Linton on Ouse : The end of an era
I was a QFI on 2 Sqn from 74-77, very happy times. We were blessed by 2 very good CFIs who sheltered us from the strange ideas of a non QFI Stn Cdr during that time. In later years, it was always gratifying to meet ex studes who were mostly very appreciative of the instruction and general attitude of Linton.
The infamous hold for studes in 75 was caused by a 6 month halt to new courses starting as the MoD went through one of it’s periodic crises. At the time, we had 2 studes per course from an African nation, these guys should have done 2 years at their equivalent of Cranwell, 40 hours in the Bulldog, proficiency in English etc. The MoD offered to said nation we can do a lot more in the next 6 months, send what you’ve got. Absolute carnage, no adherence to the qualifications at all, as it transpired some of the guys were signed on into the Air Force on the plane into the UK, hence the creation of a Bulldog training set up based at Dishforth. The ‘ladies of the night’ in York have never had such a profitable time, the guardroom had a slush fund to call for taxis in the early hours at weekends. Every month, a man from the Embassy appeared with a shed load of cash for the guys. Entertaining to say the least.
Two of my most exciting moments were courtesy of the remnants of these guys. Doing an Intermediate Handling Test on one, as he raised the nose to get airborne, he managed to apply a considerable amount of brake via the toe pedal to the left wheel, I just managed to take it and lift off before we took to the grass. On airborne examination, the tyre looked like an old style three penny bit but stayed in one piece on landing a few minutes later. As we rolled to a very shakey full stop, his only question was ‘oh Sir, did I pass’.
At one time, the main runway was closed for resurfacing so we used the short whatever the wind. On a final landing, my stude smacked it on the numbers and bounced ( not easy in a JP). He then jammed both feet hard on the brake pedals which fortunately I could see on the brake pressure gauge. In a JP 3, going downhill at below touchdown speed and throttle closed was not comfortable, a few well chosen, rapidly delivered words of advice just worked, I watched the brake pressure dribble off just before we hit the ground the second time. It was all good for soul.
The infamous hold for studes in 75 was caused by a 6 month halt to new courses starting as the MoD went through one of it’s periodic crises. At the time, we had 2 studes per course from an African nation, these guys should have done 2 years at their equivalent of Cranwell, 40 hours in the Bulldog, proficiency in English etc. The MoD offered to said nation we can do a lot more in the next 6 months, send what you’ve got. Absolute carnage, no adherence to the qualifications at all, as it transpired some of the guys were signed on into the Air Force on the plane into the UK, hence the creation of a Bulldog training set up based at Dishforth. The ‘ladies of the night’ in York have never had such a profitable time, the guardroom had a slush fund to call for taxis in the early hours at weekends. Every month, a man from the Embassy appeared with a shed load of cash for the guys. Entertaining to say the least.
Two of my most exciting moments were courtesy of the remnants of these guys. Doing an Intermediate Handling Test on one, as he raised the nose to get airborne, he managed to apply a considerable amount of brake via the toe pedal to the left wheel, I just managed to take it and lift off before we took to the grass. On airborne examination, the tyre looked like an old style three penny bit but stayed in one piece on landing a few minutes later. As we rolled to a very shakey full stop, his only question was ‘oh Sir, did I pass’.
At one time, the main runway was closed for resurfacing so we used the short whatever the wind. On a final landing, my stude smacked it on the numbers and bounced ( not easy in a JP). He then jammed both feet hard on the brake pedals which fortunately I could see on the brake pressure gauge. In a JP 3, going downhill at below touchdown speed and throttle closed was not comfortable, a few well chosen, rapidly delivered words of advice just worked, I watched the brake pressure dribble off just before we hit the ground the second time. It was all good for soul.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
Initially instructing on Chippies with RN HSP courses, then 2 Sqn. (JP3&4) flt.cdr. late 60's - lived in OMQ at Dishforth (not on the Square!), Last RN course (at the time) and couple of RAF courses, one of my happiest and fulfilling tours in the Royal Air Force! The Aldwark toll bridge in those days cost (I think!) a halfpenny (to be claimed each month! on home to duty!) Living in the past - why not?
Bill
Bill
Oh the horror of 'F' troop on 3 Squadron, Linton in that summer '75. I praise the lord that I never had to instruct with that lot, although a few of us still got our overseas student. It was soul destroying trying to teach people to fly who had, it must be said, no aptitude at all, in fact some of them could not even ride bikes.
I seem to remember one SDO being woken in the middle of the night by a 'lady' from Leeds, saying that 3 of them had 'had' her, and now they were refusing to pay and that what was he going to do about it.
That said the 2 years that I spent there instructing were some of the best of my career, but that may have had more to do with the weather and the proximity of York!
I seem to remember one SDO being woken in the middle of the night by a 'lady' from Leeds, saying that 3 of them had 'had' her, and now they were refusing to pay and that what was he going to do about it.
