S7 have parked at least 4 737s at Lasham recently, its just fleet renewal with narrowbody Airbuses coming online.

Perry McCarthys book ‘Flat out-flat broke’ was re-released on the back of his appearances on Top Gear as the Stig. It was subtitled ‘By Perry McCarthy, Top Gears the Stig.

Steve

Dont forget that all the airspace in the Islands apart from the MPA TCA is totally unregulated and without restriction so its excellent training value for the RAF Aircrews.

Dont forget the Strategic Importance of the Islands. They control the Horn of South America and its Oceans in the same way that Gibraltar does the entrance to and exit from the Med.

Withdrawing from the Islands would send exactly the same message to Argentina that they received in 1982 with Endurance being withdrawn, the conventional Carriers sold and their aircraft transferred out of service/scrapped and the Vulcans being measured for museum plinths.

If Argentina had held on 12 months would it of been possible to recover the Islands? As for the threat of launching Cruise Missiles against BA then its a no-go; afterall Polaris didnt deter the Junta in 1982.

Im sure that Typhoon pilots will relish the low fly challenge of the Islands when they eventually deply down there, especially the ex F3 crews.

Expect a political protest from Argentina when they do eventually deploy, ‘the UK is escallating their military capability in the Islands, we rightly claim tham and will have to respond in kind yaddayadda’.

Also in the medium to long term the UK needs to protect its oil interests. Someday soon the soult atlantic will be awash with black gold.

Steve

Yeah.

I used to frequent that pub in the 70’s. It was actually a great pub.
I went back in 1996 and was disgusted at how run down and scruffy it had become.
The garden at the back was particulary awful.
Has it changed much since ’96?
Yes, I also like pic #1 as the best shot.

The pub is still a bit tired looking but thats because itd very busy now. Its been turned into a spotter and kids friendly joint. Plenty of seats and tables next to the threshold. Climbing frames and swings for kids. BBQs in the summer with bouncy castles. At weekends it opens early for spotters and knocks out nice tea and bacon butties.

Yes it can be expensive to train as a commercial pilot and the ATC will be an excellent way to get into the air. The Flying Scholarship scheme will give you about 30 hours in the air in a addition to Air Experience Flights.

When you leave school try to get yourself an aviation related job, for example a ramp agent. These jobs will pay quite well and usually operate on a shift pattern such as 4 on 4 off. On your 4 days off you can start boffing for your exams. If the airport you work at has a flying school attached to it then they will usually offer a discount to employees of the airport. After a year or so should have your PPL with some hours built in addition to a fair amount of exams.

At this stage you can either look for a cadetship (Air Atlantique and Highland offer these free of charge or Jet2 for example for a bond). Your experience and hard work will also impress your bank manager if you approach him for a career development loan.

Best of luck.

Steve

There used to be a very good website http://www.cactuswings.com but its been taken down. Does anyone know if its been re-hosted elsewhere?

Steve

Two missing from Scotland are RAF Benbecula and RAF Saxa Vord (Shetland).

Although not an RAF unit RDAF Thorshaven (Faroe Islands) is partially funded by the RAF as its radar feeds directly into the UK Air Defence Region.

To be meticulous with the Falklands. To go alongside RAF Mount Pleasant are the three radar sites at Byron Heights, Mount Alice and Mount Kent.

Will keep racking the old grey for you.

Steve