Boss Sacked for low flying?
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Thought it might provoke some interest 😁
I recall a farewell fly past at Rygge after a particularly successful Sqn exchange. A Jag four ship was briefed to overfly the area outside our hangar in trail. ‘The Boss’ chose to lead and briefed the minimum height for those who would follow (I.e. “no lower than me”)
I don't think they payed much attention. No 1 went over at a modest height, followed by the others stepping down a tad in sequence. Bill Langworthy was one of them and suffice it to say, as he passed below our view point at speed (yea yea, the words Jag and speed not often used together,) the vortex from his stb wingtip bent a halt sign post through 90 degrees. He wasn’t the last one either....
most impressive
I recall a farewell fly past at Rygge after a particularly successful Sqn exchange. A Jag four ship was briefed to overfly the area outside our hangar in trail. ‘The Boss’ chose to lead and briefed the minimum height for those who would follow (I.e. “no lower than me”)
I don't think they payed much attention. No 1 went over at a modest height, followed by the others stepping down a tad in sequence. Bill Langworthy was one of them and suffice it to say, as he passed below our view point at speed (yea yea, the words Jag and speed not often used together,) the vortex from his stb wingtip bent a halt sign post through 90 degrees. He wasn’t the last one either....
most impressive
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At Linton-on-Ouse, RAF BFTS graduation days used to be allowed a traditional "ring around the operational squadrons in UK and get what you can get to fly by" airshow.
Not surprisingly, these began to get a bit extreme as pilots all tried to outdo the previous one in whatever way they could.
During my time there in the late 1970s, the Chief Instructor, a Wing Commander, had his office on the first floor at the front of the hangar facing ATC, looking out over the airfield. On the morning of a graduation, a Buccaneer flew past his window at such a low altitude, at almost 90 degrees AOB as it pulled around the corner of the hangar, all the Wingco saw was the tops of the crew's helmets. The left wingtip must have been almost scraping the peri track! The CI's PA (Sgt Gunn?) was just bringing in a tray of coffees and he said he was so surprised by the sight and noise of the Bucc that he almost threw the lot over the CI.
Unofficial graduation flybys were banned from that moment; in reflection probably a very good thing!
Not surprisingly, these began to get a bit extreme as pilots all tried to outdo the previous one in whatever way they could.
During my time there in the late 1970s, the Chief Instructor, a Wing Commander, had his office on the first floor at the front of the hangar facing ATC, looking out over the airfield. On the morning of a graduation, a Buccaneer flew past his window at such a low altitude, at almost 90 degrees AOB as it pulled around the corner of the hangar, all the Wingco saw was the tops of the crew's helmets. The left wingtip must have been almost scraping the peri track! The CI's PA (Sgt Gunn?) was just bringing in a tray of coffees and he said he was so surprised by the sight and noise of the Bucc that he almost threw the lot over the CI.
Unofficial graduation flybys were banned from that moment; in reflection probably a very good thing!
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This is one of the past accidents that have helped create the current air of intolerance:
https://youtu.be/7-S_NM--evM
Have a read of the report.
https://youtu.be/7-S_NM--evM
Have a read of the report.
that was an "aww ****" - not an "attaboy!" moment.
It could even be an occ health issue. The flightplan alt and speed didn't need ear protection for the guests. Whatever the reason, someone took it seriously. It could be just not following the flight plan was enough.
This is one of the past accidents that have helped create the current air of intolerance:
https://youtu.be/7-S_NM--evM
Have a read of the report.
https://youtu.be/7-S_NM--evM
Have a read of the report.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994_F...ase_B-52_crash
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Has anyone got a copy of the video from Tommy's Flypast at Cranwell. It must rate as one of the most outrageous in recent times in front of ***Officers?
The worrying thing is that one is not too sure just how much "in control" he was?
Opinions anyone?
The worrying thing is that one is not too sure just how much "in control" he was?
Opinions anyone?
Great post Imagegear. I estimate 80 feet above the reviewing base. Not incredibly low but, no doubt it was going to end badly in the context. Glad it didn't end worser (as RFK might have said)
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Ah, what did we do before Photoshop was invented? 😋
Shy Torque - the graduation flypasts were still going strong (and very low) when I went through Linton in 82/83 - and the 'ring round' was still happening, even to include a pair of A 10s who made a great airfield attack - at Dishforth while talking to Linton tower
The Buccs were the real bad boys - between the hangars at warp speed in a hard turn....
The Buccs were the real bad boys - between the hangars at warp speed in a hard turn....
Funniest Bucc flypast at Linton in the 70s. After the first pass, whilst turning for another go, front seater decided to open the bomb bay, an anguished NO from the back was too late. There was a ‘war bag’ loose in the bay which parted company from Backburn’s finest. We stopped flying, bussed all the stude’s out who recovered each and every page and mollified a tramp asleep in a hedge who nearly got clobbered. A thank you barrel from the crew was much appreciated.
Whilst sitting in the tower as Duty Instructor, I noticed 4 big birds to the west, rapidly getting bigger. At approx 1 mile from the field, a 4 ship of Jaguars abruptly broke north. On an impulse I called the DI at Leeming and yes, they did have a grad day. A few minutes later we got the message that the Jags said ‘Very Sorry’
Whilst sitting in the tower as Duty Instructor, I noticed 4 big birds to the west, rapidly getting bigger. At approx 1 mile from the field, a 4 ship of Jaguars abruptly broke north. On an impulse I called the DI at Leeming and yes, they did have a grad day. A few minutes later we got the message that the Jags said ‘Very Sorry’
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Avoid imitations
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Originally Posted by [email protected]
Shy Torque - the graduation flypasts were still going strong (and very low) when I went through Linton in 82/83 - and the 'ring round' was still happening, even to include a pair of A 10s who made a great airfield attack - at Dishforth while talking to Linton tower
The Buccs were the real bad boys - between the hangars at warp speed in a hard turn....
The Buccs were the real bad boys - between the hangars at warp speed in a hard turn....
Must have got a new CI after that!