Might be worth noting, that for a two pilot crew in the UK, reporting for duty at 0500, operating 6 sectors, the maximum Flying Duty Period (FDP) that can be scheduled would be 9 hours, which would give a last “on chocks” time of 1400.

Have a look at http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP371.PDF page 21, which is the CAA document which is the basis for UK airlines Flight Time Limitations (FTL) schemes. If, on the day, something goes wrong, that can be extended by a further 3 hours (Commander’s Discretion page 24). A Split Duty (ie taking rest during the day) could enable a longer duty to be scheduled, but the FAA regulations seem lax compared to the UK’s…..comment from WD?

No arrivals or departures? :confused:

Not heard of Xmas in the People’s Republic of West Yorkshire?

Have a thought for the poor b*ggers who are working Xmas.

Nice to think that some money will now be going to charity…just to recap

CFO “Lets make this interesting. If alphaOne ever gets of the ground i’ll give £50 to Oxfam (seems appropriate as they’re oxford based, I think!). I’m confident alphaOne will never fly I’m ready to put my money where my mouth is. Whose with me?”

Wozza “I’m with you CFO, £20 to Oxfam for me”

Dantheman77 “I will give £40 to “The Fund for Addenbrookes Hospital” seeings Cambridge was meant to be the first destination for Alpha1, if it ever gets off the ground!”

WTF does ‘dusking’ mean. I wish airline managers (indeed all managers) would speak plain English.

Does give a handly excuse to post these though, some genuine ‘dusking’ shots (last two at 1600 ISO, about 45 minutes after sunset)

I was witness to 72,000ft at Binbrook in ’83

Don’t suppose the mighty Tornado, which has been “defending” the UK since the Lightning’s demise, can possibly come close!

Kev – Have you got hold of a copy of “A History of RAF Woodvale” by Aldon P. Ferguson?

Just bought a copy for half price (£4.99) from Midland Counties http://www.ianallanpublishing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=254_255_256_285&products_id=26826

“The Big Show” by Pierre Clostermann, a vivid air combat autobiography, now available in a much expanded new edition.