Samsonite suitcases banned!
 

It appears that the Staish at Lyneham, who clearly doesn't have enough to worry about, has banned crews from taking Samsonites down route. To project the correct 'corporate image' they are to lug their kit in Op black bags around the terminals and hotels of the world.

Is this the end of Hercules route operations as we used to know them?

A bit daft to be so readily identifiable in a civilian environment by carrying a military item of luggage, given today's change in threat risk?

Are there really such anally retentive people in today's RAF who have nothing better to concern themselves with? It sounds like yet another duck nibble which you really don't need.....:\

Good to hear that you still get the odd 'route trip' though.

Wow, I never thought it was the suit case that gave it away. I just looked for the fat wheezy tosser vacuum packed in a dirty flying suit

Doesn't sound much like a hard case?:O

Stop picking on the GE :E

More stupidity that makes me glad i'm out. When the masive storms hit Thumrait in May 02 those of us who had bothered were exceedingly glad that our kit was in a waterproof samsonite. The "posers" using fancy cammo bags had wet kit .. mine was all nice and dry, unlike the inside of the FBT.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/251/rain15.jpg

Harsh, very harsh.

Isn't everyone getting out of the grey C-130 parked on the pan a bit of a clue as well?

The end of Hercules route operations as used to be, stopped around about 2003. Whilst the very occasional route may come up now, the days of hotacing around the world are pretty much over.

I for one couldn't care less that my samsonite will only come out once a year. Frankly, I'm more bothered about whether the airbridge is adequately funded to get me there or back in the same week.

It's a large black holdall, very much like any other of the trillions of holdalls that frequent baggage reclaims in airports worldwide.

So please, can we take off the rose-tinted specs and get back to talking about some of the more pressing issues that we in the RAF and the military in general are facing right now?

They'll be going back to the stupid practice of hopping around Albert's freight bay changing into blues pre de-planing next!

Un-fecking believable! You'd think that the 'Wheels' would have better things to do with their time - sadly not.

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose I guess.

Glad I'm out of it.

Ok. There were 2 reasons for posting this - first, to highlight the surfeit of time that the originator of this decision obviously has, when he could be concerned with such trivia as the future of his aircraft fleet post-SDSR, or its move to BZN & the closure of his station. Second, to have a bit of a laugh at said decision, particularly as few have or need a Samsonite these days as there are, indeed, few routes left. If we can't have a bit of fun on these threads then all that's left is a load of hopeless whinging about

Harsh but possibly the funniest quote on PPRUNE this year.

:}

Edicts such as this gave a very insightful look into the morale, motivation and well-being of an organisation. When Commanders have the time to address "boots and mail" issues, it usually demonstrates that:

a. They have so little control over the pressing matters of the day they might as well handle the trivia.
or;
b. They have zero grasp of the concept of incentivising their units and working cohesively.
or;
c. They found their mother getting an extra portion of salami from a Samsonite salesman when they were 5.

Either way, the "rule of 2" applies - i.e. in 2 years either I'll be gone or that knob will be gone.

Samsonite's, think he might be a bit too busy this week advertising for a new Chief Blunty to worry about how we carry our clothes round the bazaars :p

What CrabinCab said!

Had me giggling for ages, wifey thought I had gone nuts.

Would you care to elaborate?

A 'Gladston Bag', presumably?

As I lie here in my tent freezing my nads off at 0645 on this fine Cornish morning, it warms me greatly to learn that it's Ops Normal at Lyneham! Love it :)

Yes, this sounds much more fun.....go on.....?

Now that was funny! (Much more so than the offensive bit about overwieght Herc aircrew!)

Actually it was a throw away line from the Staish that appears to have become gospel!

More worryingly, I can't believe some of the utter ****e being posted by people on here who clearly have no idea what a great leader he actually is.
:mad:

Do you know-the man?
 

I had the honour of serving on the same Sqn, and have the utmost respect, but to ban "Samsonite Warriors!" is as mad as closing the Wiltshire Centre of Excellence for Airlift! :=

Come come BP, don't ruin the insane rumour fun!! Throwaway Line becomes Gospel? I'm pretty sure that's how Lyneham's done business for years isn't it? Pah....
:ok:

Might take mine on my next Det, nothing like stereotyping yourself :}

I guess 'Samsonite' has been a dirty word ever since that dim bint on the Herc fleet starred in the infamous cringingly awful Times article from a few years back.

All ME heroes can henceforth expect to have their makeup bags confiscated and their pencils with little pink feathers and a bell on top banned.

That is what I like about pprune. Somebody casts their line and catches a few little fishes and even when others can see them being caught they step up. Hey torque.

