Unlikely for the barrier, but the RHAG cable, if using bowsprings rather than grommets, was raised by er 'bowsprings' which were normally stretched so the cable was flat. If the power to stretch them was lost, they would spring into their 'normal' configuration and raise the cable.

Barriers to Flying
 

Talking of barriers, I'm sure there are many here who remember Ex Lionheart/Crusader/Curry Express et al It was a very hot summer in RAFG and the worlds premier Jaguar wing was tasked with sorties requiring a full simulated war load. So, max AUW Jag.. temperatures more reminiscent of Deci rather than Northern Europe.. runway just over 8K' and.. a barrier at 12'6"!

After several controllers in local had to hit the barrier DOWN button, as it looked as if the departing aircraft weren't going to clear the net, it became, IIRC, SOP to have the barrier in the standby position for the duration of the exercise or to keep it down unless called for.

MPN 11 see PM's

3P

I did, but nowt there! Retransmit, please!

taxydual (et al),

Your (#'80) .... Grrrr !

Never realised you led such an exciting life in your "Little red 'n white mobile home in the West". Strange things happened from time to time. At Shawbury in my day, the School Instructors also did the ATC for the airfield.

One sunny morning, a Vampire took off. "Do you know", quoth the (Marshall's) pilot, "you've got a dead hare on the runway ?" "I can see it, sir", piped up eagle-eyed RWC, "it's about 500 yards up". Accusing eyes all turned on Local. "It wasn't there when I did my inspection this morning, I swear, Sir" he quavered. Nobody believed him.

There was no movement for 20 minutes. "Get on your bike", we told RWC, "and shift it onto the grass". Off he pedalled - but when he got close to the "dead" hare it shot up and streaked away off the airfield. Seems it had been sun-bathing on the warm tarmac, and was so accustomed to aircraft that even the row of a Vampire at full chat didn't faze it. But a chap on a bike was "Clear and present Danger" !

Ain't Nature wonderful.

Chevvron,
Always a Sapper is correct. UK RAF barriers were usually remote operated UP or Down and, I do remember a series of "barrier incidents" to do with possible unreliable operation. Likewise, most RAF RHAG were manually raised on grommets. Yes, the RHAG cable was required to be tensioned whether UP or DOWN. If the RHAG cable could not be tensioned, it needed to be removed. Occasionally, I have landed "beyond the cable" when the trampling criteria could not be met.:) BTW, the NWS low light on Tornado shows if the NWS is functioning correctly. I made several RHAG engagements and I was very grateful for their availability. Never needed the Barrier but, again, thanks to everyone who maintained and operated this kit for us!:ok:

OAP

Danny, indeed it is 'man shape' that alarms animals. Tin cans are not seen as a threat. On safari we were told to keep arms inside the perimeter of the vehicle. Wave an arm outside and the lions would bite.

Savaged by sheep
 

Most Brüggenites, whose duties took them onto the airfield will , I'm sure, remember the Brüggen flock of sheep and the elderly Shepherd and his dog. Put a four ship on and not a bit of notice as they afterburner into the sky. Airfield attack with Dutch F5s blasting around the trees and departing via Goldstars overhead.. not even a Baa. However, if you're landing a glider over the top of them then oh boy, watch how high they could leap! I always gave myself a few feet extra because they really did get quite high.
I remember one time when our T.A. Signals Sqn. were with us on their summer camp and one signalman, working on the tower balcony, passed a remark about the clever airfield camouflage using imitation sheep and who was dumbfounded when told they were real.

At the Artillery ranges at Sennybridge the farmers could free range sheep on MOD land.

When the pistol (range gun) fired it's shot they would all bolt and crowd around the targets.

ACW342... Leuchars had rabbits instead of sheep, zillions of the wee things. It was 'bunny' slaughter driving out to the AGL workshop/hut next to 111's haz site when on earlies. Same when doing the lighting checks as well.

DCRE had a concentrated cull of them before putting the new security fence in (18" high, same depth down) about 2 mtrs in from the perimeter fence. It was designed to keep them (the bunny's, not DCRE) out of the site and in the bunny MQ's in the woods. It didn't work, just another well spent lump out of the station maintenance budget :D

AaS,
As a young Air Cadet (2178 Holywood Sqn.) We did our AEF at Aldergrove where there are to this day large numbers of Hares. That's the only time I've ever seen Braised Hare on the menu in the airmen's mess (oops, Junior Rank Restaurant) Quite delicious it was too.

I have seen the same thing firing .303 on 600yd range! Stoopid sheep!

OAP

ACW,

Yes, operating there, it always amazed me that the sheep were kept off the runway. Never, ever saw one bolt across!:)

OAP

A friend of mine who kept sheep for several years was of the opinion that sheep were highly intelligent creatures who were forever discovering new and ever more inventive ways of killing themselves

Sheep!, sheep!. It was camels on the runway at Masirah.

On the topic of remote barrier raising, I was in the tower once at pre-pongo Wattisham having a cup of tea with one of the controllers. Then we were joined by one of her colleagues, who was proudly showing her father around the station...

"If there's an aircraft having trouble, I can raise the runway barrier by operating this switch", she told him, then did so - and the barrier sprang up to attention as advertised.

Followed a few seconds later by some rather choice words on the Storno from the people who'd been working on the barrier at the time...

Fortunately no-one was hurt - just Sue's pride!

There used to be a shepherd with his flock at Templehof who always gave a friendly wave to taxying aircraft.

On my Cannanore strip we were plagued (inter alia) by ****ehawks, which quickly grew accustomed to the Vengeance, and would lazily hop about in front of us until the last possible moment, much as crows do on our roads today.

One mistimed it: I was charging along on take-off, a long way past V1, there was a heavy thud and a cloud of feathers flew out of the cowl gills and flashed past my cockpit. I'd taken one in between the cylinders. The engine didn't seem to be bothered, but I flew a quick circuit and put it down again.

Panels off and fish the bird out (still in one piece). But half-plucked (wind blast) and lightly browned (cylinder heat). Engine OK, bird Cat 5.

Coming back, there was always a herd of goats on the strip, we had to buzz them off and then do a quick circuit to get down before they drifted back).

Then there were the rats which dug holes in the strip every night - but that's another story. .......

I don't recall any wildlife on Gemas Strip in Malaya. Just an Army General who dropped in unannounced in the middle of it, with no call from the pilot of his Gazelle. After providing him with a mug of hot soup (it was quite early in the morning) he and his portable obstruction hovered off to the HLS on the edge of the ulu.

ATC ... we are here to serve. :)

Danny you remind me:

As the Shack slowly waddled down the taxy way the Captain, John Elias, asked of no one in particular if we knew the difference between Crows and Rooks - pause - Crows are solitary birds and Rooks are in a group.

At this point a solitary Crow flew from one side to the other where there was already a number of birds.

"Captain - Lookout, that Crow has just become a Rook"