Angry Dave,

I'll forward your question to Padders and let you know what he says.

I won t give you the exact name of the other pilot. We call him Tuffers. He was actually the captain of the aircraft and the crew. Padders is a Junior CR mate whilts Tuffers is an experienced training captain. This should answer you question.

Wokkawokka. Please pass on the congratulations of self and Mrs FV to 27for a superb performance. Mrs FV is looking around for a suitable cyber-pen pal for Padders (he should not hold his breath!).

Concerning the breath-taking checklists, is there not some way of doing everything ujp to "engine start" and then disconnecting the 28v or whatever, equivalent to leaving the Vulcan at RS15? Then all that is needed is 28v ON, press the tits and after-starting checks. Nevertheless, it made splendid TV.

Olly, magnificent work. Leaving aside the emotion and stark portrayal of what goes on, the part that really stood out for me was how well all the guys came across. Normal human beings, rather than brave steely eyed aviators eager for the next flight. Well, normal except for Padders who's just a loony. Just for the record, Kate Middleton!:ok:

They were talking about news readers then, weren't they? I think they meant Kate Silverton.

Not that I'd know anything about stuff like attractive female newsreaders....harumph....

Good to hear a sound debate about the merit of Razzle and Whitehouse, too.:ok:

Everyone


Being a bunster boy, the boys certainly appreciate all of your comments and are pleased at the way it came across, so thank you all

Excellent!
 

Just watched on YouTube - BZ to all concerned. :ok:

And RIP Pvt Gray. :(

S41

As a crewman on 27 Sqn, I think I need to council the crewman involved in the troop brief. I feel he could have achieved a far higher f's per minute rate with a little more effort.

Seriously though, I thought it painted an accurate picture of what we are up to out there. I too had a lump in my throat watching the IRT shout, as I have made that journey far too many times.

The gingers have voiced concerns that they werent included, and my first response is that it was labelled 'Above Enemy Lines' and not 'Behind the Perimeter Fence'.
However, I then remembered what an essential and pivotal role they play in procedures. But when all is said and done, guys fixing aircraft is not exciting tv, and however crucial a DECU change might be, it doesnt hold the publics very short attention span. Sad as that may be, Tim Hortons doughnuts in the post.

WM

Top stuff from the beeb and you guys over on the wokka force. Its always refreshing to see the beeb can still produce a decent quality docu without glazing it over. Well done to all the lads on the ground out there and to all the SH guys, not just in the Stan but also in Iraq.

Also good to see you go balls to the wall when some poor bugger needs your help. Looks like you just gained a whole new level of respect from the Army.

Keep it up :ok:

Excellent programme, although I had to laugh when they said that two chinooks were going to take the Taliban by surprise!

By the way, what was the audio alarm sounding just before every landing? Seemed a bit low for the radalt.

Thought the best quote of the show came from The Diggle: 'Piece of piss!'

Just seemed to sum it all up to me, thoughtful, mostly understated and well put together. Thought the key to it was the documentary footage was the difficult and dangerous bits, whilst a lot of the poignancy came from the human moments.

Thought everyone came across really well and it was nice to see (as someone has already pointed out) not a 1* or 2* in sight and no political or HQ spin.

Keep the hard work up guys, to all SH mates. The rest of the deployable air force knows how hard you're working!:ok:

C-in-C Domestic recorded this for me while I was away on Nights; saw it yesterday, thoroughly agree with all the praise so far. Good to see that the oldies are still there maintaining standards - Nellie B might not've been the "featured artist" but he's clearly still in-post producing the goods. Well done folks.

ps BEagle, pleased to see your comments. This is the kind of thing we were doing when you used to write rude stuff about helicopter ops back in your mob days; nice to see evidence of adaptability, eh?! Good for you, and thanks.

Anyone know if this programme will be repeated?

GT - I have it on VHS tape. Happy to mail it to you if you pop a donation into an RBL or RAFA collecting tin.

If you look back through this thread you'll see links I posted to the BBC Watch Again service (for UK users) and also Youtube links for those outside the UK or who suffer under the illusion the Apple make good computers.

Thank You 27 Regt
 

To all concerned 27 Regt,

As Pte Chris Gray's Pl Sgt, I must say a BIG THANK YOU to all involved on that MERT Shout on Friday 13th, for trying your hardest to get to Nowzad AQAP and the efforts of those on board to save Chris. When you came we were still in a TIC, which lasted about 4.5hrs and I beleive you took a bit of incoming fire, as our CSM reported.

As a ground commander you do not see that side of things, when it all goes noisey for us on the ground, It was a very good insight into your world, its not all rosey as us sqauddies like to think about you Bryl Cream Boys.

Once again cheers guys for your efforts that day and throughout your TOD. Home and back safe now.

Regards

SI Panter
3(Corunna)Pl
A(fighting ninth)Coy
1 R Anglian

Watch Sky One in Nov, Ross Kemp in Afghanistan he spent a year filming with us.

One Life
 

Rest in Peace Chris Gray. I hope that a presentation copy of this prog. can be given to your NoK, so that they might see, as you know, the outstanding efforts made by all concerned to save you. Feather in the Cap for BBC Northern Ireland and Olly Lambert et al who filmed and produced it, and shared an obvious empathy with those they filmed. Black Eye for BBC Central who obviously don't, witness back end of schedule for screening. Many congrats, of course, for all the guys and gals doing such dangerous and skilled work on our behalf out there, and in particular to those of "the 27th Squadron" featured!
Finally thanks to Rakshasha for bringing this excellent prog to our attention and THS for the BBCi Player link so that we could watch it. As has been said, perhaps the best effect has been that the PBI can see in detail the enormous effort that is put in to support them, as per cv1759's post above. As to the politicians and beancounters, the words Horses and Water come to mind. Pity though that the viewers, who paid for it, were largely denied the chance to see it, but then we're back to Beeb Central and its agenda I'm afraid.

Thanks Chug, though I think the kudos should go to Gainsey, who did post a heads up about it in advance. I just stumbled across the prog and thought I'd let Ppruners know it was on.

And well done to 27 and the Vikings and all the other boys and girls who are (or have been) stuck out in sandy places.

Remember quite a few of the guys from my time on 18... Brought back the memories of the past for sure... More of this kind of thing should be on TV :)

Good to see old faces, and the onboard humour staying the same.

Seeing Dave shovel sick from the seat on national television was something to remember too.. lol!

Ill wait for the repeat and record it :)