My Virtus is still in the bin bag it was issued in, awaiting my lesson on assembly and fitting (the truth is I'm never going to wear it in this post so have no desire to put it together).

Virtus was a proper measuring session on order. BALCS, ACLP, Osprey (Mk 2 & 4) and ECBA were all sausage factory issues, form a queue going through stores to try on sizes so you were happy before you went out the gate. Anyone that wanted to change sizes down the line after a test and adjust period would find an oppo to swop with or put a demand in for a different size. That's why I find it hard to believe this man suffered for so long, a basic failure of leadership to not provide the correct PPE especially post 2003 and Sgt Roberts.

Unless he didn't tell anyone? InForm/DASOR/reported sick in Th?

Re Posts 14 & 15, I do not know if was Alan Brew.

A story relating to Alan was that he took a Wessex to Tern Hill (circ 1964) to show it off. A chap called Bartlett (who was a big cheese in the training at T/H) bummed a ride in the aircraft and during the sortie, is alleged to have said to Alan: "What happens if you knock off both donks in the hover" and with out further ado pulled back both speed select levers . I leave you to imagine the outcome.

OD

The joy of low-energy rotors. A low-enough hover, OK, but....

Just to clear up confusion, yes, it was Alan brew, but as I said, it happened before my time "Hearsay, your honour"

This chap was lucky to get body armour! 20 years ago we only had a steel plate fitted in the Chinook cockpit either side of each seat. You had to lean over it to reach the fuse box.