Thanks to "Iceberg" Formation
 

Thanks to the crew of "Iceberg" formation (3 x Pumas) who brightened up my day today by flying low past my location. Although they were a bit far in regards to photographs (about 3/4 mile) it was still pleasant to watch them from 12 miles away snaking their way up towards me located on a hill 'just' west of Tiverton, Devon.
The only other opportunity i had to photograph was a Boscombe based Tucano, but i was right in the middle of having a p*** and so i had to take a one handed 'shot'....!
Sorry for the poor quality :uhoh:
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q.../Iceberg01.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q.../Iceberg05.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...Iceberg011.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...Iceberg017.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...Iceberg018.jpg
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...Iceberg019.jpg

230 SQN.

Wonder how many of them are original Sqn airframes.....? Some of the originals would be 36 yrs old this year!

Most of them are around that age, its scary most of the cab's are older than the crews!!!

I was about to say 'You need some time at Brize' when I stopped myself. :oh:

Air Farce Logo
 

And oh, is that the RAF logo on the door that can almost be made out. What a good money spinning idea that was. My, how morale increases.:ugh:

Despite the markings Iceberg is a 33 sqn callsign. Somebody has probably leaned the changing of stickers....
36 years old hey?? Am sure they're a few on Sqn who can nearly double that, no names mentioned . ;)

:confused: But I'm sure those door stickers are Tiger heads in yellow, not the Hertfordshire Caravan Club "Bambi" in pinkish brown!

Some of the aircraft were tatty when I flew 'em in 1979 and afterwards.... :p

I'm not sure what that little door sticker is (with the yellow tiger) as it appears (or its very similar) to the ones on the Chinooks too...

Heres a photo of a Chinook i took on a very dull and cold day.... note the same sticker as on the Puma door above as the one on this chinook (top rear).
Both have what appears to be a Yellow Tiger??

http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...42/Kush023.jpg

The marking on the Chinook rear pylon is I believe Pegasus, taken from the badge of 18 Sqn, the Tigers Head marking on the Puma is, I guess 230 Sqn.

SLC, you'll note that Puma marking is predominantly yellow, not Red White and Blue as one would expect the RAF corporate logo to be.

Terrible to think that when I joined HM Flying club in '74 the Puma was in service. Left in 2004 and it is still doing a sterling job. Mind so was/is the VC-10, Hercules and Jaguar!!!!!!!!!:)

The tail pylon badge on the Chinook could be 78 Sqn, whose badge as I remember from the dim and distant past on the Malvinas Islands was a yellow something or other, possibly lion rampant

Don't forget us, Wiretensioner, Norman Nimrod is in that wee club too! :ok:

Nice pix, Razor - so that's what Englandshire looks like.

Would it not be easier to list the newer stuff, it would be a shorter list methinks.

The badge on the Chinook is 78 Sqn.

& correct about the Puma markings....few of the cabs at 33 Sqn wear 230 markings :rolleyes:

When I was humbly plying my trade butchering the repairs on 33 we had a mix of door graphics, the damn cabs were never in the uk long enough to get them booked in for a respray!

All but mere sprogs compared to the Canberra.

I flew one from Wyton which was 45 years old back in 1992.

I understand the Canberras have recently been retired but with no successor.

78 Squadron Wokka:

http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/scene/mawgan/zd982.jpg

Seen at St Mawgan a few weeks ago

http://www.airsceneuk.org.uk/scene/mawgan/zd982.htm

XV277, many thanks for your correction re the Chinook, I'll get my glasses upgraded to a higher strength if HQ Domestics will authorise the spend! Anyone any idea how to write the business case? :ok: