names under the cockpit
 

Watching the Antique road show yesterday, I noticed that aircrew names are still painted under the cockpit.

Is there any real point to this in this day and age?

I can’t believe that this is the only airframe these people fly, (although think of the time off when it is in for a major service!) and I don’t suppose that they turn up on Sunday morning to give it a ‘wash and wax’.

Traditions - such a waste of time :rolleyes

Isn't that fact that Tonkas are appearing on the Antiques Roadshow more significant?

Could you remind us when exactly it was that an individual would only fly the aircraft which had their name on it?

"Target for tonight Gibson is the Mohne Dam. Good luck and Godspeed."

"Sorry Sir, couldn't possibly, the kite with my name on it is in the shed with a faulty Elsan."

The engineers also have their names on our jets as do some of the other support staff. Everyone puts them in the sky and it is a way of recognising that we are all part of the same squadron. It might seem like a waste of time from outside the squadron but it was a very proud day for me to see my name of the side of a front line jet. Few people have the honour. Long may the tradition continue.

Also watch roadshow. Great to see ZA447 in the background on several occasions. I didn't realise she was still earning her keep. Haven't seen her since she came home from GW1, XV sqn "Mig eater". Shame the history of her sevice isn't still displayed.:D

@ Claron.

A big shame. Still...Traditions. What's the point?:=

They should be on there IMO.

What did the experts reckon they should be insured for? :E

The idea was that it broached any potential aircrew-groundcrew divide. If you had a jet you sought out the groundcrew responsible and made sure it was a decent jet. Sometimes it worked; sometimes it didn't.

As for only flying your own jet - not a hope. You flew one of the few which were serviceable when the spares were shared out.

Sadly the tradition is pretty much dead. Cost savings, etc. In the last 10 years or so it's only been the anniversary jets which get names added, usually bearing the Boss's name plus a lucky other (either the Exec or a random JP). Fleet rotation then ensures that this aircraft gets flown by a totally different squadron, and bears the markings for years afterwards. I've seen photos of the XV(R) Sqn anniversary jet on detachment at Gioia during 2011, when I know for a fact that both of the officers named thereon were on ground tours!!

Bring back nose art instead!

Mind you, the PC brigade may still insist on the designs. Even Lancaster PO-S "Sugar" that is preserved in the RAF museum displayed a tastful nude kneeling and holding a bomb. When the aircraft reached mission number 90 and it was deemed to be suitable for a propoganda campaign should it become the first Lanc to reach 100 missions, the nude was removed and the current Goering quote was painted on with the approval of the Stn Cdr at Waddington. Waddington Heritage Centre has the evidence of the original art work in the old photo albums! Perhaps the museum should convert Sugar's artwork to the original (and I do not mean "Q-Queenie" from Scampton).

If you have to ask, you've never had your name on a jet!

I've had mine on a prop!

Staircase... the only reason NOT to have aircrew and plane captain names on the aircraft is to cater to the "recognizing achievement demeans those who don't achieve" lunatics that have fouled our societies.


Sounds pretty lazy and "don't give a shiite", to me.

It costs pennies (and a few minutes) to replace the name of a bloke who has transferred out, or to update an airframe transferred in.

Cost has nothing to do with it. All it requires is for the squadron to have pride in themselves.

Oh, right, I forgot... no Brit has pride in their country, service, or themselves any more... sorry.

I'll just go a get my bag of popcorn GreenKnight.
"Incoming"? :eek:

Please NOT!

Some of the crudely drawn rubbish scrawled on the front of RAF aircraft of recent years looked simply awful.

Probably one of the few areas in which the US has higher standards!

It was the tradition at our UAS that all instructors had their 'own' aircraft, complete with names under the cockpit. When I arrived as a new B2, my Bulldog had already been marked up. A low cost way of instilling pride!

In the RN in my time I had my name on the aircraft and also the Crew Chief under the sobriquet ' Arnold Airways'. Didn't always fly it of course but it gave identification to the work this particular crew carried out.

one jet I worked on in RAFG had " 'Arkwright's Airways" on it 'cos it was open all hours!

Second tour, F4s, 43 Sqn, RAF Leuchars. Finally got my name on a canopy. DOF in the tower one evening when one of our pilots called up to inform us that he had a little problem.

It seems the pair he was in were doing night VIDs and the crew that were playing the interceptor had to see whether the target has his probe out or not, which was the indication whether he was freindly or hostile. Fine.

The complete @rse flying the jet with my name on the canopy had just finished being the target and reached forward to retract the probe. The probe switch isn't really anywhaere near the canopy. But, apparently, his watch strap caught on the normal canopy opening lever. So he just pulled his arm back harder. Result: the canopy did as it was told and opened. It was then torn off by the air flow. And fell into the sea.

I advised them to have a pleasant transit back to base.

I spent the next year waiting for a knock on the door from an angry Scottish fisherman with a large piece of bebris in his trawl net.

Be the worst pilot/nav on the OCU
= Get crewed with flight commander on arrival at Squadron
= name on jet immediately!

That'll teach you to be so good Courtney!