.Fumes were nasty as well!

Crusty asbestos ridden gloves, Hydrogen Cyanide fumes, volatile mono fuels burning uncontrollably, Trichloroethylene solvents…It’s a wonder we’re still alive! 😀

Oh and good to hear you Hunter boys found the glove extinguishing method as useful as we did..

What made me laugh was despite all of the scaremongering around the stuff, replenishing the tanks was still just like trying to fill you car with petrol from a 5 litre bottle without the handy nozzle – on a windy pan sat on a Canberra wing the stuff went bloody everywhere yet dissapointingly not once did I spontaneously combust (at least without the aid of Marham airmans mess chicken curry the night before)

On a related (ish) note, standing on the perimeter back in ’91 watching fully loaded Buffs depart for Iraq to donate some scrap iron to Mr Hussain, does anyone else recall the aircraft which suffered engine/electrical failure on takeoff which caused the gathered crowd to hit the turf sharpish as it lurched threateningly towards us at an alarming angle? Possibly the most terrifying experience of my life, it looked for all intents and purposes like it was going to catch a wingtip on the ground and dig a hole – I think I heard it shed its load out near the Med or something and landed safely but had issues getting back up due to a lack of runway length.
Was anyone else there that day and does anyone know the story as no amount of Googling has found anything since but I’m quite certain it was reported at the time?

Thanks Martyn. Just leaves no1 to identify.
Rob

A Canberra question I nearly missed!

Button 1 is, despite looking rather unimportant and insignificant actually a massively important and life-saving button.
As identified already the switch in front is the tail plane trim actuator switch (which incidentally I can probably get you the rubber “tit” which should cover it). Back in the earlier days of Canberra flying several losses occurred due to tail trim runaway, that is that in operation of the trim switch the electrical actuator ran on after letting go of the switch causing extreme pitching and more often than not loss of control with inevitable results. Part of the solution to this was a simple cut-in switch. Button number 1. Acting as a safety interlock, without it being made the trim actuator supply was isolated and in theory could not run on. I’m sure I’ve heard of instances where even this interlock failed to stop the actuator winding itself on but it us certainly recorded that with its introduction these cases dropped dramatically.

Hope that helps – nice column Rob!

I happen to know of another available no longer being used at an airport (it is neither buried nor within digging distance of Burma though before anyone gets excited) in case this one escapes anyone who really wanted it. I understand it to have been refurbished by an RAF station in recent (ish) years too, bet Station GS Flight dont get too many of them in for minors any longer!

In hope of avoiding any shameful commandment infraction, I’m not advertising my own wares, I am a mere messenger of its current availability by means of circumstantially gained information…and stuff…

Has anyone any idea what I’ve just been watching over rural Herefordshire for the past hour tonight? Low level fast jet circling over Yarkhill/Sutton St Nicholas area doing what looked like high speed diving engagements over Ledbury/Malvern way (QinetiQ trials maybe?). All very unusual for 10pm over the sleepy shire, beats the usual Herc, Merlin and Wokka action!

You have a message in your inbox which may be of help sir.