Secret new Shropshire Tucano base
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Nirvana South
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Actually have the errant BUFF on video taken from our company's four star restaurant - sorry, trade chalet. (Sometimes it's worth it to take along your ex- Director of Flight Test). Thought he was going to come on round but just did one very distant pass & left....
In the '80s I was flying a gliding competetition at Lasham. We were towing the gliders out to the grid one morning when a Blackburn Brown Banana appeared with no warning at not a lot of feet and doing warp snot. After reefing the beast round in a 270 degree turn the crew then disappeared five miles up the road to complete the rest of their practice display at RAF Odiham.
It was very impressive, but it was fortunate that we were not winch launching at the time!
It was very impressive, but it was fortunate that we were not winch launching at the time!
Gentleman Aviator
Remember being at Odiham in the early 70s and being dragged out onto Northern dispersal by our exchange RN guy (whose triplet daughters must now be in their 30s!!) to see the "steely" arrival of a 6 ship of Wessi Vs from 845 or 848 .....
..... we think Lasham appreciated that performance also.....
..... we think Lasham appreciated that performance also.....
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Given the mauling we give the foreign crews for attacking the wrong airfield I wonder what they write about us?
We've done airfields in France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Greece etc and that was after the war. Seen Hunters scrambling (on the strike camera film) and also RF84s. Did we always hit the right airfield?
We've done airfields in France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Greece etc and that was after the war. Seen Hunters scrambling (on the strike camera film) and also RF84s. Did we always hit the right airfield?
Join Date: Apr 2002
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It is a "fairly" common mistake to make over here in Shropshire and not only for airfields either.
A certain (Shrek-like) member of my MEARW course managed to mis-identify RAF Staffs HLS (despite there being a Sea-King refuelling there at the time!) and after overflying it, shot an approach to the Staffordshire Constabulary main car park a few miles away on his FNT. Idiot.
A certain (Shrek-like) member of my MEARW course managed to mis-identify RAF Staffs HLS (despite there being a Sea-King refuelling there at the time!) and after overflying it, shot an approach to the Staffordshire Constabulary main car park a few miles away on his FNT. Idiot.
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: 59°45'36N 10°27'59E
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It can be hard some times
Back in the seventies (pre-radar here) a flight of Dutch F-5s calles my current SATCO, then young and novice approach controller for a airfield attack at Bardufoss. (Hint: c/s Redskin)
.....some time later when my boss start to wonder why the requested 5 mile call does not happen, he recives a irrate call from Evenes (50nm south) TWR controller which had to untangle a SAS DC-9 from the 6 F-5s passing the field kicking up snow just as the DC-9 departed..........
Back in the seventies (pre-radar here) a flight of Dutch F-5s calles my current SATCO, then young and novice approach controller for a airfield attack at Bardufoss. (Hint: c/s Redskin)
.....some time later when my boss start to wonder why the requested 5 mile call does not happen, he recives a irrate call from Evenes (50nm south) TWR controller which had to untangle a SAS DC-9 from the 6 F-5s passing the field kicking up snow just as the DC-9 departed..........
Join Date: Aug 1999
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1988ish.
I'd picked up a long hold post IOT and pre BFTS and was sent of to RAF Newton to take up the vital role of SLJO.
Said task included being the commentator for the families day airshow. This included a planned flyby courtesy of an F-111 from Upper Heyford.
So, he calls inbound and I duly pick up the mike and give it my best "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you look to your right we'll be receiving a flyby from an F-111 of the 832,245th tactical fighter wing."
Peering into the distance I saw an F-111 pop up from terrain, briefly appear above the horizon (in plan form!) and then drop back into terrain.
After that, nothing. Not a sausage. Not evan a small chipolatoe.
2 minutes later the phone rings. Its Langar, the parachuting sight a few miles down the road. It seems the F-111 went steaming through their overhead, neatly zipping though a gaggle of descending parachutist. Understandably, they were a little bit miffed.
