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Skies above Britain
What a good programme, good mix of aviation interests. Highlighting once again in an understated way the bravery and professionalism of UK SAR amongst the other excellent features.
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I thought the SAR section was brilliant - is there an equivalent of the AFC for civvies? That woman (the "winch wench") deserved one. The Typhoon guys doing decompression training brought back memories of North Luffenham, but they should have shown the one when they make you hypoxic - that can be quite funny for the observer! Good programme - looking forward to the next one.
Anyone know what that old French job was right at the end? |
The French job that looked like a cross between a Beaver and a Lancaster was a Max-Holste Broussard.
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Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard, based at White Waltham....:8
And yes, a very good programme, I thought. Turning trousers have obviously come a long way since the things we wore in Gnat/Hunter days! But we regularly pulled 5G in the JP without them, even when there wasn't the current fitness obsession. Didn't seem to be a problem; neither was 7G in the Hawk (or 8G once in a Hunter T7...:eek:) - so I wonder whether there's some benefit from repeated exposure to G forces as well as the various straining manoeuvres taught nowadays? Although sustaining 9G is something very different, of course. |
Ttn,
A Max Holste Broussard I believe. It was good and the SAR crew were truly impressive. Good to see a few familiar faces! |
At least we all said the same!
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Very impressive. The SAR bit had me holding my breath.
Best not tell the JB lot the BBC have made a good program. :E |
Thanks guys - yes very like a Beaver head on, with a Lanc tail bolted on the back!
I remember pulling 6G in a JP without too much trouble without a suit when being flown by a display pilot. Wouldnt fancy it much now though! |
Good prog, particularly enjoyed the witty banter on the S92. They must be ex-mil.
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The lone Typhoon QRA jet scenario went through more colour schemes than a 70's airline disaster movie. :E
Good programme :) Kudos to the winch wench .. |
The lone Typhoon QRA jet scenario went through more colour schemes than a 70's airline disaster movie |
Most impressed with the SAR hangar, just thinking back to the Lee-on-Solent hangar when the rats were eating the seat belts.
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Originally Posted by Wycombe
(Post 9477282)
Realised the QRA event shown was "for exercise" as soon as a FRA/Cobham Falcon came into view.
And wouldn't the call sign therefore be "Rushton" and not as the BBC had it "Rushden". Not the only verbal slip either. How long have the RAF had 'Flight Lewtenants'? |
How long have the RAF had 'Flight Lewtenants'? |
Best not tell the JB lot the BBC have made a good program. Must agree though, excellent programme. My esteem for the SAR crews has reached new heights and why are people like the "winch wench" not given gongs by outgoing Prime Ministers rather than the rabble that get them. |
I was also thinking "medals!" But then I wondered if the crew themselves would welcome this or if it would be seen as a slight against their MRT colleagues who had found, secured and stabilised the casualty.
Just speculating, for all I know the MRT were as agog as the rest of us. |
What was that strange morning conference thing with the Stn Cdr? Everyone standing around - is that some modern day 'motivation' idea? I know that Oma.....Stelios used to hold all easyJet meetings with everyone standing, so has that idea migrated across to the RAF?
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Originally Posted by BEagle
(Post 9477448)
What was that strange morning conference thing with the Stn Cdr? Everyone standing around - is that some modern day 'motivation' idea? I know that Oma.....Stelios used to hold all easyJet meetings with everyone standing, so has that idea migrated across to the RAF?
I thought they were standing to attention cos the Staish was in the room :OHe is a Group Captain after all :O |
I couldn't have been the only one who yelled at the telly "It's LEFTENANT you pillock!" |
As it involved the Military, there was an all too predictably sneering review from....you know who!
Enough! Get me out of here! Preferably to somewhere more reassuring, such as, erm, the RAF Typhoon counter-terrorism base. This is where a select group of pilots who have been on £8m training courses are primed and ready to leg it on to hi-tech planes to deal with any unidentified craft in British airspace. When Nats can’t get a plane to communicate with them, we rely on this lot to sort it out by scrambling jets in a matter of minutes. Once there, they trail them for a bit then waggle their wings theatrically, before flying up beside them and revealing their massive missiles like some kind of aggressively militaristic mating call. If this doesn’t work, then the prime minister makes a call on whether or not to blast them out of the sky. Theresa May is on holiday right now, and Boris Johnson is in charge. Just a thought. The show did its best to ramp up the drama, but actually there was precious little. The unidentified plane that wandered into Gatwick’s flight path and forced the cancellation of all arrivals turned out to be piloted by a plonker. The plane trailed by a Typhoon that refused to respond turned out to be a training exercise. Boring. Although probably for the best, no matter how much the start of the third world war would have made for a more exciting hour of television. |
Some good bits, but terrible editing, difficult enough for aviation professionals to follow but impossible for the the man on the street.
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It was certainly good, as people have said the voice over was...interesting! SAR had me agog - the length those guys go to, puts the infringer at Gatwick to shame when you have these guys 100nm North!
