Didn’t your mates tell you that the simple way to fit LR pins was do it upside down! Then you could see it all and simply slide them into place. Much practiced on JP, Lightnings Jaguars etc.

Cabbage, theres no such thing as an “ex-armourer” – you must be a “retired armourer”!
😀

I can just picture this situation. There you are, upside down in the cockpit with your mates waitng eagerly to help you get out afterwards, HA HA!!

Yes, I was forcebly retired in 1994, due to compulsory redundancy.

Regards, Cabbage

Leg restraint securing pins

The picture brings back memories of bruised and scraped knuckles, caused by fumbling around under Vulcan and Buccaneer ejection seats.

They aren’t the easiest of items to push home, or remove, while sitting on the seat, and reaching blindly under the seat pan.

In case you’re wondering, I’m an ex-armourer who spent many many hours fitting and removing BANG SEATS from Both types of aircraft.

Regards, Cabbage

Try contacting any of the operators of T.7 or T8 Hunters. There are a few around.

My memories are from working with the T-Birds on 208 Sqdn in the early 90’s. They had a similar stowage mounted on a hinged panel, under the middle of the fuselage.

Hope this helps.

Cabbage

Going by the location of the dismantled tail boom, shouldn’t the Mi-8 be displaying a painfully stuffed expression?

Bomb bay memories

the team crawled into the bombay to investigate the state of the motors and drive shafts etc. It quickly dawned on us that access was blocked by a huge lump of steel and aluminium more commonly called an “A” saddle fuel tank.

Could have been worse, a bigger more awkward lump of metal in the shape of a Drum type fuel tank.

The Scampton Vulcans could carry either type at the front of the bomb bay, with the drum type making access, with the main doors closed, quite tricky.
It was just possible for a less generously proportioned armourer to squeeze through the access doors, at the front of the bomb bay doors, slide under and round the side of the tank, and on to the practice bomb carrier to hang 1, 2, 3 or rarely 4 28lb practice bombs.

There was also a microswitch housing which stuck up about an inch (25mm), which you invariably found jabbing you in the back as you slid around the fuel tank.

Ah, what memories.

Regards, Cabbage

secondly, Bah Humbug!

I second this sentiment

ie. drat old boiled sweet (think about it)

Happy Holiday to all forumites.

Cabbage

Another one who will no doubt be sadly missed.

RIP.