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RIot at RIAT
Never saw one on static at RIAT 2017....nor with pressure suit, helmet, gloves boots, ALsE on display 👽👽 https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....254896b95.jpeg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....bdb46fe89.jpeg https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6d7d1da93.jpeg |
Yuri Gagarin didn't hitch a lift in one prior to his journey into space, April '61. Not many people know this, so . . . Mum's the word.
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Originally Posted by chevvron
(Post 10355104)
We were on the beach at the east end of the SBA near the harbour when one came in to land; far from being a VRT type (like us) who tried to stop us photographing it, the Deputy ACLO was running round shouting 'you can't take a picture of that'.
He also tried it when a decidedly non standard looking Nimrod came in to land later. As for noise, they generally took off as we were walking across to the mess for brekky about 7am noisy buggers. |
And I never saw the one with which I was in close formation.
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I didn't drink beer with the spaceman who didn't have anything to do with it whilst I wasn't there at any time during various Toom APC's in the early '80's. Something might have been at the far end of G dispersal but it was probably a bit of heat shimmy distorting the tacky ton Canberra target tug. Aircraft recognition was never my strong point.
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Can't remember drinking with the crews at AKR in the early '70's (can't remember much from then) - must be old age!!!
Bill |
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Never used to see one take off in the mornings making a huge noise with a steep take off climb when I was on the way to school, but hey I was only a kid so I have no idea what I didn't see back then.
Seems a lot has changed since 82 - no more swimming pool and the MQ we used to live in must have been flattened and replaced with a new one. |
The US taxpayer certainly got their money's worth from that particular example.
Needs a spot of paint... |
And while standing outside plant 42 in Palmdale in 1973 I never saw one take off and dropping the wingtip gear and climbing at a very steep angle with a lot of noise -before getting into a Rockwell Aerocommander as SLF with a corporate VP pilot named Hoover and just barely clearing the ridge with a nice house- between Palmdale and LAX while working on the first B-1 Bomber.
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I was never almost deafened by a weather balloon on departure whilst I plugged in the Runway Caravan at AKT during an F4 APC. It was painfully loud at such close range!
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We were out there in 86 I think it was, and were told that if the aircraft that wasn't there wasn't towed past us on the taxiway we were to turn round with our backs to what wasn't there. I was also told off on day 1 of the detachment for getting lost looking for GEF and parking the landrover outside a hanger while I asked this bloke for directions.
The fact that half of the south of Cyprus could hear an aircraft that wasn't there not take off in the morning was not relevant... |
Golden BB : RIot at RIAT 2017
Originally Posted by chevvron
(Post 10354469)
Don't know how long it will be there but on www.zoom.earth/#34.587014,33.000716,19z,map is a 'strange' aircraft lined up on 28.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f81f87ffe.jpeg |
Nearly got killed in a car crash by the head of U2 operations in Cyprus back in 1977. The detachment had had just been allowed to start going off the SBA and he came out to Cyprus on a visit and he, along with the detachment commander, came up to 280SU on a curtesy call as we provided their radar surveillance. The plan was to meet in the mess and go down to Kakpetria for a meze in their SUV. What we were unaware of was that they had been drinking all afternoon. Halfway down the mountain the car left the road, rolled down a slope and ended up in a storm drain on its roof. Thankfully the water only half filled the interior and we were able to kick out the windscreen. In the car along with the two of them were me and, IIRC, HW. Police attended, taken to hospital, lots of urgent telephone calls and both the Americans were off the island in 12 hours. Shortly after the det had another crash off base which killed two female schoolteachers and injured two of their pilots. That left them so short they flew in another to maintain their flying schedule. He was the one who took out the ATC tower, Ops and Met office on his first take-off. They got got barred from going base again after that. |
Originally Posted by spannermonkey
(Post 10355520)
Never used to see one take off in the mornings making a huge noise with a steep take off climb when I was on the way to school, but hey I was only a kid so I have no idea what I didn't see back then.
