Steve Touchdownbut in ’96 the relationship was greatly improved and we went to EVERY military air base and they just couldn’t do enough for us!
I thought the ’96 trip was the one where several members of the official party hired a car or two out of their own pockets to check-out “extra-curricular” items of interest such as the Starfighter stash at Agrinion and the CFE-withdrawals (the HAF’s original F-104Gs) round the back at Araxos :diablo: Weren’t the Army visits cancelled too, or was that a different trip?
Steve, was the big fat bloke at the back of the mini bus in the early scenes really a “superior spotter” ? 😀
Nahh, but I bet he’d make a bl00dy good windbreak against Nor’easterlies during those waits in between the flying activities! 😀
I’m not actually sure why we were cast carrying quite so much padding to be honest, Ren: it’s not been THAT long since I was knocking-out Olympic distance triathlons (1.5k/40k/10k) in under 2 hours 10 minutes! 😮
Prize to Albert for spotting it was shot at Sintra 🙂 😉
Steve
Steve TouchdownThis is great to have a real celebrity on the Forum!
😮 😮 I’m a very strong believer that celebrity status should be earned, not thrust upon the undeserving, Albert! One thing that amazes me about the 21st century so far is how various untalented individuals from shows like BB etc. go on to become “celebs” in one form or another. Maybe “notorious” or “infamous” would be a better description 😀
Actually, it wasn’t the first time I’d been to Kalamata AB either and, for two of the group, it was their third visit in four years. Did you arrange access under your own steam, or were you on one of George’s trips in the mid-1990s? If it was the latter then you’ll have been accompanied by quite a few people that I know pretty well, including two who I’ve travelled all over Europe and the States with for the past decade or so. I am pretty sure I recognise you from the photo in the “Who are we” thread on Historic, so I’m sure our paths may well have crossed “on the circuit” somewhere or other! To coin one of Arthur’s phrases, nice to know there are other “expeditionary” enthusiasts frequenting the board. Oh, and keep up the work posting those great photos you’ve taken down the years too!!
Best regards
Steve
Steve TouchdownI do expect our resident Touchdown Steve to come down and give a review on that drama. Being involved somewhat in the incident, of course.
And i’ve said it before: if it turns out to be a huge success for ITV, i know a few more stories for them to reenact 😀
How could I refuse after being given a cue like that from the board’s resident Belarussian-prison-dodger!? :diablo:
Most of us directly involved were given a screening a month ago, as were the press who have written the various reviews for Radio Times and this weekend’s newspapers.
It’s very difficult to be objective about the programme when it’s about something that you were part of and, for a long time, took up so much of your everyday life.
The reviews that I’ve seen for it have all been positive so far. Personally speaking I thought it was well produced and reasonably accurate (time constraints caused the biggest headache for the producers, apparently) with just the right amount of a comedic element.
Contrary to what I’ve read in a couple of places on the wonderful www it does not make all aircraft enthusiasts/spotters/aviation buffs out to be sad anorak-wearing twits: the trailers on ITV that ran as “geeks meet the Greeks” were not sanctioned by the Granada team that produced the show and have since been pulled.
On the whole I’d say that if you’re a really keen spotter/photographer etc., in a relationship with one or know one as a mate pretty well then you’ll get the “in” jokes in it and recognise all of the traits that make us who we are: I know Arthur will get where I’m coming from when I say that! 😀
If anyone decides to give it a couple of hours of their time tomorrow night all I can say is that I hope you enjoy it.
Best regards
Steve
P.S. Sadly not, Albert. In actual fact I still have yet to receive even my original bail money back…but that’s a whole other story :rolleyes:
Steve TouchdownTo add to this are two mysteries : F2A : XN724 left Laarbruch on the back of a low loader in April 1985 apparently heading for the North East Aircraft Musuem, Sunderland – It never arrived. Military Markings reported it as being with a private owner ‘up north’ for many years but it simple disappeared. I think it most likely ended it’s days on a range somewere but this doesn’t tie-in with any range sitings since? The other is the cockpit section of F2 XN779 the cockpit of this aircraft was removed when it was scrapped at Gutersloh and moved to Wildenrath for display outside 19 Squadrons building, this never happened and the cockpit found it’s way to Cosford for use with the weapons school and then…….?
Any idea’s?
Hi DGH,
for what it’s worth, I’m not sure of the accuracy of the location (reported as “Newcastle”) that appeared for many years in Military Aircraft Markings. All sources, MAM apart, quote XN724 as having been scrapped at Laarbruch in April 1985. I would be surprised if it had made it into the UK without being reported at all.