Still, Newton - grass runways. Langar - a more coventional airfield. Won't be the first time somebodies mis IDed an airfield.
What gave me a chuckle though was I heard a little later that the parachutists had a quick whip round and bought one of those 'compass on a sucker' things for a car, packed it up and sent it down to the crew in question
CPB
I'd picked up a long hold post IOT and pre BFTS and was sent of to RAF Newton to take up the vital role of SLJO.
Said task included being the commentator for the families day airshow. This included a planned flyby courtesy of an F-111 from Upper Heyford.
So, he calls inbound and I duly pick up the mike and give it my best "Ladies and Gentlemen, if you look to your right we'll be receiving a flyby from an F-111 of the 832,245th tactical fighter wing."
Peering into the distance I saw an F-111 pop up from terrain, briefly appear above the horizon (in plan form!) and then drop back into terrain.
After that, nothing. Not a sausage. Not evan a small chipolatoe.
2 minutes later the phone rings. Its Langar, the parachuting sight a few miles down the road. It seems the F-111 went steaming through their overhead, neatly zipping though a gaggle of descending parachutist. Understandably, they were a little bit miffed.
Still, Newton - grass runways. Langar - a more coventional airfield. Won't be the first time somebodies mis IDed an airfield.
What gave me a chuckle though was I heard a little later that the parachutists had a quick whip round and bought one of those 'compass on a sucker' things for a car, packed it up and sent it down to the crew in question
CPB
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Using up hours on the constant thrust variable noise Jet Provost in order to get enough hours in to be awarded my wings I flew down to St Mawgan in absolutely rubbish weather. Very proud of getting us below cloud but my day was spoiled by my Instructor, a Master Pilot, who took control and joined the circuit at St Eval. When challenged by St Mawgan about the chicken huts on the runway he said "Sorry it was my student" Lying sod. Good trip though.
ACW
Further cock up, I blame my BFTS Instructor for showing me how to do it. When on my final handling test on the Vampire. Top of a loop he says your engine has failed, so I did all the right things including calling on 121.5 who told me I was 10 nautical miles from Middleton St George and gave a southerly bearing. Nice day with terrific vis so I see an airfied on the horizon and make for it. Much radio work with no replies and getting lower and lower. Finally realise I am at Leeming and made a cross wind approach on the out of use runway - the only one I could reach actually. Jet Provost zooming out of the way in all directions. Very spectacular. Very good he says you\'ve failed. Bugger. Did it again the next day without the drama.
ACW
ACW
Further cock up, I blame my BFTS Instructor for showing me how to do it. When on my final handling test on the Vampire. Top of a loop he says your engine has failed, so I did all the right things including calling on 121.5 who told me I was 10 nautical miles from Middleton St George and gave a southerly bearing. Nice day with terrific vis so I see an airfied on the horizon and make for it. Much radio work with no replies and getting lower and lower. Finally realise I am at Leeming and made a cross wind approach on the out of use runway - the only one I could reach actually. Jet Provost zooming out of the way in all directions. Very spectacular. Very good he says you\'ve failed. Bugger. Did it again the next day without the drama.
ACW
Rule of thumb for that:
If you can get another runway between the A1 and the aerodrome - it's Dishforth.
If you can get another aerodrome between the A1 and the aerodrome - it's Leeming.
Gatenby lane, cow $hit corner....memories, memories...
Oh, and while we we're at it, I do admit to joining at 500 ft and 420 KIAS at........Withybush, not Brawdy. But a tweak on the stick and some mumbling over the R/T and nobody ever found out
If you can get another runway between the A1 and the aerodrome - it's Dishforth.
If you can get another aerodrome between the A1 and the aerodrome - it's Leeming.
Gatenby lane, cow $hit corner....memories, memories...
Oh, and while we we're at it, I do admit to joining at 500 ft and 420 KIAS at........Withybush, not Brawdy. But a tweak on the stick and some mumbling over the R/T and nobody ever found out