That said the 2 years that I spent there instructing were some of the best of my career, but that may have had more to do with the weather and the proximity of York!
Meet and Greet for 8 Course. B**ler espies our USAF exchange instructor with a chest full of medal ribbons...’I guess you got a couple of those for instructing, Sir’ he quips. ‘Well, as a matter of fact.....’!!! Capt Jimmy Howard. Good guy....
Jimmy H had been a FAC in Vietnam flying the push-pull Cessna on longish sorties. Inevitably, on one trip the local cuisine caught up with him, a touch of Motezumas Revenge, Jimmy managed to do the necessary into the rather natty bone dome bag then in use by the USAF. On landing, he left the bag outside whilst he went to tidy himself up, inevitably the bag was nicked. You can only imagine the miscreants expression when he proudly showed his family the latest acquisition.
At the bosses (KFGEM) for drinks, Boss and wife had a new baby. Jimmy picked the babe up and, as you do, lifted the child up to do the gootchy gootchy goo bit. Unfortunately, he lifted the babe too high and banged his head against the ceiling, much crying but fortunately no damage to baby or the plasterwork.
On posting back home, Jimmy wanted a particular slot at I believe Mountain Home, he had to send a photo with his request. A friend of his called him to ask if he really wanted the posting, if so send a new picture. Why? Well, your hair is much too long. Jimmy “ but I had it cut especially short”. Well said friend, you’ve been in the UK took long, get a USAF cut!
At the bosses (KFGEM) for drinks, Boss and wife had a new baby. Jimmy picked the babe up and, as you do, lifted the child up to do the gootchy gootchy goo bit. Unfortunately, he lifted the babe too high and banged his head against the ceiling, much crying but fortunately no damage to baby or the plasterwork.
On posting back home, Jimmy wanted a particular slot at I believe Mountain Home, he had to send a photo with his request. A friend of his called him to ask if he really wanted the posting, if so send a new picture. Why? Well, your hair is much too long. Jimmy “ but I had it cut especially short”. Well said friend, you’ve been in the UK took long, get a USAF cut!
Guest
Posts: n/a
I was a stude on 37 Course and remember one of those gentlemen turning up in a pink E type!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Somewhere flat
Age: 68
Posts: 5,559
Likes: 0
Received 45 Likes
on
30 Posts
Another gent pitched up with a 4L Pontiac Firebird, black with a red and gold firebird emblazoned on the bonnet. It later went via the car auction in York and me and a mate bought it. For a month we gave it large around York and it was a very good babe magnet. Unfortunately it had a fuel consumption measured in tons per foot so all pre match entertainments with the laydees was spent feeding The Thing From Detroit. The engine was a solid block of rust but the exhausts leaked with a pleasing rumble. We put it back through the auction after a few weeks and another idiot bought it.
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: On the ORP
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re the motoring offences, the police essentially washed their hands of the whole business, the offenders were taken back to Linton in the hope military discipline would suffice—-basic mistake.
One typical incident. The driver slid his BMW off the road in icy weather, pulled out by the police, no tax, no insurance, no driving licence. In front of the CO the next morning, he signed a document confirming he would not drive again until he was fully legal. That very night, he managed to run into a police car, it’s impossible to deal with such a downright lack of ethics. Representations were made to the Embassy, a man did come to talk to the ‘officers’ but with little apparent effect.
One typical incident. The driver slid his BMW off the road in icy weather, pulled out by the police, no tax, no insurance, no driving licence. In front of the CO the next morning, he signed a document confirming he would not drive again until he was fully legal. That very night, he managed to run into a police car, it’s impossible to deal with such a downright lack of ethics. Representations were made to the Embassy, a man did come to talk to the ‘officers’ but with little apparent effect.
I spent a week or 2 at Linton when on a UAS. I had 2 JP trips, one with a US QFI called Howard. It was a night weather check. We did aeros relatively low level, just NE of Harrogate - I thought that was quite ballsy. Guess it's the same guy.
Last edited by skua; 8th Feb 2021 at 11:35.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
I was there 1977-8. There were two F&C students who were brothers; their rooms were just along the corridor from my room in the west wing.
I was married and lived in the Mess during the week but went home to my in-laws most weekends. One Friday evening I had to stay over for some reason, probably a formal dinner night. I went into the ablutions room and the shower cubicle, which was actually two adjacent, open shower cubicles with a dividing wall between them, they had no individual shower curtains. The small changing area was common to both, with just a slatted bench and enough room to stand. The shower curtain was at the entrance end of that space. As I went in, there was someone in the far shower. As I began lathering myself up the other person finished showering and came out into the common space to get dried. I was expecting to see another student but instead an extremely attractive and curvaceous, long haired and nicely tanned brunette female appeared, stark naked. I’m no prude, but to say I was taken aback was an understatement. It was an all male ablution room. I didn’t know where to look but she was totally unabashed and simply gave me a big smile and said “Evenin’!”
