ER Celebrates RAAF Centenary
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ER Celebrates RAAF Centenary
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/d...year-g6z0c93fq
‘Chasing the Russians?’ Queen asks airmen at first engagement
The Queen ventured out of Windsor Castle today for her first public engagement of the year as she paid tribute to the Royal Australian Air Force on its centenary. She travelled to Runnymede near Windsor where she attended a service at the Air Forces Memorial.
Sending her “best wishes and congratulations”, she wrote in a foreword to the order of service:
“As one of the oldest Air Forces in the world, it is fitting to pay tribute to the efficiency, skill and sacrifice of the men and women who have served in its ranks, in Australia and overseas, during the past one hundred years. Throughout my reign, the Royal Australian Air Force has shown immense dedication to duty and has defended our freedom in many conflicts around the world.”
Speaking to one RAAF officer about working with Typhoon jets in Northumberland, the Queen asked if they were “being sent off to chase the Russians?” He replied: “That’s correct Ma’am, it’s a lot of fun for us!”
As she arrived at the memorial, which she opened in 1953, the Queen remarked on how long it was since she had last been there. She added: “You’ve got a good day for it. It’s a very windy spot normally.”
During the service a wreath was laid on behalf of the Queen by her new equerry, Major Thomas White..... The ceremony began with a flypast by the Red Arrows, but with white smoke only instead of the familiar red, white and blue. As they do not normally perform at this time of year, their smoke pods are in for maintenance.
The Australian high commissioner, George Brandis QC, said in a speech that the RAAF was the second oldest independent air force in the world.
“The Royal Australian Air Force has, over these one hundred eventful years, grown to be one of the most accomplished in the world,” he said. “From its first major combat operations during the Second World War, its personnel have been engaged almost continuously, in war and peace, ever since. On most of those occasions, the RAAF has worked in close partnership with the RAF.”
After the service the Queen was shown the names of some of the 1,383 Australian war dead who are commemorated on the panel. They included Pilot Officer Neil Denyer, who was killed during a bombing raid on Berlin on September 3, 1943. His Lancaster bomber was part of the Pathfinder force which flew ahead of the main force.
She also saw the names of Pilot Officer Don Irving and his crew who were killed on this day in 1944 during a raid on Nuremberg.
The Queen was wearing a lime green and ivory dress and jacket by Angela Kelly with matching hat, and the Australian wattle brooch presented to her on her first tour of Australia in 1954.
Before she left she spoke to Brandis about the number of Australians stuck in Britain because of the pandemic. After he told her of the efforts being made to get them home, she said: “There are worse places to be stuck.”
He also spoke to her about the fact that it was her first public engagement of the year, to which she said: “I’m delighted to be here.”
The Queen was given the promise of a present, to be delivered once they have been made: two RAAF dog jackets for her new corgis. “That's very kind,” she said. “I look forward to it.”
‘Chasing the Russians?’ Queen asks airmen at first engagement
The Queen ventured out of Windsor Castle today for her first public engagement of the year as she paid tribute to the Royal Australian Air Force on its centenary. She travelled to Runnymede near Windsor where she attended a service at the Air Forces Memorial.
Sending her “best wishes and congratulations”, she wrote in a foreword to the order of service:
“As one of the oldest Air Forces in the world, it is fitting to pay tribute to the efficiency, skill and sacrifice of the men and women who have served in its ranks, in Australia and overseas, during the past one hundred years. Throughout my reign, the Royal Australian Air Force has shown immense dedication to duty and has defended our freedom in many conflicts around the world.”
Speaking to one RAAF officer about working with Typhoon jets in Northumberland, the Queen asked if they were “being sent off to chase the Russians?” He replied: “That’s correct Ma’am, it’s a lot of fun for us!”
As she arrived at the memorial, which she opened in 1953, the Queen remarked on how long it was since she had last been there. She added: “You’ve got a good day for it. It’s a very windy spot normally.”
During the service a wreath was laid on behalf of the Queen by her new equerry, Major Thomas White..... The ceremony began with a flypast by the Red Arrows, but with white smoke only instead of the familiar red, white and blue. As they do not normally perform at this time of year, their smoke pods are in for maintenance.
The Australian high commissioner, George Brandis QC, said in a speech that the RAAF was the second oldest independent air force in the world.
“The Royal Australian Air Force has, over these one hundred eventful years, grown to be one of the most accomplished in the world,” he said. “From its first major combat operations during the Second World War, its personnel have been engaged almost continuously, in war and peace, ever since. On most of those occasions, the RAAF has worked in close partnership with the RAF.”
After the service the Queen was shown the names of some of the 1,383 Australian war dead who are commemorated on the panel. They included Pilot Officer Neil Denyer, who was killed during a bombing raid on Berlin on September 3, 1943. His Lancaster bomber was part of the Pathfinder force which flew ahead of the main force.
She also saw the names of Pilot Officer Don Irving and his crew who were killed on this day in 1944 during a raid on Nuremberg.