Much the same for XN779: all reports I’ve checked suggest this was scrapped at Gutersloh (no dates quoted). I do recall an F.2/F.2A cockpit and an F.3 with the Weapons School at Cosford, but I hadn’t seen an identity linked to either until your message above. Both had departed from Cosford “by August 1990” according to reports dating back to that time.
A good and reliable site for UK serials/fates is http://www.ukserials.fsnet.co.uk in case you hadn’t come across it before.
Best regards
Steve Rush ~ Touchdown-News
Steve TouchdownThat’s purely for the SDD phase i.e. that part of the contract that’s been awarded thus far ($1.7bn out of the $6.1bn total).
Yeah but aaren’ these 1.7 Billion Dollars, the manufacturing part of it?
Only the manufacturing of some parts for the first five pre-production/T&E examples:
Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, Owego, N.Y., is being awarded a cost-plus-award-fee contract with a total estimated value of $1,788,697,873 for the system development and demonstration of the Presidential helicopter replacement (VXX).
The SDD phase will consist of engineering design and integration activities for the various communications, navigation, and mission systems required for the Presidential Helicopter support mission.
It also includes a comprehensive test and evaluation program, as well as production of the five aircraft that will introduce the initial operational capability in fiscal year 2009.
The contract hasn’t had much of positive impact on the Westlands factory in Yeovil: 640 job cuts were announced on Monday and the only work that’s been guaranteed for the whole production run is the manufacture of the rotor blades.
Best regards
Steve Rush ~ Touchdown-News
Steve TouchdownGiven the fact that Canada has has many quality prolems with the EH101 and the British have already droped one, lets hope LM can fix the thing.
Sauron
Two have been “droped” actually.
Steve Rush ~ Touchdown-News
Steve TouchdownMirage 2000H/TH Deliveries
For those of you interested in following the Mirage 2000H/TH deliveries, this was posted to Touchdown-News yesterday (1st February):
Seen departing Merignac today on their delivery where:
Mirage 2000H KF145
Mirage 2000H KF146
The other two Mirages that where still present at Merignac where not seen, though the departure of the two single-seat 2000’s and the Il-76 suggests that they left very early this morning. The last two are:
Mirage 2000H KF143
Mirage 2000TH KT213
Support was:
Il-76 K2878
Credit: Sud-Ouest Spotters
Best Regards
Steve Rush ~ Touchdown-News
Steve TouchdownSeems as if a large part of the work will be done in the UK and Italy:
That’s purely for the SDD phase i.e. that part of the contract that’s been awarded thus far ($1.7bn out of the $6.1bn total).
Steve Rush ~ Touchdown-News
Steve TouchdownThe only “confirmation” of anything I’ve seen so far is that the navigator is reported to have been an ex-RAAF officer serving with 47 Squadron. AFAIK 47 only operate the C.1 and C.3 Hercs, but that doesn’t rule out all other possibilities. Certainly the BBC reported this morning it was a C-130J type.
It’s being claimed that it was shot down. Not surprising really as there are claims that the USMC CH-53E last Thursday and an OH-58D last Friday were also “shot down” by jihadists.
Steve ~ Touchdown-News
Steve TouchdownNitin: regarding the sentence written about the Bison in the JDW piece, to be fair to the author I think the delay he mentions is in reference to missiles not the aircraft upgrades themselves. That’s how I read it anyway and why I assumed it was in the sub-sction headed “Missiles”.
Best regards
Steve Rush ~ Touchdown-News
Steve TouchdownCheers Steve, that’s certainly an update on what i have currently available. Still a strange sight, all those formerly familiar Spang F-4Gs gone.
No probs, Arthur; my pleasure. I know what you mean about those old Spang Weasels too.
Y’know it struck me what a small world this a/c hobby biz is when I was prepping that QF-4 stuff: Jamie Hunter (whose articles PII mentioned), Jurgen van Toor (whose excellent work on Scramble’s database is the source of what I’ve posted) and myself were all on the same visit around the 192nd TRS “High Rollers” back in ’93!
Steve
Steve TouchdownI know nothing about “journalism US military public affairs” whatever that is (or pronounced).
I wondered what that was too! And I’m left still wondering about the word “undoubtably” 😉 :diablo:
Steve TouchdownThis might be ever so slightly more up-to-date than Jamie’s list in “Combat Aircraft”.