. It was most embarassing when one arrived at Farnborough for the static display. The SBAC supplied groundcrew insisted on ignoring the USAF ground party and handling it their way not allowing it to taxy off the runway once the outriggers were fitted and consequently it blocked the runway for about 15 -20 minutes while they tried the manhandle it with the pilot still on board. The Group Captain (COEF Farnborough) naturally blamed us (ATC) for the delay (nothing to do with us chief) as he was waiting along with other members of the Flying Control Committee to 'vet' the displays of several other aircraft. |
The US taxpayer certainly got their money's worth from that particular example. |
This one perhaps?
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An Army Helicopter Flight School roommate from back in 1968 wound up being the Squadron Commander of 99 Squadron after he shifted over to the Air Force.....he was bound for higher places than just a Chinook seat.
He is an excellent pilot who went through Chinook Conversion training with me and travelled to Vietnam to the same Battalion where we were assigned to different Chinook units. He shifted to the Air Force in 1974 and retired upon which he went to work for American Airlines as a Pilot. Along the way he became an author. https://web.ipmsusa3.org/content/sha...-u-2-spy-plane |
Way back in 1980 World in Action (I think) were filming an interview with some talking head at Mildenhall. Said head was denying that any alleged spy planes were operating in the Uk when a certain black glider drifted in over the hedge and waiting cameras. and it made inclusion in that weeks programme as well. Allegedly it was a weather diversion from Beale AFB, they said.....
PS: I made the last bit up...…….!:O:= |
I wasn't at Air Fete 80 at Mildenhall and I didn't get a glimpse of a section of black fuselage through a briefly opened hangar side door... I haven't just looked at my old mil spotter's log (can't bear to throw 'em out, after nearly 30 years, God only knows why) and it wasn't 68-10339.
I did however see and hear one take off from Patrick AFB - the log I didn't look at tells me it was 68-10329, the history of which ORAC has kindly detailed above. I recall the climb as quite steep and I was surprised by the noise. Mind you, I think I had seen the TR-1 flying at a show or two by then. The departure was just before the the first post-Challenger Shuttle Launch so possibly connected? |
ACW599. i doubt if it did rollers as they needed ‘Mobile’ to talk them down over the threshold on account the pilot can’t see ahead. At AKT they had a big powerful car with a pilot driving giving heights to the PF, “That’s one hundred over the Tee” etc. In the 80’s I drove passed Alconbury and there were four in the visual circuit! |
Originally Posted by uffington sb
(Post 10356318)
ACW599. i doubt if it did rollers as they needed ‘Mobile’ to talk them down over the threshold on account the pilot can’t see ahead. At AKT they had a big powerful car with a pilot driving giving heights to the PF, “That’s one hundred over the Tee” etc. In the 80’s I drove passed Alconbury and there were four in the visual circuit! Come to think of it, didn't the first U2 to land in the UK land at Bedford? |
They used their Mustang or whatever to do chippy runs at Sculthorpe. Didnt half growl and grumble as it went along.
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One of the best trips you can get, at Akr it was in a BMW M5, a bit of a rush entering the runway at 110 mph with the guy who is driving (pilot) using one hand to steer and one hand to use the radio, fastest Automatic I have ever been in.
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Originally Posted by Tashengurt
(Post 10354472)
Can't see anything?
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https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....33f0b7a107.jpg
Jerry Garcia can't see anything either. Of course that's Jerry Garcia, not me. |
One of the AFTAC guys with whom we worked at Patrick AFB was an ex-U-2 pilot and still had strong connections with the resident Det at Patrick. So a chum and I were invited to look around the jet in the hangar. The next day we were invited back at dawn to watch the pre-flight prep for the pilot, then out to watch the crew-in and taxi out from the mobile chase car driven by our ex-U-2 pilot host.
