Grumpy hereabouts, having inherited the title when the incumbent left the village. I am also the goulasch inspector for Europe, using the ten factor scheme introduced by my brother in law in 1980.
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Of course It isn't secret, but the pompous old farts of PPruNe, none more so than the even more pompous and even older and fartier Mil Aviation regulars love to do this stuff; Hint heavily that they were privy to hush hush stuff, while really openly stating where, when and who it was that they "definitely didn't see". Just so you know they were actually there, so you can doff your cap to them. It's just a form of attention seeking really. If it was really secret, and someone was involved directly, it wouldn't be discussed here.
If you want to experience having a similar personality disorder, just hang around a bar wearing a veteran badge, occasionally touch your nose and say something like "I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you", and you too can feel like BEagle and a lot of the other old wrecks that make up the Mil (or rather the RAF of the 1960s and 70s) forum.
If you want to experience having a similar personality disorder, just hang around a bar wearing a veteran badge, occasionally touch your nose and say something like "I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you", and you too can feel like BEagle and a lot of the other old wrecks that make up the Mil (or rather the RAF of the 1960s and 70s) forum.
Bloody rude calling a Group Captain "Squadron Leader".
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This was never there either
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-CO...R8UCx5_jgCGPyJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-CO...R8UCx5_jgCGPyJ
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First one I saw was at Offutt AFB in mid May 1970 at their Open Day. A "Motor Glider" arrived and flew a couple of low slow circuits. Then changed to "Rocket Ship" to depart. Totally amazing! Also first sight of a Jumbo, which seemed to be flying very slowly. Made our Victor look very small.
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RAE Bedford TR-1 (U-2)Operations
A ground party with a similar car was detached daily to RAE Bedford who had an agreement with Alconbury to be their 'COB' or' Combined Operating Base' but I didn't say that 'cos in never happened.
Come to think of it, didn't the first U2 to land in the UK land at Bedford?
Come to think of it, didn't the first U2 to land in the UK land at Bedford?
In fact what occurred during the training flights often having 2-3 in the circuit at a time ,was the 5.0-litre Mustangs chase cars would sit in a layby on the road between RAF Alconbury and RAE Bedford listen to ATC frequency as they only did go arounds so never needed the cars for the final talkdown.
Bedford was earmarked at one point as being a master diversion for Alconbury for crosswind diversion,and this was to entail the resurfacing of our cross runway 24/06 (although all training was carried out on 27/09)by the United States government as our runways were made up by concrete blocks.
As part of this task we had to provide the USAF our traffic movements at the base with a years worth of statistics for both runways,but nothing came of it.
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Betty Windsor signed the Official Secrets Bill thus transforming it into the Official Secrets Act whereas we mere mortals just signed a piece of paper certifying that we had read & understood the penalties specified in the Act for disclosing classified information to unauthorised bodies
Thread Starter
Being stationed at RAE Bedford (NATS provided the ATC for the MoD) from 1987-1991, the ground party and high speed car only ever came on base once when a TR-1 as they were known then did divert in and stayed overnight.
In fact what occurred during the training flights often having 2-3 in the circuit at a time ,was the 5.0-litre Mustangs chase cars would sit in a layby on the road between RAF Alconbury and RAE Bedford listen to ATC frequency as they only did go arounds so never needed the cars for the final talkdown.
.
In fact what occurred during the training flights often having 2-3 in the circuit at a time ,was the 5.0-litre Mustangs chase cars would sit in a layby on the road between RAF Alconbury and RAE Bedford listen to ATC frequency as they only did go arounds so never needed the cars for the final talkdown.
.
Course it did mean when a TR1 landed at Farnborough for the airshow, I was the only one who wasn't surprised when the chase car entered the runway behind it; everyone else was panicking asking what he was doing!
Last edited by chevvron; 18th Jan 2019 at 13:26.
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Just reading Aeroplane, Feb 2019 issue on the RAF's use of the U2, seems one flew Edwards to St Mawgan on 17 April 1969 (or perhaps it didn't if no one saw it ?) and they operated out of Kinloss in October 1969 (or again perhaps they didn't if no one saw them) any recollections from any one and pictures ????. They mention the St Mawgan aircraft ?? was due to fly during a Taceval on the 18 April 69 but was damaged by a fork lift truck and didn't participate, any info ?.
As well as operating out of St Mawgan in October 1971 and Wattisham a year later using a U-2R, all using RAF pilots,
How about that "unknown" helicopter that fetched up in ol' Bin Liiner's back garden just before he went to receive those virginal kisses?
Pretty neat False Information Plan by the SEAL's to place the wreckage there for the Pakistani's to flog to the highest bidder I reckon.
Pretty neat False Information Plan by the SEAL's to place the wreckage there for the Pakistani's to flog to the highest bidder I reckon.
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I was a member of the Royal Observer Corps on the St. Columb Post which was the nearest ROC unit to RAF St. Mawgan.. On April 17th, 1969 my Chief Observer saw the U-2 on approach to St. Mawgan. Later the same day a C-141 Starlifter also arrived ostensibly with hydraulic failure!. For anyone interested in military aviation St. Mawgan was often able to get some interesting movements and these days it is all to easy to forget that we still have an air force.
