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My first sortie as newly qualified Nimrod QFI was night ccts with a ginger-haired WgCdr about to take over 206Sqn. The CFI is also on-board, so no pressure!
I demo the first cct and in the process pretty much forget to flare, so flustered was I by trying really hard not to look a complete arse in front of all these important people. We roll from the ensuing crash and as I hand over to the 'stude', he comments "that was pretty rubbish (or words to that effect)". I mumble "yes Sir, it was" and wish the ground would open up. Round we come for his first attempt, which he promptly tries to bury in the approach end of the runway. I can still hear the grunts of expelled air through gritted teeth from down the back. Rolling checks, airborne, he hands back control to me, at which point I say " but not as rubbish as that!(or some other words to that effect)" He mumbles back, "Yes Sir"!!! A thoroughly enjoyable 4 years teaching on the Mighy Rod followed. Watching the DetCom (KR) get arrested at gunpoint in Elmas as he disembarked from the aircraft was quite funny. SFO |
Coarse Profile (oh, silly me!)
Chaps, I think you have missed the clue here. CP goes on about how bad it was when banter was weapons-free and the 5 second rule applied. Clearly, life in the RAF is a lot better now; we are all PC, CRM etc etc. It's so good that people are throwing themselves at the Service ......... to get out!:D
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SFO - ahhh, night circuits.....
I recall one trip of thousands in the same vein - watching the NCA AEO stand-in as he awoke to realise everyone was watching to see when his chin would descend into the pile of drool he'd left on the AEO's table, such was the wonderful smoothness of the rollers that night!!!!! |
As it happens...
.... when the said detcom KR was hauled off to be interviewed by OC OPs equivalent I went along to interpret. (I also knew the chap and he was a pompous ass).
We explained that all the signals had been sent to the man at Maristat Rome (whom I also knew) and would OC Ops mind if I spoke to Rome to find out what had happened. He agreed and after a short conversation with my acquaintance handed the man his phone. The Italian equivalent of "Sooorrrreeeeeee" came down the line the fax machine in the corner of the office started chuntering and out came our clearances. Phew! And no mention of Saturday morning circuits at Gibraltar. Right?? The Ancient Mariner |
Rossian if you are as old as the venerable R*b then you must have many many stories to tell, I was there when he was a spotty faced young erk!!!
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I was the skipper on the first ac to arrive in ELMAS to find that certain pieces of paperwork had obviously not been forthcoming. As I meandered back to the galley to sign the tech log the crew chief informed me that the Italian OC Ops was outside and was not a happy bear as we (and the other ac that was 3nms finals) apparently were not authorised to be here. I looked through the galley window and observed Rossian trying to reason with a chap who was patently obviously not best pleased. I stated that I didn’t think there was, “any need for me to rush outside as the AEO obviously had things under control” and that perhaps I could just have a cup of tea and a biscuit (always a good idea in a crisis) whilst things cooled down/developed. A few minutes later as SFO arrived with the Det Com onboard the Italian motioned for Rossian to get in the car and promptly drove off with him at speed. My light refreshments almost finished I said, “I think it’s safe for me to go outside now” and went out to observe SFO and the other 24 miscreants arrive.;)
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Pete R,
That will be a bit like when we arrived at Kanehoe Bay (Hawaii for the uninformed) and I was doing the arrival with the Base Commander when you got off the aircraft with the headband, teeth and glasses representing the Japanese Kamikaze Pilot.. Good times ..................unfortunately now gone. Stu I will leave readers to decide on the authenticity of this story;) |
Good times indeed.
Not Long Here.
I shall of course deny everything as my learned friend, Captain Blackadder, has instructed me to so do. As far as I recall it was a big boy that did it and then ran away. Good times indeed! Not to forget that most celubrious of hostelrys, Sam's Bar at Homestead!;) Trust you're keeping well? Pete R |
Felix:
'On that note does anyone have the video? I would love a copy' Indeed I do! I was in the port beam on XV231 on that interesting L1 (I was going through as a re-tread). I've got it on a VHS cassette but don't now have the equipment to be able to copy it or even play it (that is if it's still playable!) Ping |
in reply to the Nimrod aiding rescue to capsized trimaran "Boatfile"
Hi All,
Found this thread about the rescue of the two man crew of Boatfile, one of whom was my Dad, on this ID (Now A PPL Holder with 400hrs). So my Dad is eternally grateful for efforts of the SAR personnel on the day who participated in a difficult and dangerous rescue, and without them, I would not be here, and would not get to fly with my Dad in our Piper PA15. The date was May 8th 1981. He has a copy of an article about it (written in Yachting Monthly), which I can attach in another post if wanted. Hope this helps :D K Williams (son of A R Williams) PA15 G-BRJL |
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