The Queen was wearing a lime green and ivory dress and jacket by Angela Kelly with matching hat, and the Australian wattle brooch presented to her on her first tour of Australia in 1954.
Before she left she spoke to Brandis about the number of Australians stuck in Britain because of the pandemic. After he told her of the efforts being made to get them home, she said: “There are worse places to be stuck.”
He also spoke to her about the fact that it was her first public engagement of the year, to which she said: “I’m delighted to be here.”
The Queen was given the promise of a present, to be delivered once they have been made: two RAAF dog jackets for her new corgis. “That's very kind,” she said. “I look forward to it.”
It is reassuring to know that "maintenance" of the smoke pods should take priority over the proper commemoration of the RAAF centenary attended by HM........ Coupled with the enormous, and as it turned out ,overwhelming logistical challenge of running up two " RAAF dog jackets" in time, it speaks volumes to the capabilities of those involved. In mitigation, I suppose these pesky centenaries pop up at such short notice, must try harder next time....
Smoke pods
I have it on very good authority that it is impossible to generate any kind of smoke, (even 'simple' white,) from a RA Hawk without a smoke pod fitted.
On Remembrance Sunday I always think of the thousands of Australian and New Zealand airmen who died so far from their homes homes and families during WWII - you are not forgotten. Congratulations to the RAAF on its centenary.
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Likewise at Tengah when 3 and 75 moved in while they resurfaced Butterworth’s runway. A joy to work with, and watch them operate so professionally. And the amazing FREE Mess Ball funded by the huge profits thus generated, with the WAGs flown in by RAAF Dakotas!
Utterly loyal and supportive from Day One ... bless you all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Utterly loyal and supportive from Day One ... bless you all.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Congratulations to the RAAF on their centenary, and great to see HM attending celebrations in the UK.
Pity our PM couldn't make it to the celebrations in Canberra.
Pity our PM couldn't make it to the celebrations in Canberra.
[QUOTE]White smoke is the fuel without dye./QUOTE] Not quite. White smoke is generated by injecting diesel into the jet efflux. Red and Blue smoke is diesel mixed with dye to create the appropriate colour.
If your statement was correct, the jets would be generating white smoke continuously, assuming you meant aviation fuel. Nevertheless, smoke pods need to be fitted in order to generate smoke (of any colour.) The report is incorrect to assert that: [QUOTE]their smoke pods are in for maintenance./QUOTE]
If your statement was correct, the jets would be generating white smoke continuously, assuming you meant aviation fuel. Nevertheless, smoke pods need to be fitted in order to generate smoke (of any colour.) The report is incorrect to assert that: [QUOTE]their smoke pods are in for maintenance./QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Trumpet trousers;11021209][QUOTE]White smoke is the fuel without dye./QUOTE] Not quite. White smoke is generated by injecting diesel into the jet efflux. Red and Blue smoke is diesel mixed with dye to create the appropriate colour.
If your statement was correct, the jets would be generating white smoke continuously, assuming you meant aviation fuel. Nevertheless, smoke pods need to be fitted in order to generate smoke (of any colour.) The report is incorrect to assert that:
I am aware of the way in which the dyed (or not) fuel is injected into the jet efflux. Is there only one type of smoke pod (three-colour)? I don't know, but someone on here will.
The only point I was making was that there is more than one reason why red and blue might not have been available. The statement made to/by the press may have been misguided, or it could just have been intended to close-down the conversation, or even in fun.
If your statement was correct, the jets would be generating white smoke continuously, assuming you meant aviation fuel. Nevertheless, smoke pods need to be fitted in order to generate smoke (of any colour.) The report is incorrect to assert that:
their smoke pods are in for maintenance./QUOTE]
The only point I was making was that there is more than one reason why red and blue might not have been available. The statement made to/by the press may have been misguided, or it could just have been intended to close-down the conversation, or even in fun.
[QUOTE]Is there only one type of smoke pod (three-colour)? I don't know, but someone on here will. /QUOTE]
Yes. One pod per aircraft, filled with diesel (and appropriate dyes) in 3 separate compartments within the pod to generate 3 colours. No pod=no smoke. No diesel in pod, also= no smoke. White smoke generated during flypast, ergo pod fitted, which completely contradicts what was written/reported about pods being in maintenance. Misguided? No, just simply completely and utterly incorrect. I have never known a RA Hawk fly without a pod fitted, neither has my reliable source, and he should know...
Yes. One pod per aircraft, filled with diesel (and appropriate dyes) in 3 separate compartments within the pod to generate 3 colours. No pod=no smoke. No diesel in pod, also= no smoke. White smoke generated during flypast, ergo pod fitted, which completely contradicts what was written/reported about pods being in maintenance. Misguided? No, just simply completely and utterly incorrect. I have never known a RA Hawk fly without a pod fitted, neither has my reliable source, and he should know...
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Back to the smoke....