Crew-in was very quick; as soon as the pilot was happy with the jet we watched for a light on the corner of the hangar to show green, then off we went following the jet. On reaching the RW, we did a quick last chance FOD check in the chase car, then came back and turned round to sit just off the wing where the pilot could see us. A thumbs-up from the chase driver, the U-2 went to max chat and we set off down the RW to see it airborne. Then we picked up the pogos and drove back to the Det before going for breakfast with our host and his wife. An excellent visit! |
Originally Posted by uffington sb
(Post 10356318)
ACW599. i doubt if it did rollers as they needed ‘Mobile’ to talk them down over the threshold on account the pilot can’t see ahead. At AKT they had a big powerful car with a pilot driving giving heights to the PF, “That’s one hundred over the Tee” etc. In the 80’s I drove passed Alconbury and there were four in the visual circuit! |
Reference Post No54
I remember the incident on 7 Dec 1977, and the award of the QGM to Bernie Limb. Found this description on the internet. I believe that Bernie was the driver of the Landrover.. The U2 was taking off on a routine reconnaissance over the Sinai Desert when it stalled on take off, crashing into the station operations complex, spreading debris and burning fuel everywhere. Some people were trapped in what remained of the building(s). Amongst those trapped in the building was Flt Lt BJM Limb and two of his staff. Unable to release them, or escape himself, he instructed rescuers to gain access through the walls of the building. (This probably resulting in one of the stories posted about a Landrover trying to knock down a door because it was locked.) For his bravery Flt Lt Limb was awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal. |
Er - puhleese!
Genuine question. Why is everyone writing all these bizarre negatives? Is this some in-joke/tradition I've not come across? (That was a real negative, btw) |
Originally Posted by uffington sb
(Post 10356318)
ACW599. i doubt if it did rollers as they needed ‘Mobile’ to talk them down over the threshold on account the pilot can’t see ahead. At AKT they had a big powerful car with a pilot driving giving heights to the PF, “That’s one hundred over the Tee” etc. In the 80’s I drove passed Alconbury and there were four in the visual circuit! The interesting fact about 'those flights' was that you could never be sure that the one that took off from there was the one that landed some time later ;P |
Originally Posted by meleagertoo
(Post 10356969)
Er - puhleese!
Genuine question. Why is everyone writing all these bizarre negatives? Is this some in-joke/tradition I've not come across? (That was a real negative, btw) As alluded to in post 37, service personnel were often told to look away when certain aircraft were moving. Happened to me twice with different aircraft that I didn’t see! |
Originally Posted by meleagertoo
(Post 10356969)
Er - puhleese!
Genuine question. Why is everyone writing all these bizarre negatives? Is this some in-joke/tradition I've not come across? (That was a real negative, btw) Like the rest of us don't know who you are because your profile tells us nothing. |
Originally Posted by chopper2004
(Post 10355274)
Never saw one on static at RIAT 2017....nor with pressure suit, helmet, gloves boots, ALsE on display ���� https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6d7d1da93.jpeg |
I didn't see this aircraft at Akrotiri because I was never there. If I were, I'd have known better than to ask what it wasn't.
As I was never there, I didn't have a great time diving from an RPL belonging to 10 Port Sqn RCT (whoever they were), either. https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8299ade60d.jpg |
Originally Posted by FODPlod
(Post 10357089)
I didn't see this aircraft at Akrotiri because I was never there. If I were, I'd have known better than to ask what it wasn't.
As I was never there, I didn't have a great time diving from an RPL belonging to 10 Port Sqn RCT (whoever they were), either. |
This prompted the airman manning the stand to remark "Uh, sir, there is actually no one in the suit" |
Kaitakbowler's Google piccy stirs some ancient memories! The grey roofed hut towards the top left was my Ops Room work place from 71-74. The parking area and sheds around the non-existent aircraft are additions since then ... had they existed previously we would not have been able to see a lone 'Red' transit below hangar height from the other side during their work-up 'bomb-burst'! The afore-mentioned hut was a handy viewing spot for such activity as, for instance, the 'will it, won't it' departures of the Victor B1s making their close-up inspections of Ladies Mile!! 1563 Flt when I arrived, 84 Sqn (for my second time) when I left - are the 'scorpions still smelly' there?
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Why is everyone writing all these bizarre negatives? Bizarre negative posts are actually quite common here you know.:E |
Why is everyone writing all these bizarre negatives? |
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