Sorry to disrupt the thread but we did as a crew visit the D-Day beaches (a must) and I submit this poor pic as a memory to those commemorated today.
http://i59.tinypic.com/f3fexu.jpg

upgently,
no apology needed. I note from my log book that on June 6 1984 we took XV 183 to Caen for a D Day celebration and brought some of the old boys back.

What a privilege :ok:.

upgently,
indeed it was.

East is East and West is West
 

Dear Coff,
With Funafuti I think all I can say is "Touche". I looked at a map of the South Pacific and could not be sure from that if there were any airports that close. Maybe we have a winner here but can only wait to see if there is a counter-claim.


I have been all the way round 3 times ( 1 Britannia and 2 Albert) so can claim 1080 but I bet there are others who would claim more.

48 squadron reunion
 

With so many references to the squadron a reminder that there is a reunion on June 21st.


Details from Colin Eames on [email protected]




Still looking for those slides!

Xercules ...

Just a bit of fun :ok:

BZ on the 1080 ... You guys must have had great fun on these adventures. Mind you AA62's Op Royal Loo story is simply brilliant ... You can just imagine the Chain of Command required to get those "vital building materials" delivered ;)

Coff,

A little "off thread", but during my tour at Akrotiri we had a Royal visit by HRH the Princess Margaret. As I recall a special toilet was constructed for the occasion, and was demolished the day after. I wonder how many other "short lived " conveniences have been built over the years? Meanwhile, I wonder if some of the operators could give us some info on Altitude. I was issued with an oxygen mask, and did the North Luffenham course as part of my GE training. I was led to believe that Albert was height restricted, when carrying Pax, as it was not possible to descend quickly enough from high altitude in the event of decompression. Has anyone any recollection of altitudes achieved, without Pax, en route ? I'm sure I saw 30k on an altimeter once.

Smudge:ok:

I remember getting up to FL310 on the way to Norway in an empty Mk1. However, as a result, the Nav 'found' an 80kts wind, so we came straight back down again!!!! Still, he was OC XXIV at the time!!!

No altitude restrictions on the K because of passengers. When you got above FL 280/290 (and FL 310 was reasonably common) you saved fuel, but went so slowly compared with others up there that ATC were reluctant to approve. Nowadays because of RVSM rules in busy airspace the J is limited to FL280. In free airspace an empty J can get easily get into the high 30s - no pax of course because the cabin goes above 8000 ft above FL322.

Smudge,

Your reference to the special chemical loo reminds me the one constructed for 48 Sqn in Changi for VIP tasking.

Some wag had placed a very official looking notice giving details of the serial number etc of the part and then the notice "This unit is designed to withstand a stress of 10G" :D

Well it amused me if nobody else.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps6bed20ed.jpg

Coff,
great pic of modern Funafuti. This is how it looked in my day, not quite the same.
No pax oxy on the 'K' and no drop down masks etc either. Drill was to descend ASAP in case of a decompression. First one I had was the doppler AE cover blowing out. Loud bang followed by white out and down we went scrabbling to don our masks.
Highest I have ever been in the 'K' was 35000 ft on a free fall para trial. Very cold up there with the ramp and door open.

smudge,
talking of short lived conveniences did you ever see the VIP caravan specially constructed to go in the 'K' ?

I was similarly amused with a notice pronouncing ...

"This unit is capable of withstanding sustained inverted flight"

Smudge ...

Whilst on the topic of Albert's height limits ... It would be interesting to know the Highest Airfield (ASL) Albert has launched from. I'm guessing that will rule out quite a few of his Pacific adventures.

Still nobody claiming either 90N or 90S as yet :)

AA62 ...

Cracking pic of Funafuti ... you and your crew appear to have won our little "Furthest East" comp @ 179°11'E (by flying West to East) :ok:

Just as a matter of interest ... what was the runway surface back then ... compacted crushed coral (given the white appearance in your pic) ?

Coff,
most of the strips were crushed coral as was the Mahe strip shown in a previous post. Not a problem to the 'K'. I recall going to one place and they refused to give us fuel. They had not been paid for the previous Hercules visit almost a year before. We were looking forward to an extended stay but alas FEAF 'wired' down the money so we left the next day.

Anyone for a top up?


http://i60.tinypic.com/15zle2x.jpg