Cheers, RA. Actually just an excuse to cause a little further embarrassment to the good Flt Lt. How is she doing these days?

Don't even know the person you are on about. Why would you want to embarrass her? Did she blow you out? Did you crash and burn? Did she go for your ginger mate or something? Very manly of you though.:rolleyes:.

Wait a minute that article is dated February 11, 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She must have really pissed you off if you still hold that big a grudge.

TT,

Unlike her blunty counterpart she is as happy as a happy thing :ok:

Sorry to break the bad news but she is doing very well.

Well done for attempting the cheap shot though.

Having observed this thread without comment, I'd now like to add my thoughts.

All for trivia threads and the samasonite is pretty fundamental to AT Ops, but is this the time to air this in front of other fleets/services?

The 'dim bint' is still serving. I had the pleasure of meeting her on a course last year where the article came up. She maintains it was misquoted and I have no reason to doubt her.

Having launched a thread on what is effectively a defence of the 'stereotype' hated by the other two services, as the RAF struggles to explain it's continued existence is one thing, to name and flame a serving colleague is another.

As a neutral observer, I have formed an opinion of the Lyneham Wg as a bunch of triv obsessed, self serving backstabbers.

I know that opinion is wrong, but you don't make it easy!

With respect to those working hard at LYE, much of the problem probably comes from TT ommitting the W@ from his moniker.

^Haha. I enjoyed my time holding on 47, even got to go on routes and booze around Europe :) Also got issued with a DPM flying jacket 'cos at the time we all had to disembark and go everywhere in exactly the same rig. Some people never got issued cold weather jackets so DPM it was. Still have said DPM jacket somewhere, in remarkably good nick.

Why did we all stop using our trusty Samsonites? Mover-proof, waterproof, you could wheel it around rather than hump it everywhere and you could even sit on it when under taking military waiting.
Shame you would get laughed out of brize for having one nowadays - might have to invest in one of those big black US footlocker thingys instead.

Caz Leafey thing still as pathetic and Blackadderish as when it came out. I hope she still cringes as much now...:p

Suitcases -well you are all for the chop soon anyway - but any chance to try and be as 'warry' as you can be now would be good. :zzz:

Bring on the SDSR!

G:ok:

Shouldn't you all get Samsonite Cases as survival equipment?

I mean you can put 14 troops in them (or two aircrew) and sail away from mid atlantic ditchings, or slide down South American mountains, put four of then in a square and fight off revolting Red Indians, hold enough rations for the complement of a small ship - or two aircrew... etc, etc.

Uh oh the warrier chief tech has spoken. Have you actually had a posting to Lyneham? All I can see is a pathetic little pprune warrier who probably has never been outside of this country. If you are actually in the RAF, and I doubt that very much, where do you work?

Caz Leafy? You don't even know her do you. You do realise that from the article her name is Caz Leavy.

What a great shame it is that the dear departed Chas Fin-kelcy isn't still around. He'd have a ball with all of this stuff!

Romper's Green live's-on!

RIP dear chap.

Yes to Rompers Green - still got it (electronically now of course).

Please tell me this thread is a joke . . .

Really Annoyed,

I'm beginning to think you have ADHD (ask your mum) and are incapable of reading and digesting a whole post. So I'll break it down into manageable chunks for you mate.

Firstly, warrier is actually spelt 'warrior'. I am neither a warrior or a chief tech. I am not any type of tech. Most people on here have already sort of figured that out, but I'm sure you'll catch up eventually.

I've actually visited 60 odd countries, a fair few of which dont exist anymore. My favourite at the moment is a part of Afghanistan (that's East of Essex) called Helmand.

Yes, Ive spent 5 years at Lyneham.

I work at Odiham.

I do hope that has helped. I am committed to working with underprivileged kids, especially those with learning difficulties. With that in mind, if you have any other questions, I'll be happy to sit down and go through them with you.

Mover proof samsonite!
 

Not been invented. Put a TPU on top of it! place them at the bottom of the stack and tension the net so tight they pop the seems. drive the noddy or forklift over them; we love a challenge. As for gorrilla boxes, even easier. the best bit is now we can charge you for excess baggage for those oversized heavy bags and gorilla boxes. (try a northface bag or similair, water proof, large capacity and mover proof ish).

Whilst trying to find something suitable to wind up the two wing types I found these posh new samsonites (Mover P*rn)

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:n.../30/obag-1.jpg Samsonite round OOOhhh

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:a...ve_luggage.jpgRechargeable electric motors Travel | Elite Choice - Part 9

Finally please enjoy

YouTube - Real Men of Genius - Mr Airport Baggage Handler

Enough of the Samsonite tosh......what is the score with these comments regarding the chief blunty at Lyneham?