Passing the time on long transits
 

Gents.....and ladies.

This may be a dumb question, but how did you used to pass the time during long flights/patrols etc? Were there times when you could relax a little.....maybe enjoy a bit of banter? I'm sure back in the '80's, I saw a documentary that showed a tornado crew inserting an audio cassette and listening to dire straits on the way to Akrotiri.....did I dream this or was it the norm?

MD:ok:

Quite the norm on the GR1. The F3 boys trialled it in Akrotiri to stave off the boredom between coming off the flag and crashing on the main runway, I believe.

Who needs a tape when you can go live!!


https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...71&oe=56B7675F

P G-W,
Fleetwood Mac wasn't it? One of the most entertaining accident reports I've ever read.....

In the days of the Shackleton, time was spent looking out of observation ports. In excess of 30% of sightings were made in transit.
Mo

Playing "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" on Trails.

"Chris Tarrant" on the Tanker (along with "phone-a-friends")

"Contestants" in the FJ

"The Audience" on the SAR Nimrod.



"Your next question for 8000lbs (of F34)..."

I have to admit the Audience used to have a quick conference and often chose the wrong answer on purpose.:ok:

BBC world service on the HF, a snooze in ordnance or on top of the liferafts and lots of food.

"For practice, for practice. There is smoke coming from......"

Synchronising the engines by ear. Listening to the Light Programme on the radio compass (as long as the GH wasn't on). Counting Consol if over the ocean out of Gee cover.

Wensleydale, I noticed that the rest of the crew kept their ear defenders on, but surely that sort of thing is banned under the Geneva Convention? :E

Down the back of a 'bou: Musical chairs - 'cept few could tell when the music stopped.

Directional Consultants had plenty to keep them occupied during off airways transits in certain places on the lonely planet

I was the 1997 S. Atlantic Scrabble champion (air).

Didn't have much serviceable nav. kit to keep me occupied, so just set course for S. Georgia and glanced up at the E290 after a couple of hours.

Pretty much the same technique from Bellingshausen Is. back to MPA, c'ept I didn't need to look at the radar for over 3 hours.

On the hourly position reports to Greek ATC, we used to make them with alternating words from the pilot and nav, in perfect cadence. Especially fun when the crew had different regional accents. Confused ATC no end!

For F-4, Hawk and F-3 I made patch chords that allowed me record from the I/c to a pocket cassette player and playback from it. A pocket full of tapes made for some in-flight entertainment. Not all back sweaters like Pink Floyd, though.

Needed to be in mono for correct playback, IIRC.

re The Guitarist above.

I didnt know TOFO was on E3's ;)

Three and a half hours Northern Cal - flying the bl@@dy aeroplane - no autopilot on the Canberra!

Kit accuracy 3nm/hr, radar fix once per hr, 55 min kip/hr.

As TTN said elsewhere, the R88 camera head rest was brilliant as you could appear to be working.

On the Shack AEW, Charlie position was good for a snooze and lovely seats.

I can remember having a four for bridge on the Belfast flightdeck on several occasions.

I understand on Beverleys they followed the oil slicks and went train spotting as the trains passed them.

Via the Benny Cummerbund Appreciation Society, I give you: Games Played on Cabin Pressure

In the past ... My string hammock slung above the ramp, watching the ice crystals forming.

In the present ... My seat reclined fully-flat, under a lightweight duvet ... after a nice meal, copious wine and a large port to go with the cheese course :cool: :cool:

I can remember having a four for bridge on the Belfast flightdeck on several occasions.

JW surely you had time for many rubbers of bridge on a Belslow transit.........

A little cuddle with the (lady) loadie, but only when it was dark :E

In the dark, you sure you got the girlie loadie?

Wot! No mention of ukkers? On Brits there was usually a game going on down the back. Especially when coming home from the Hong Kong dets.

wensleydale, re your #3.........there's a man who looks like he's been caught doing something he shouldn't!

Love the "who wants to be a millionaire" jape.......priceless!! I've often wondered what you got up to? Having spent 30 years working with (almost without exception) men with too much time on their hands......I was just grateful to draw my pension. In fact, I did consider kissing the ground when the golden eagle sh*t into my bank account!!

Being a little bit naughty at work....whilst remaining professional and focussed of course, helped many a long shift pass by a little quicker!Keep 'em coming!

MD:ok:

I can only comment as mere SLF, but the technique as explained to me on a trip from Seletar to Kuching was "dead-reckoning outbound, follow the oil slicks on the return leg."

We had a used condom found under the seat of a Jag after it transited back from Red Flag, I suppose it beats having an in flight movie. It was returned at a mess dining in night.

Remember the Eagles being played in an F3 on a transit across the Indian Ocean. On the cassette deck provided!! And remember being half way over the pond before nose gunner realised the world service was on HF!! Mind you he had no autopilot so he was pre occupied

Had the movers arrange some DAC so we had a "card table and four chairs" - plenty of time for "hunt the *unt" from Belize to Lyneham.

C.130 somewhere over the Indian Ocean 1979. At least you wake up refreshed at the far end ready to sample the Watneys Party Seven after landing as seen in the second photo being cooled by the Ground Engineer!

Non-service issue blanket in photo 1 I think.


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...atherlarge.jpg


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...withParty7.jpg

Actually, my six-pack (not that I ever had one) has now become a Party Seven. The trouble is, no-one over a certain (advanced) age knows what I mean.

Telling outrageous war stories. Now part of my book: Never fly faster than your Guardian Angel'

Take this...
http://website.lineone.net/~tomcats....qntorngr1a.gif

and this allegedly being played by some involved and not looking out of the window...
http://www.8-bitcentral.com/images/n.../mainImage.jpg

Plus a mix up by the tanker lead on Mag/True...

And you get this and a very cold night after a dunking in a cold lake in Canada...
http://goflightmedicine.com/wp-conte...2987939473.jpg

http://www.ukserials.com/pdflosses/m...0801_za397.pdf

LJ (that's what I heard, anyway) :ok:

I reckon my 5000 plus hours of "air experience" in Albert were mostly passed in my hammock tied across the ramp. Safely ensconced in my "green maggot", a ready supply of snacks to hand and a good book, even a 12 hour leg was "doable"? I do remember a 14 hour trip from ASI to MPA where we played trivial pursuits for six hours, over the radio with the tanker crew we would take fuel from. Here's the prod from the bubble;

http://i1292.photobucket.com/albums/...psm7lrdrpo.jpg

ISTR that the tanker crew won on the day, but it certainly made half the trip enjoyable.

Smudge :ok:

LHR-NBO spent four hours in the bunk with my girlfriend who was the CSD on the flight! Mile high for four hours!:ok::ok::ok:


Sorry but no pictures! It was dark!

Good god.....the Watneys Party Seven! It was because of one of those, I had my one and only taste of corporal punishment at (primary!!!) school!


Back to the thread though.......I bet there just isn't the "scope" for aircrew to pass the time in such creative ways these days?


MD:ok:

If I flew with a QWI, I'd ask an esoteric question about the radar/missile. Close my eyes, and listen to him blather on (You had to chuck in the occasional "OK" to keep him motivated).

I guess the same would be true with a QFI, only the question would be about the secondary effect of something boring.

Flying with a Flt Cdr, I'd ask about promotion prospects...same result.

Flying with the boss, close eyes shortly after take-off...they needed no invitation to blather.

Flying with a mate, talk about girls and beer for 8hrs.