She briefly dried herself, wrapped her towel around herself and departed. I couldn’t resist waiting ten seconds then nipping across to look out of the main ablutions room door to see where she went. She went into the F&C brothers’ room. Turned out she was a common visitor at weekends and was a professional lady who was paid for her services.
I was married and lived in the Mess during the week but went home to my in-laws most weekends. One Friday evening I had to stay over for some reason, probably a formal dinner night. I went into the ablutions room and the shower cubicle, which was actually two adjacent, open shower cubicles with a dividing wall between them, they had no individual shower curtains. The small changing area was common to both, with just a slatted bench and enough room to stand. The shower curtain was at the entrance end of that space. As I went in, there was someone in the far shower. As I began lathering myself up the other person finished showering and came out into the common space to get dried. I was expecting to see another student but instead an extremely attractive and curvaceous, long haired and nicely tanned brunette female appeared, stark naked. I’m no prude, but to say I was taken aback was an understatement. It was an all male ablution room. I didn’t know where to look but she was totally unabashed and simply gave me a big smile and said “Evenin’!”
She briefly dried herself, wrapped her towel around herself and departed. I couldn’t resist waiting ten seconds then nipping across to look out of the main ablutions room door to see where she went. She went into the F&C brothers’ room. Turned out she was a common visitor at weekends and was a professional lady who was paid for her services.
OMQs at Dishforth were obviously tame by comparison!
My last trip to Linton was to have a go in the Tucano. At the time one of the aspects of my day job was lead-in training for occasional students from a Middle Eastern country who were to go on to RAF BFTS. Over a couple of years one of them actually made it through both Linton and Valley...
And I was also involved with Grading for students from same part of world going on to helicopter training. My colleague had an interesting experience... Short finals, T67, sound of mobile phone ringing. Student abandons controls, retrieving phone from flying suit lower leg pocket....
in those days few of us had a mobile!
Hard work when your students are mega unmotivated. Harder work when you have to fly again on RW with the students you recommended for the chop during FW grading. Happy days....
My last trip to Linton was to have a go in the Tucano. At the time one of the aspects of my day job was lead-in training for occasional students from a Middle Eastern country who were to go on to RAF BFTS. Over a couple of years one of them actually made it through both Linton and Valley...
And I was also involved with Grading for students from same part of world going on to helicopter training. My colleague had an interesting experience... Short finals, T67, sound of mobile phone ringing. Student abandons controls, retrieving phone from flying suit lower leg pocket....
in those days few of us had a mobile!
Hard work when your students are mega unmotivated. Harder work when you have to fly again on RW with the students you recommended for the chop during FW grading. Happy days....
On one occasion l did the pre-chop check ride with a guy who did fail his CFI ride the next day. Ended up as my nav on Phantoms a few years later! No hard feelings, he knew he wasn’t going to get through as a pilot but at least I used the 2 sticker to teach him to attempt to land the F4 if I fell asleep.
Last edited by Audax; 7th Feb 2021 at 19:11. Reason: Spelling
One of the guys on 8 Course was chopped only a few days before the end of the JP3a phase...and impending Wings Parade. Sad to get that far, but. However, he was lucky...there was a later trawl of 'almost passed' ex-studes who had gone off to other branches, but who were then given a second go. He eventually pitched up at Shawbury when I was a QHI there a few years on! Quite a surprise.
Last edited by idle stop; 8th Feb 2021 at 13:20. Reason: Sp.
Did anybody mention how superb the LoO OM nosh was in the early 70s?
airsound
On one occasion l did the pre-chop check ride with a guy who did fail his CFI ride the next day. Ended up as my nav on Phantoms a few years later! No hard feelings, he knew he wasn’t going to get through as a pilot but at least I used the 2 sticker to teach him to attempt to land the F4 if I fell asleep.
Thought you guys just waited for a collision between earth and airframe ! !
That said, some of my JP students seemed ready to prepare for that and later some of my Boeing students seemed to think the same practice still worked ! !
All I can say,(from what I now realise!) is some 54 year later!!, is that the OM at Linton was probably one of the best that I ever belonged to in my time in the RAF (but we do tend to live in the past!)
Bill
Bill
It certainly was, Minnie Burner. I was there 1970-73, and for a while I was Dep PMC (President of the Mess Committee) for my sins. But one day when PMC was on leave, I got a call from the Padre, who was a local, ex RN, vicar. The Church of England Synod was happening in York, and could he invite the three service chief padres to sample Linton's best at dinner. So, for the only time in my life, I got to dine with a padre and three bishops.... Gnosh was tremendous, natch - and I had one of the most entertaining meals of my life.
airsound
airsound