I’m amazed you didn’t buy that magazine, PII, you’ve posted more than once about a lack of Phantom articles! 😀
AF101 * ~ 68-0345 * ~ QF-4E ~ w/o 29jul98 *
AF102 * ~ 69-0383 * ~ QRF-4C * ~ w/o 30mar98
AF103 * ~ 69-7261 * ~ QF-4G* ~ w/o 07jun01
AF104 * ~ 73-1203 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 19jul00*
AF105 * ~ 69-7301 * ~ QF-4G* ~ w/o 14may93 *
AF106 * ~ 68-0449 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 17nov99 *
AF107 * ~ 73-1204 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 13apr99 *
AF108 * ~ 65-0944 * ~ QRF-4C * ~ w/o 10jun98 *
AF109 * ~ 74-1060 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 04aug98 *
AF110 * ~ 68-0564 * ~ QRF-4C * ~ w/o 25mar98 *
AF111 * ~ 67-0343 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 15dec99 *
AF112 * ~ 72-0136 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 11feb03 *
AF113 * ~ 68-0555 * ~ QRF-4C * ~ w/o 01apr97 *
AF114 * ~ 69-7300 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 25may00 *
AF115 * ~ 66-0338 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 22aug01*
AF116 * ~ 66-0342 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 14jun01 *
AF117 * ~ 64-1053 * ~ QRF-4C * ~ w/o 21may98 *
AF118 * ~ 67-0320 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 03oct01 *
AF119 * ~ 67-0349 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 14may02 *
AF120 * ~ 68-0303 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 21nov02 *
AF121 * ~ 67-0337 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 25oct01 *
AF122 * ~ 68-0391 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 22may03 *
AF123 * ~ 68-0320 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 22may03 *
AF124 * ~ 68-0340 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 07dec01 *
AF125 * ~ 68-0343 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 28mar02 *
AF126 * ~ 67-0390 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 25mar98 *
AF127 * ~ 67-0356 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 22may01 *
AF128 * ~ 68-0385 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF129 * ~ 68-0317 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 18apr02
AF130 * ~ 68-0389 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 29apr99 *
AF131 * ~ 69-0306 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 27jul02 *
AF132 * ~ 69-7267 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 27jul02 *
AF133 * ~ 69-0241 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 01sep04 *
AF134 * ~ 69-0307 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 06nov97 *
AF135 * ~ 69-7235 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 05may98 *
AF136 * ~ 69-0247 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 16dec98
AF137 * ~ 69-7228 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 27aug03 *
AF138 ~ 69-0278 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF139 * ~ 69-0285 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF140 * ~ 69-0248 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 06jun02 *
AF141 * ~ 69-7217 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 17nov99 *
AF142 ~ 69-7232 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF143 ~ 69-0243 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF144 ~ 69-7204 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF145 * ~ 69-7211 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 07nov02 *
AF146 * ~ 69-7202 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 23jul98 *
AF147 * ~ 69-7556 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 07apr99 *
AF148 ~ 69-0273 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF149 * ~ 69-0298 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 13may98 *
AF150 ~ 69-7220 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF151 * ~ 69-0275 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 20jul98 *
AF152 * ~ 69-7579 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 18aug99
AF153 * ~ 69-0264 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 25may00 *
AF154 * ~ 69-0303 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 21oct98 *
AF155 * ~ 69-7256 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 10jun98 *
AF156 * ~ 69-0253 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 09jul01 *
AF157 * ~ 69-7572 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 14jul00 *
AF158 * ~ 69-7272 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 29oct98 *
AF159 * ~ 69-7557 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 16feb02 *
AF160 * ~ 69-0286 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 09feb00 *
AF161 * ~ 69-0272 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 26feb02
AF162 * ~ 69-0260 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 15sep02 *
AF163 * ~ 69-0249 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 01sep99 *
AF164 * ~ 69-7574 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 04aug99 *
AF165 * ~ 69-7295 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 24aug99*
AF166 * ~ 69-0259 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 23may00 *
AF167 * ~ 69-7291 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 02feb00 *
AF168* ~ 69-7270 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 18may01 *
AF169 * ~ 69-0265 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 17mar99 *
AF170 * ~ 69-0305 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 03aug00 *
AF171 * ~ 69-7210 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 12jun01 *
AF172 * ~ 69-7207 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 16dec98
AF173 * ~ 69-0277 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 11may99 *
AF174 * ~ 69-7297 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 08jan02 *
AF175 * ~ 69-7561 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 06jun01 *
AF176 * ~ 69-7294 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 04nov98
AF177 * ~ 69-7546 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 07apr99
AF178 * ~ 69-0238 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 02feb01 *
AF179 * ~ 69-7286 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 07dec01 *
AF180 * ~ 69-7290 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 31jan02 *
AF181 * ~ 69-0263 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 10dec98 *
AF182 * ~ 69-7580 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 11sep02 *
AF183 * ~ 69-7298 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 16apr02 *
AF184 * ~ 69-0261 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 13jun02*
AF185 * ~ 69-0258 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 20jun02 *
AF186 * ~ 69-0237 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 07feb01 *
