A quick flip back through the relevant logbook shows that I flew 553 infrequently during my three years on ULAS. I seemed to have spent most of my time in either 552 or 554 showing either Pastle or Mr. Eagle how it's done......

However, I see that Pastle sent me on my first (UAS) solo (I already had a PPL) in 553 on 20th March 1990. Happy days!

Great to hear it's in good hands. I've seen so many recently looking, at best, shabby. I have a share in a Chippie, and a Bulldog has sat engineless on it's tail, outside our hangar all year. I thought it was heading towards scrap, so was delighted to find it indoors this week, newly reconditioned motor installed and the airframe refurbishment well under way. I'll be angling for a flight when it's done.

A very big thank you to all contributors and call sign suggestions
 

Dear All:
I would like to extend my personal thanks to all ULAS (and OUAS) alums who have sent me their stories, log book entries and some absolutely cracking photographs of Bulldog XX553.

Some amazing anecdotes from those whose first flight was in XX553 and who went on to enjoy fantastic careers in the RAF or elsewhere. Infraboy and Satellite Driver are definitely neck-and-neck in the Best Photo category so far unless Ken S or others can do better!

And yes, Crandons, I remember HRH's time with us at Easter Camp well - I wonder if he flew in XX553? The new CO being his Royal Equerry was no coincidence!

Well spotted also on the call-sign - it reminds me of the great times on the squadron and "Lima 262 final" used to roll off the tongue nicely at the end of a long flight.

I am trying to get XX553 registered in the US as N-L262 for the same reason, but the FAA won't budge on their rule that the first three characters have to be numbers. "262 Lima" doesn't seem the same to me. I am currently holding N-553X which would be shortened to "53 X-ray" on the R/T whereas N-553XX would be shortened to "3 X-ray, X-ray" which seemed a bit of a mouthful. I am open to any meaningful call-sign suggestions for XX553.

Keep those stories and photos coming!

Many thanks,

ABL262

ABL262,

Sadly although I have quite an extensive set of photos from time on ULAS there was no shot of 553.

My last flight in her was 12 Nov 88, a couple of days before her birthday, solo GH. Good times, glad she's well.

First solo in 553 in 1980, and lots of time in her subsequently solo and dual, the latter with Colin Patterson and Don Merriman among others, including my inglorious BHT. Partz will be along shortly, I expect, as I distinctly recall a running change with him - and I'll bet that was in '553. He and I were the same size then!

Ah - welcome back, Jackonicko.

Now then, where are the irreplaceable 35mm slides I loaned you?? You've told me a few times that you'd find out, but have never done so.

I'm still waiting - meanwhile I know which aviation journos can be trusted.

Hello all - love reading this thread - I became part owner in XX554 in the summer! Lots of stories about that one too!!

CJ

Just checking my logbook and I see that I flew XX553 as a UC (78-81) on ULAS on July 20 1979, my QFI was Tony Semark (RIP), someone who was an inspiration to me. On that day it was circuit consolidation during summer camp at RAF Marham and after 25 mins dual I flew her solo. I live in Aus now, flying for Q and will soon be on the dreamliner, flying into LA, maybe I get to see her again??

Best thread I've read for months. I had a half share in XX668 at Colerne with Cliff Hilliker closely followed by XX657 which I took out to NZ (in a box). Lots of fun out here and I didn't have to take out the UHF either...

Whilst we are on the subject, anyone got stories, pics etc of XX614. Alive and well still. By the way, talking of callsigns, hers is G-GGRR (Grrrrr)

carlos755: I flew 668 nine times on a summer camp at Woodvale, including four sorties in her in one day. That wasn't unusual, we would do up to six in a day, pairs of back-to-back flights on a tank of fuel with a running change in between to swop the students over. Sorties were around an hour so it was a lot of take offs & landings for not many hours, I did 70 hours in 78 flights on that four week camp.

Some camps we would fly our own aircraft to if the airfield wasn't another UAS base, if it was we'd use the resident ones.

I can't see 554, 657 or 614 in my logbook though.

Double-checked my logbook and found that I did indeed fly 554, on 4 occasions, the last a solo GH in September 88.

Handy place for a scrap yard at the end of the runway

First solo in her at RAF Abingdon 30th September 1981. Weather cleared at last!

Only just found this thread.....I am sure I have pictures somewhere - will dig. Hello to all ex Bullfrog studes and instructors.
I, too, spent a lot of time in XX553 '07' - mainly with the late, great, Pete Thorn 85-86 at ULAS (my first ever solo was in her at Leeming summer camp in July 1985). I also flew 552 and 554 a lot. Fabulous to see them still flying.
My last flight in 07 on ULAS was with Pete on 1 Aug 86....my first ever formation sortie....stunning! I remember it well - it was like sex with your clothes on - and no sticky bits. That flight made up my mind to re-apply for the Air Force.
Later in May 95, now as a QFI myself, I finally flew the lovely lady on an Air Test from St Athan (they did the majors still in those days).....i recall there were no dramas and she handled beautifully. My BUAS 'steed' was mainly XX656 'C''- anyone know what happened to her?

Hi Flipster130. Welcome to the discussion and thank you for your recollections of XX553. My regular "steed" at ULAS was XX548, mainly with Flt Lt Jim Woodall. Fast forward 25 years when I was looking for a Bulldog of my own, I discovered XX548 already had a devoted owner in Canada. I found XX553, which also featured in my logbook with the late, great Pete Thorn, for sale in West Virginia. I became the proud owner of XX553 in 2013, just before her 40th birthday, and had the pleasure of flying her to her new home in California where she has been joined recently by XX552.

In answer to your questions, XX552 is complete, but will require significant restoration to return her to flight which is my retirement project. XX553 is a relatively clean example of an ex-RAF Bulldog, is airworthy, and actually flies with great precision once trimmed (and that has nothing to do with her pilot!). Sadly, XX554 was flown into a hedge at the end of a farm strip in the UK a few years ago and is no longer with us. XX656, your BUAS "steed", has been in storage somewhere in the UK since 2007 which is normally code for someone has bought her but not gotten around to restoring her - a fate I'm hoping to avoid with XX552. It would be fantastic if you could post any photos you find. There is a more up-to-date thread running to celebrate XX553's 50th birthday and the arrival of XX552, so you may wish to continue the conversation there.

Many thanks, ABL262