Re: Post 1 – Hercules at Plymouth February 2000

Baz, on that dark winters’ evening I was parking my car in the airport car park when I noticed bright lights in the eastern sky which looked a bit different from the landing lights of Plymouth’s familiar Dash 8’s. A few minutes later I watched as the aircraft taxied in from the runway and onto the floodlit apron, just a few yards in front of me. I was very surprised to see that it was a military Hercules.

On entering the terminal I asked a member of staff about the unusual visitor. He advised that it was a Belgian Air Force Hercules bringing in a spare engine for a much smaller visiting Belgian aircraft that had earlier disgraced itself by colliding with another aircraft, or one of the airport buildings. Fortunately no one was injured.

I cannot, of course, verify this, but the explanation did seem logical at the time. It also reminded me of the day many decades before when a huge Blackburn Beverley aircraft of RAF Transport Command arrived for an air show on the then grass only airfield. Such a shame that its all now come to an end.

Regards……Paul

This from todays local ‘Herald’ newspaper.

‘…..the battle to keep it open and operational has been hard fought; not least by protest groups like VIABLE, which put forward well-intentioned but ultimately fruitless arguments in favour of retaining the facility.

Those in favour of hanging on to what many viewed as a vital, essential link might mourn its passing – but the reality is that from Friday it will cease to be a distraction in planning our city’s future transport links. That much has been made clear by the decision to transfer helicopters used by Flag Officer Sea Training from Roborough to Newquay, following Plymouth Flying School to Cornwall, and the end of air ambulances landing at the site.’

‘Yokel’ Council strikes again.

Regards…….Paul

Yesterday, whilst having breakfast in the Thistle Hotel at Heathrow, I looked out over thirty five BA aircraft, mostly 747’s and 777’s at their various Terminal 5 stands. This everyday common scene made me think back to that rather special day in 1969 when I and many others waited in anticipation for the very first 747, a Pan Am demonstration flight, to land at the airport.

At that time we were used to the sight of a constant flow of 707’s, 727’s, VC 10’s and Tridents etc. Our first glimpse of this huge new beast approaching with so many dangling legs was a totally different experience. The subsequent landing was also an unforgettable moment as no-one had ever seen anything like it before. As the aircraft taxied around, hundreds of airport workers appeared from all over the place to take a look at the incredible sight. Disappointingly, I think I’m right in saying that a planned afternoon demonstration flight for journalists had to be cancelled because the aircraft went u/s on the ground.

My overriding memory of the day is the sheer bulk of this great blue and white giant standing head and shoulders above everything else in the vicinity. Heathrow would never be the same again!

It is amazing that over forty years later the type still roam the territory.

Breakfast was pretty good too!

Regards …..Paul

Re above post. I agree, the picture does show the aircraft at RAF Fairford when the parking bays at this location were all symmetrical.

With regard to the earlier post concerning the loss of the Britannia in Aden, I had good look at it when the tide went out and it was in a very sorry state although I thought at the time that it was retrievable. It was quite a shock therefore to hear that they intended to blow it up which, of course, they eventually did. From memory, very few passengers were onboard the aircraft and no-one was very seriously injured. One of them, however, was a Judge Advocate General who was flying in to adjudicate at a Khormaksar Court Martial. I seem to recall seeing him in the courtroom some days’ later wrapped in a good few bandages!

Happy days!….maybe not…

Regards…..Paul

Reading through this thread has brought back many happy memories of Nimrod trips at St Mawgan in the mid 1970’s, thankfully way before the RAF’s subsequent demise and almost total disappearance from the south-west peninsular. It has also reminded me of a tale I was told by an RAF colleague who was posted to SM just after I left in 1977.

With amusement, he told me that prior to painting a particular Nimrod, engineering staff discovered that the paint was the wrong colour, a fact they quickly reported up through the local chain of command. However, as the details on the paperwork (or labels) was entirely correct and therefore in accordance with then current Nimrod paint specifications, the person in charge was content that it should be used – so it was!

As my memory doesn’t extend to the colour of the paint used or whether the whole aircraft was affected, I rang my ex RAF friend and asked him if he remembered the incident. He said he did, but as it was over 30 years ago, he was sorry that he could not recall any of the specific details. Consequently, I’m afraid that I cannot add anything substantial to the white Nimrod debate. Something to ponder, however?

A very interesting thread. Regards…..Paul

In 1967 top comedians such as Tony Hancock and Harry Secombe were sent out to entertain us at RAF Khormaksar and other Aden bases – it was very good for morale and the shows were much appreciated. Surprisingly, myself and most of my RAF colleagues reckoned that the best one of all was the one most of us couldn’t stand – Bob Monkhouse!

Contrary to expectations he was extremely funny throughout and knew exactly what the troops wanted. A true professional.

Regards…..Paul

Re: Stacey24b’s post 75.

You asked for a higher resolution copy of the photo I submitted of the Vixen with 22 JSTU staff at Boscombe Down in 1973. (post 74)

I’ve since found another picture which may be better as it was taken a few seconds beforehand when we were all facing the front! (i.e. before some of us began looking with concern to our right as a Buccaneer headed towards us!)

Sorry for its faded appearance and the time taken to respond.

Regards….Paul