AF187 * ~ 69-0244 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 29jan03 *
AF188 * ~ 69-0239 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 19jul00 *
AF189 * ~ 69-0242 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 27aug01 *
AF190 * ~ 69-0245 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF191 * ~ 69-0251 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 20jul01 *
AF192 ~ 69-0250 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF193 * ~ 69-0254 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 26jun01 *
AF194 * ~ 69-0246 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 14aug02 *
AF195 * ~ 69-0269 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 23jan02 *
AF196 * ~ 69-0255 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 30mar04 *
AF197 * ~ 69-0281 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 01may02 *
AF198 * ~ 69-0274 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 15aug01 *
AF199 * ~ 69-0284 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 31jan02 *
AF200 * ~ 69-0290 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 07jun01 *
AF201 * ~ 69-0292 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 01aug00 *
AF202 * ~ 69-7258 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 11may01 *
AF203 * ~ 69-0304 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 15aug01 *
AF204 * ~ 69-7257 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 16apr02 *
AF205 * ~ 69-7201 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 29jun04 *
AF206 ~ 69-7260 * ~ QF-4G ~ w/o 19aug03
AF207 ~ 69-7214 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 07may03 *
AF208 ~ 69-7209 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF209 * ~ 69-7254 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 04jun02 *
AF210 * ~ 69-7287 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF211 * ~ 69-7268 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF212 ~ 69-7234 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF213 * ~ 69-7262 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 09jun04 *
AF214 ~ 69-7231 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF215 ~ 69-7252 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF216 * ~ 69-7289 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 24jun03 *
AF217* ~ 69-7303 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF218 * ~ 69-7218 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 20mar02 *
AF219 * ~ 69-7233 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF220 * ~ 69-7581 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 10apr02 *
AF221 ~ 69-7288 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF222 ~ 69-7582 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF223 * ~ 69-7566 * ~ QF-4G * ~ w/o 26jun03 *
AF224 * ~ 69-7583 * ~ QF-4G * ~ ~
AF225 * ~ 73-1168 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 21may02 *
AF226 * ~ 72-0144 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 07nov02 *
AF227 * ~ 73-1183 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 03aug04 *
AF228 * ~ 74-1040 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF229 * ~ 73-1176 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 08oct02 *
AF230 * ~ 74-1044 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF231 * ~ 74-1050 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 06may03 *
AF232 * ~ 74-1048 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 16oct02 *
AF233 * ~ 74-1052 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF234 * ~ 74-0663 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF235 * ~ 74-0664 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 25jun03 *
AF236 * ~ 73-1173 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 09may03 *
AF237 * ~ 74-1635 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF238 * ~ 73-1198 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF239 * ~ 74-1055 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 20feb04 *
AF240 * ~ 74-1649 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF241 * ~ 73-1184 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF242 * ~ 74-0666 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF243 * ~ 72-1479 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF244 * ~ 74-1653 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF245 * ~ 74-0652 * ~ QF-4E * ~ w/o 06feb03 *
AF246 * ~ 73-1171 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF247 * ~ 72-0135 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF248 * ~ 74-1643 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF249 * ~ 72-1477 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF250 ~ 73-1197 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF251 ~ 74-0665 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF252 * ~ 72-1490 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF253 ~ 72-1485 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF254 ~ 74-1652 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF255 * ~ 71-1081 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF256 * ~ 72-0141 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF257 * ~ 71-1083 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF258 * ~ 74-1620 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF259 * ~ 74-0654 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF260 * ~ 74-1624 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF261 * ~ 74-1623 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF262 * ~ 74-1644 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF263 * ~ 71-1092 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF264 ~ 71-1087 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF265 * ~ 72-0143 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
AF266 ~ ? ~ ? ~ ~
AF267 ~ ? ~ ? ~ ~
AF268 ~ 74-1651 * ~ QF-4E * ~ ~
Steve Rush ~ Touchdown-News
P.S. Once they reactivate the attachment function I’ll repost this in Excel or Word where the format makes much more sense!
Steve TouchdownAfter a long day dodging bears and critters in the woods, just where does One conceal One’s firearm whilst getting in touch with One’s feminine side?
Steve TouchdownI think the picture caption meant when you were 20. Anyway, short blonde hair, clutching a beer, in a dark shirt? It said A. Hubers, but it might be anyone!
That’s him! The beer is a giveaway.
Interesting to see how Dutch hair styles and fashions change when you’re an irregular-but-at-least-annual visitor.
I seem to remember this was all the rage on my first visit to a KLu open day, influenced by the ‘brat pack’ movies like Pretty in Pink, Footloose, St. Elmo’s Fire etc. :diablo: :diablo: :diablo:
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