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Jack,
thanks for putting up the video. It was a real memory lane for me. I wonder if there is a video of a full op drop with door bundles and wedge. Wonder why they opened the cargo door as I did not see any wedge kit. Yes pulling the bags in was a struggle. We did have retrieval winches but if the bags snagged the winches could be pulled off their mountings. Pulling the bags in on the Hastings could be a struggle too. We dropped with the inboards throttled back and as soon as the 'troops gone' call was made they were powered back up again just as we were trying to recover the bags ! Happy days. |
ancientaviator:- after my time we used to do door bundles the RAF had some good devices for finding kit on the dz at night
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On big ABEXes when para/wedge and door bundles were dropped, the calculations for stick length timings were tortuous. The wedge went on "Red On - Cut" abeam the early marker, then there was a head/tailwind gap till "Green On" when the door bundles went, after which the troops were dispatched. The timing to the end of the DZ was calculated from the early marker but if there were still jumpers on board when "Time" was called it would take a brave despatcher to halt the stick on its way out.
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Jack, probably around 2001 we were experimenting with a modified SARBE. Dedicated frequencies away from the Emergency ones. These were coded and would burst transmit a GPS location over UHF. This could be picked up on the SARFIND box which listed the loads and locations. Just march with your hand held garmin and there it was. Probably overcomplex for a harness pack but the requirements fell out of loosing a high value load on an overseas exercise (Safe Saria) All the kit was disposed of to the School at St Mawgan to one of the Squipper WOs remember trialing various lights including some IR which would flash a code. Mocking Bird they were called and could be programmmed. The change from IR to white light was effected by putting the batteries in the other way round. Like most things of this nature they were pilfered. Apparently they were useful to the Scuba divers. Not sure what became of the pingers we put on boat airdrop platforms. Again that came about through having lost one. |
Dragartis:- very interesting copied that to my Para guys who may have some more stories
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Been on several trials to aid location of airdropped kit on night drops. We seemed to keep coming back to Cylumes ! I was on JATE when the Wedge raised its head. The original notion is that it would replace door bundles. By the time the Mk3 (stretch) came along we were back to wedge and door bundles plus of course longer sticks of troops. As Doug says in this state you did indeed need a long DZ, especially if the comedians who suggested dispatching consecutively from the doors got their way. No, I could not stop the last couple of paras from going out of the door after the 'red' came on.
Nor could anyone else. The train was going too fast and their only ambition was to get out of the 'honk box' and get the weight off their legs as I am sure Jack will agree. |
A long way back in this thread there was a picture taken from the ramp of two Shackletons in formation for a flypast to mark the closure of the RN base (Sembawang/HMS Terror) in Singapore. Here's the ones looking the other way! Sorry to admit we were a bit further back than normal when they were taken.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....07944759e9.jpg https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....077febd506.jpg |
Oh, and here's one from the ground courtesy of Mrs S of the run in and break at Changi:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cda52b68e4.jpg |
Shackman ,
great pics. When were they taken ? I was on 48 at Changi then so may have been on the trip ! |
I'm fairly certain they were taken on the flypast for RN closure at Sembawang or possibly the practice Sep/Oct 71.
It is possible it could have been the FEAF disbandment parade - a multi feature flypast of RNZAF frightener with Whirlwinds either side, ourselves with you, Sqn of Lightnings, Sqn of Mirages (RAAF) and a few other odds and sods. Unfortunately the slides are all mixed up and undated.. Here's us looking down: https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d4200f08d3.jpg And one looking up: https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....15d5b7a1fc.jpg |
Shackman,
thanks for the pics. I had just left 48 by then as I was due to go to Thorney Island as an airdrop instructor. However they had decided to close Thorney and move it all to Lyneham. So we set up the squadron at Lyneham whist I waited to start my new job. We used to use Sembewang as a DZ for light stores and para. I still have memories of looking out of the open para door down at the shipyard as we turned for the run in. |
Shackman:
I took these photos on 27th or 29th October 1971. Flypast at Naval Base Sembawang. 29th Oct was my last flight from Changi before relocating to Lyneham Previous images were deleted by Photobox. (Hope this works with imgur.com) https://i.imgur.com/SKMudPS.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/MTDHX1h.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/XgrkX8B.jpg |
Nice to see this thread revived and liking all these pics. More please if anyone has anymore.
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Sync'd props
Awesome set of photos... A question though, in all these shots it seems the front/rear props are sync'd for each engine, whereas a few photos from wiki have the front/rear props out of phase by (i'd guess) 30 degrees for each engine.
Was that for vibration or??? Thanks Skylimey |
Sky,both props rotate in opposite directions,through a common but complex gearbox and propeller system,driving two propeller shafts,one inside the other...I am sure that each engine can then be `synchronised` with all the others to reduce a harmonic ` beat` that you get(drone) throughout the aircraft if one or more engines are running at slightly different RPM. This can be refined further by `synchrophasing the propellers` from the `master engine`.This is really a job best left to a `flight-engineer`/witch-doctor,as it invokes much voodoo,incantations,time of day,time of month,ascension of moon,periodic tables,and copious amounts of coffee/tea/pasties,etc...
I`m sure ``Shackman ` can elaborate further....my experience was limited from the C-130,and getting engineers to `get rid of that f£$%^& beat`.. |
Just came across this: |
Does anyone remember the drawing of a Co-pilot as seen through the eyes of various crew? It was on the noticeboard of the OCU last time I saw it
It had various depictions of a co seen through the eyes of the rest of the crew and a drawing of a baby whilst the view from his Flt Commander was one of a long haired teenager? If anyone has a copy I'd appreciate it! Cheers Carl |
This is a great thread
I am not recently from within your service (since 66) but I do appreciate this great explanation of Albert operations coupled with a good level of human interest.
In the hope of restarting the thread..... How were you fed down the route? |
How were you fed down the route?
It depended upon the twats at 1 / 38 Gp Admin. We were either on 'Rates' ie a fixed rate per per meal per place (easy give everyone their allowance), or 'ACTUALS', ie the actual meal cost of a table d'hôte per head that could be paid for. The latter was (despite the Penguins at 38 Gp) a bloody Nightmare for the CoPilot who would have to attend the Crew Meal at a restaurant and then the Groundcrew meal (if applicable later) with the comcommitant affect upon 'Crew Duty Time'. Of course the bloody penguins in Accounts only ever looked at the ££ cost and never the Operational Efficiency. |
Actuals, wasn't that "Chateaubriand for 2 for 1"?
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