Given that the Nimrod hemp colour scheme was designed to blend with concrete why did they resurface the main parking area at Kinloss with black tarmac?

The first VC10K2, ZA141, was originally painted in grey/green camouflage with a light grey underside. We described this on US flight plans as 'lizard', hence '141 became known as 'The Lizard'.

Then they were all painted in hemp, with light grey undersurfaces. Which looked rather better than 'lizard'.

But when the RN started retiring many of its war canoes, a surplus of 'paint, grey, ships for the painting of' became available, so 'John Major Grey' became the colour of choice as 'Pusser' had oceans of the wretched stuff available to sell to the RAF!

The first grey VC10K appeared with a 'wedgewood blue' cheat line and white lettering, which received many ribald remarks about the 'blue vein'. Latterly the blue was changed to dark grey, as was the white lettering. Much tidier!

Still were never in the right ******* place though.

Explain your unfounded and scurrilous libel!

I remember these Zaps and T shirts causing a bit of a stir at IAT Greenham Common 81,
The organizers didn't see the funny side, and the guys from 8 sqn were asked to withdraw them from sale.

Binbrook ,
Yep anything Gibair was known as Yogibair . Again don't know if it counts , but was into GIB on 1st 732 in GB colours [ memory might say DV leased from Brits/AirEurope ], instead of temp placards inside BA Trids and BA Airtours 732s .
Went for a chat with RAF ATC tower guys ..... they ... '' Doesn't look right without a Yogibair sticker '' ...... '' We've a couple prepared earlier , wot's it need ? '' .
Me '' Coffee 'n Biccis please , white no sugar . It's the end of BA airtours hangar party tonight , and we've to take her to the hangar on arrival LGW ''

Good farewell party and job done ...Don't know how long they lasted on the nose , 'cos Dayglo stood out .

rgds condor

Wandering off topic, but do you know how long ZA149 stayed in that scheme? According to some photos, it stayed in these grey/blue colours from early 1994 to at least mid 1996, but I would like to know when it received the final grey scheme.

I do remember one aircraft being adorned and I cannot remember what it was, by the simply task sliding a plank across from wing tip to wing tip and while the guard patrolled below, mischief was being carried out above..

There was a visit to Southport by HRH Prince Charles back in early 1989, and the 146 used to bring him up landed at RAF Woodvale. The Purple Airspace constrained flying for a bit so we (studes) spent the time talking to the crew about the aircraft etc. Someone, whilst the crew were distracted, zapped the inside of the main gear which went unnoticed until a few days later. I believe there were repercussions as a result both on the Royal Flight and on the UAS. The individual who zapped was "fined" in the LUAS fine book too!!

it was parked across from my room window, was there for a while.... It had an extra 68psi switch in the cabin compressor outlet don't you know, same as ZA150, specified by East African Airways, but gawd knows why..

I recall from my JEngO tour on IX(B) Sqn being tasked with staging an aircraft with technicians busy for a visit by Bob Ainsworth, Gordon Brown's Defence Sec. The Avionics Techs were busy with a long term Z12 loom repair so this was an ideal platform for the Sec to see. The Rects Controller detailed a team to remove any groundcrew graffiti from the u/c bays etc. I went out 30 minutes before the Sec came into the HAS and was impressed that aircraft was relatively clean (for a Tornado), the HAS was tidy and all looked well until I opened the GSP and refuel panel to find 'Dave Yeeles is a big jobby' scrawled in black permanent marker on the yellow background!

When the inspection team was asked about this missed graffiti their (valid) excuse was that Dave Yeeles jobby messages were so prevalent that they faded into the background! When the Hon Bob Ainsworth walked into the HAS the offending graffiti had been redacted with another black marker and he was none the wiser.

8 Sqn had a semi-professional cartoonist in its ranks (pen name of "Gwyn" who used to draw for Air Pictorial and such magazines), plus a screen printer. Zaps various ("Old Age & Treachery will Triumph over Youth & Skill" for example) made it to T-shirts/ sweat shirts and even ladies' underwear which were very big sellers around the air shows. I wore an old and torn 8 Screws sweatshirt to an aircrew party at an airshow in Ramstein once - it was immediately demanded, and swapped for an American cold weather flying jacket which kept me warm in Lossie for a good few years. The booty from the sqn memorabilia stall at airshows kept us stocked for a good few aircrew parties!

Many moons ago I had the occasion to use the Gents at King's Cross station. As I approached the urinal I was amused to see a zap, which proclaimed "You have just entered the Midland Radar overhead".

I am amazed no-one has provided a photo of 120sqn HQ roof after "T S" was added to the "C X X"

In 6 foot high yellow paint.


Just because we put your sqn Metro car in your bar!

What about the hangar roof at Cazaux ? 'Small Dicks' - now who could the culprits be?
(still visible if you slide back to 2012 in Google Earth, pixellated in later shots...)

Must be getting old and less rude ....... took me ages to work that out!

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....b8f59d99ea.jpg
Several times!

Originally Posted by Willy Miller View Post
I am amazed no-one has provided a photo of 120sqn HQ roof after "T S" was added to the "C X X"https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....27955deb4b.jpg
What, This one?/

That's it, BRILLIANT!

The boss had a total sense of humor failure but the lads all thought it was fair play!

In addition to zaps and T shirts we had knickers. At a German air show our wares attracted much interest. Then a Frau snuck in behind our pop up shop and shyly asked for a pair of knickers. She made sure her husband didn't see her.