I wish they'd covered a bit more of the ATC side, perhaps that is to come? I've always wanted to know how these controllers manage to deal with the huge volumes of traffic... |
Originally Posted by BEagle
But we regularly pulled 5G in the JP without them, even when there wasn't the current fitness obsession. Didn't seem to be a problem; neither was 7G in the Hawk (or 8G once in a Hunter T7...http://cdn.pprune.org/images/smilies/eek.gif) - so I wonder whether there's some benefit from repeated exposure to G forces as well as the various straining manoeuvres taught nowadays? Although sustaining 9G is something very different, of course.
I think they know what they're doing! ;) |
Also, is it just me or is the statement from the NATS lady at the beginning: "all aircraft that are receiving an ATC service over England and Wales are getting it from this room" substantially incorrect!?
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Originally Posted by sitigeltfel
(Post 9477540)
As it involved the Military, there was an all too predictably sneering review from....you know who!
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-r...me-out-of-here Think I'll give it a miss :rolleyes: P.S For anyone thinking of commenting in the Graun; I understand that deviation from the Party Line will have you banned and your comment deleted. |
All very impressive.
I've stood in Swanwick and watched the workload increase as a line of Cb passed through. Needless to say, envied the fighter jocks and was mega impressed by the decision making and execution of the mountain rescue. Loved the way the casualty grabbed the first part of the chopper which came within reach. |
Hey! Just had a thought re rotor blade proximity to obstructions.
What about a laser ranging array just under the rotor to give visual and audible warning? |
Hey! Just had a thought re rotor blade proximity to obstructions. What about a l@ser ranging array just under the rotor to give visual and audible warning? |
I agree that the winch operator deserves a medal. She, and the others, were incredibly brave. They decided it was unsafe to go to where the walker was, but when told that the walker would die if the did not, they risked their own lives anyway. I watched that program and was amazed and full of admiration.
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Originally Posted by 212man
(Post 9477777)
What - like this one? AgustaWestland Helicopter Obstacle Proximity LIDAR System - Aerossurance
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And wouldn't the call sign therefore be "Rushton" and not as the BBC had it "Rushden". I was told it was something to do with Alan Cobham's association with the village of Rushden in the 1930s. Also told it was something to do with Tarrant Rushton. |
Originally Posted by airpolice
if not for the guys in the Local and doing Director
British airports consider replacing air traffic controllers with remote system |
Basil, maybe so however, as Crablab wrote, the statement is substantially incorrect. There will have been dozens of aircraft ouside controlled receiving an ATC service which wasn't supplied by Swanwick and dozens inside controlled airspace (around Manchester, Birmingham, East Midlands etc) that weren't receiving an ATC service from Swanwick.
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The Rushton Winch was fitted to Canberras for target towing - a service provided today by FR Aviation
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I don't know where she worked in RAF ATC but it seems it didn't have a LARS function. Long before the Flight Lootenant comment, I was reeling from her claim that Swanwick do everything. |
At least the programme showed what chaos can be caused by an unknown puddlejumper blundering into controlled airspace....
Yet there are still some GA pilots who think that an infringement doesn't really matter if it didn't actually affect anyone else at the time....:mad: |
Wub
Not quite right. Delmar high speed winch with the Rushton target. Many years ago I used to sit in the back of Meteor TT20s and operate the system. In case you are wondering, 1574 Target Facilities Flight , RAF Changi. Rgds SJH |
Right ... thank you BBC iPlayer. All the above comments now make sense!!!
I enjoyed the programme, and whilst I could pick a few inaccuracies and unnecessary embellishments (Typhoon victory rolls, anyone?) I think it served the British Public quite well. Basil ... Scampton Director was operated from the Wadington Approach Room in the 80s, but I accept that's not quite what's being discussed. beefix ... 1574 of fond/distant memory, with their rather smart black tail-fins IIRC ;) They enabled me to claim I controlled Meteors on my first 2 tours in ATC :) |
An excellent programme and I echo the above comments ref the Coastguard crews, absolutely fantastic and I always enjoyed watching them whilst they were training here at Norwich.
Question that I had been meaning to ask and I don't at all mean this to be insensitive at all, but I noticed the Flt Lt who I assume appeared to suffer from Alopecia flying in the Typhoon. I'm presuming the RAF allow FJ Pilots and any Aircrew to continue flying? I (as a civvy and outsider and one who stands to be firmly corrected) only thought that the lack of eyelashes/eyebrows etc would possibly cause issues with sweat whilst flying? I must admit, upon looking at the RAF medical requirements - I from what I recall, never saw alopecia on the list as a bar to entry. Merely curious and as I say - don't wish to sound or come across insensitive. Thanks. |
Ifonly
RUSHTON was used as a c/s by aircraft flying for Flight Refuelling out of Tarrant Rushton flying targets for the "Thursday War" with the RN et alia. |
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