Low Level Omani Jags
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
But that would have been in the days before we could afford cameras.
Seriously, my first 35 mm camera was a simple point and click Boots Birette circa 1967 with a separate light meter at a cost of £7. My next was an Asahi Pentax SLR at £120 in 1970 and that bought in Singapore. We just did not get the dosh to afford non-essential consumer items. You even needed a Singapore Det to buy a decent watch - £10 down Change Alley.
Seriously, my first 35 mm camera was a simple point and click Boots Birette circa 1967 with a separate light meter at a cost of £7. My next was an Asahi Pentax SLR at £120 in 1970 and that bought in Singapore. We just did not get the dosh to afford non-essential consumer items. You even needed a Singapore Det to buy a decent watch - £10 down Change Alley.
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Low Flying Hunters
PN. I thought the discussion related to Hunters in Oman but I completely take your point re the costs of half way decent cameras and watches! I remember haveing a Yashica copy of a twin lens Rollei which I think cost £15 in Bahrain and a very nice yellow faced Seiko from Singapore. There are stories of very silly recce competitions in RAFG in the 50s, Hunters at the time Pictures of clock towers with 'Who could get the face filling the whole frame', a train on an embankment photographed from below and that sort of stuff. A Hunter was damaged by hitting a 4 ft high concrete plinth at Wombleton(?) Airfield while 'burning off fuel prior to a precautionary landing'! That was certainly low and I make no claims for any Jaguar superiority in the field of silly low flying!
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
A2QFI, that was my point, when Hunters were in Oman even though the prices were duty free the cost of items like cameras, to capture the evidence made them a rare luxury.
The rest was to remind the young 'uns that we did not live in the same consumerist society that we do now.
Returning to the fly low topis, the USAF ran a trial with F105s in the 60s to see if they could incapacitate with a low level sonic boom. They could but the Thud was as likely to decapitate as incapacitate as it had to fly at about 5 feet. Gainsy might remember the photos in Flight.
The rest was to remind the young 'uns that we did not live in the same consumerist society that we do now.
Returning to the fly low topis, the USAF ran a trial with F105s in the 60s to see if they could incapacitate with a low level sonic boom. They could but the Thud was as likely to decapitate as incapacitate as it had to fly at about 5 feet. Gainsy might remember the photos in Flight.
Yes, Him
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I'm not that old.
I vaguely remember reading about such trials but can't recall any pictures. That would probably have been in Humphrey "Footnote" Wynn's era at Flight. (Guess what I'm reading at present).
Talking of low level, wiring an airfield is one thing, but how about the Buccs wazzing Beirut High Street? Talk (probably just talk, at that) of returning with clotheslines/TV aerials.
I vaguely remember reading about such trials but can't recall any pictures. That would probably have been in Humphrey "Footnote" Wynn's era at Flight. (Guess what I'm reading at present).
Talking of low level, wiring an airfield is one thing, but how about the Buccs wazzing Beirut High Street? Talk (probably just talk, at that) of returning with clotheslines/TV aerials.
Originally Posted by A2QFI
I doubt it and I've never seen any pictures to prove it either!
I remember watching a USN airfield attack at thummers in the late eighties, it was quite a sight to see. However, there were a number of Tomcats/ Corsairs/ Intruders that became the meat in a Jag/Hunter tag team sandwich.
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Airfield + Carrier Group Attacks
At Thumrait we would take it in turns, one day the Carrier Group would attack Thumrait and the next day the Thumrait 'Wing' would attack them. One day an USN aircraft diverted in with some minor mech problem and the pilot was taken to the bar. In the meantime his aircraft was searched and we found a strike plan for the next day. As a result we were able to lie in wait, or fly in wait, and catch a load of aircraft, short of fuel and queuing for the tankers somewhere about 100 miles South east of Thumrait. Lots of easy 'kills' that day!
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Mighty in-decent of you A2QFI.......... 
Meanwhile.....
It's only silly if you're trying to juggle a camera at the same time.
Or if you hit something.
Meanwhile.....
the field of silly low flying!
Or if you hit something.
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USN vs Omani Jags and Hunters
Originally Posted by A2QFI
At Thumrait we would take it in turns, one day the Carrier Group would attack Thumrait and the next day the Thumrait 'Wing' would attack them. One day an USN aircraft diverted in with some minor mech problem and the pilot was taken to the bar. In the meantime his aircraft was searched and we found a strike plan for the next day. As a result we were able to lie in wait, or fly in wait, and catch a load of aircraft, short of fuel and queuing for the tankers somewhere about 100 miles South east of Thumrait. Lots of easy 'kills' that day!
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John Pym's 'paramour' a loverly Aussie woman friend of ours has been visiting from Hong Kong this week and has asked for links to this thread so she can show John when she gets back to Honkers next week.
She has asked for deatils so we should know whether John is prepared to own up to this event!
Cheers
She has asked for deatils so we should know whether John is prepared to own up to this event!
Cheers
Very Low Level hunters at Thumrait
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loman
The Hunters possibly did fly lower... I was pulling up to miss the station photog who had scampered out after the first pass. Thanks for your remarks Mike - I wish I had gone back with Craig at 2 am but instead allowed Rushton to drive me back at 6 !! And we think we only do those silly things when we are young and drunk! There were some other wrinkly hooligans there at Colt on the friday it was good to see...
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I met, in the loosest possible sense, the Omani Jags in the Sumhail Gap a couple of weeks ago whilst on holliers. Whilst not flying as low as anything posted, it was lower than anything I have ever seen that wasn't gear down! Typicall, the camera was in the glove compartment! Mind you, by the time I'd switched it in they would have been in Izki.
Hope they will oblige again in December, and that Fox3's film project comes off.
Hope they will oblige again in December, and that Fox3's film project comes off.
Last edited by ThreadBaron; 19th Apr 2006 at 11:00.
Yes, Him
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Not Omani or Jags but some barking mad German in an F-4.
Not too polished.
(26.5Mb BTW)
http://www.patricksaviation.com/avia...an_F-4_Phantom
Not too polished.
(26.5Mb BTW)
http://www.patricksaviation.com/avia...an_F-4_Phantom
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Seems Alpha Jets can have gravity get the better of them also...
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/61434/...ly_low_flying/
Ps Watch the #3
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/61434/...ly_low_flying/
Ps Watch the #3
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Back from another few days down Thummers way, got some great flight line stuff...but got caught at Baite 71 bar and missed the nuts and bolts of "Glittering Rug" but as usual always worth it.
The revamped and restored Jag vid will slide a bit as we missed the A/A content due to the last verse of "Piano Man" at 3 Am on the last few days of the bombex!
Jobs on, tapes on, fights on!
The revamped and restored Jag vid will slide a bit as we missed the A/A content due to the last verse of "Piano Man" at 3 Am on the last few days of the bombex!
Jobs on, tapes on, fights on!
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A few more...
Having had to suffer interminable war stories over the last couple of weeks from two co-workers (ex Thummers), both of whom were adamant that Hunters flew lower, I demanded evidence.
I enclose herewith the duly submitted evidence..with a few more Jags thrown in. (click the image for a bigger version, if available)
How low can you go ? Part of a railing I understand.
car bit by both strakes !
I enclose herewith the duly submitted evidence..with a few more Jags thrown in. (click the image for a bigger version, if available)
How low can you go ? Part of a railing I understand.
car bit by both strakes !
