JJ John. .So I'm obviously taking banter from a filthy stuuuudent now am I? Ok here goes - thought your Tutors could only fly 'VMC' anyway so I doubt cloud messes up your days much either! Enjoy learning to stall and keep writing those basket weaving essays, the real RAF might let you in one day! Go back to your student dinner of beans and lentil soup.

Sorry to offend the rest of you but are aircrew only allowed to comment on The Met Man? I think not - weather affects all of us. I refer you to TAC Comms, TAC Supply, TAC ATC etc etc. It's not just a case of I can't fly today, it's too cloudy.

. . <img src="mad.gif" border="0">

I would like to know from all those complaining about TMM what they would do if they didnt have him,

He may get it wrong, but did you ask the right questions? and do you pass on any info.

While based in Wattisham, TMM would ask an aircraft flying to the East what the weather was doing and base his updates on pilot reports. this was also the case in Dishforth for operating over the moors. . .This may seem amateur but the reports from the continent are not very reliable, and why not make use of all your assets.

Now flying a Blimp I explain to TMM my limitations and he briefs me accordingly, I can then plan my schdule.. .I have only lost 2 days flying due to a bad report, in my book that is a pretty good sucess rate.

I don't know any pilot that actually understood Met for their first few years of flying, so it's always good to have someone to help through those years whilst you gain experience.

Hello Admin Guru,

I see you are now infecting this thread, like a bad smell. You must be a joy to work with, do you get on with anybody? I await your reply to my question posed in the 'Falklands Farce'.

As for the venerable Met men, I personally think they do a great job. Accepting that it's 'not an exact science' and 'a woolly subject', I am always impressed by the enthuasiasm with which they go about their business. But sometimes, like politicians, getting a straight answer is difficult!!

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"Well, it's certainly turned out to be somewhat just as changeable as we predicted, particularly in those scattered areas towards the rest of the afternoon. The old radar-picture shows a considerable lot of it coming in here, here and, of course here.

Turning now to the general picture; well, it's been more or less the same throughout, except for one or two scattered spots here and there once some of that's burnt off later on. There's a considerable area here over the North Sea which, as time goes on, will deepen and then that'll mean that all this weather here will slowly fade out in dribs and drabs until later in the week when, I'm afraid, it looks like more of the same only slightly fresher here and there on higher ground and in the valleys.

Looking ahead now and there just could be one or two further outbreaks before it all clears away giving way to much more changeable weather for the time of year on average, unless of course you're in sheltered or exposed areas in which case this weather-system out here in the Atlantic could be giving you a few problems before it's finished.

Otherwise fairly typical for the time of year with one or two exceptions around coastal and inland areas as the day wears on. Temperatures not much different and one or two scatterings here and there as it all burns off towards nightfall. Some outbreaks towards dawn and then settling down as the day proceeds.

The outlook then and it could be changeable and then again this area here could give way to something.

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Ed Winchester

That's probably the most definitive and accurate met forecast for the UK I've heard in a long time <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> . They do say that if you don't like the weather in this country just wait for 20 minutes and it'll change anyway.

Agree that TMM don't always get it right but the weather in UK is like our defence policy. Changes on the hour and varies depending on which side of the street you live. Coupled with the fact that the weather is a British national obsession and the Met Office are pissing in the wind (freshening from the South later in the day). Bring back Iain McCaskill. At least you could have a laugh whilst he was forecasting fire & brimstone.

I do remember spending a day at Bracknell a few years ago. Had to laugh when we saw a group of new met observers leave the building. Every one of them looked skywards as they got outside !! Is there a medical condition called met observers neck ????

......and, of course, there's always the famous Ten O'Clock Clearance!!

But today the beetles, seaweed and fircones are boding well. The pigeon guts confirm that it will probably be a day which will start dark, get lighter for a while and then dark again in the late afternoon. There'll be some cloud and some wind, probably the chance of a change in pressure, but otherwise there's a reasonable probability of it being another day of UK weather...

We do have other uses!. .From an in house memo:. .Runaway Aircraft

On 1 February, a ******** aircraft on the ASP at L****** sprung its chocks in strong winds and began. . to roll away. The errant airframe was spotted by the ever-vigilant staff of the Met Office, who alerted ATC. . and OPS to the runaway. The Station Flight Safety Officer called in during the afternoon to thank the staff. . and to express mock surprise that we look out of the window after all!. . **** **** (S Met O *******)

:) :)

I'm not going to rise to that in case it winds other people up. Instead, I will relax, enjoy my (nearly) free money from the government and save my banter for someone worthwhile, safe in the knowledge that in 10 months I WILL be at Cranwell doing the same course that Admin Chimp somehow managed to 'pass'. . .Oh yeah, and actually doing that job I wanted at the end rather than ending up a bitter and twisted unpopular to$$er.

If you don't like aircrew, then why did you join the Air Force you a$$hole?

AG-

As you point out, the venerable Grob can only fly in VMC. Therefore by definition, UAS/JEFTS do indeed have their days messed up by cloud.

And whilst JJJ may currently be a lentil soup-eating student (note, only one "u" in student), thanks to flying pay in a few years time he'll be able to gorge himself on foie gras and quails eggs like the rest of us steely eyed aviators.

Finally- basket weaving essay banter from a geography graduate- do me a favour!

Does Waddington Met Office still have the weather brick on the windowsill. I remember the joy it brought at an 0-my-god (Zulu) briefing to read the instructions:

1. Touch brick.. .2. If the brick's wet, it's raining!. .3. If the brick's moving, it's very windy!

..and so it went on. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Descend to What Height ?,

Interesting incident. 10 minutes later the Met Office issued a strong wind warning. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">