Olds Cool

I’ve no doubt of the fun you have the events…

I feel for you as to what you don’t get today as against what we had in the mid 80’s to early 90’s. I was envious then of what previous generations got during their service.

The “Next Generation” tag they attached a couple of years back seems to be a bit of an attempt to make it seem better and disguise the reductions…

How can you manage to pull off the interest if you only get 5 rounds a year and one flight? (not that I was into shooting – it was fun but not my No.1)

Due to an injury Coltishall camp, which I got whilst there, saw me end up helping out on the range for the cadet shooting and as such managed 70 rounds in 3 days!!!

Managed a go on the .303 during my time too. God that hurt if you got the positioning wrong!!

OAW

I remember those displays too. Utterly facinating.:cool:

I have a copy of the guide book from that time and probably the same copy of the RAF year book! – I seem to remember the article. I also recall seeing a photo of the (at the time) proposed museum at Hendon with a model of a Whitley outside too!!:D

Also the Grahame White building was on the same site then… (didn’t like it when I went there on the 19th Dec last year – very sterile/false where as I find/found the original hall fine despite the carpeted walkways)

My paternal grandmother lives in the Kenton/Harrow area and so with my dad’s interest in aeroplanes it was a common point of call when down there for the weekend (along with LHR thanks to the 140 bus!)

I agree it all seemed more joined throughout the visit in those days.

Be interesting to see how they get the Valiant out to Cosford… With all the moving about recently you’d have thought they might have done it then…?

OAW

I’ve noticed that alot of our local squadrons are almost shunning aviation completely preferring to do “Adventure Training”…:(

Also that at some aeroplane events they are wearing the greens rather than the blue uniform. It’s hard to see cadets out and about (other than at official parades) in the blue uniform.
😡

Is it me or are the cadets doesn’t seem to be the avenue into the Services as it used to be and appears to be drifting away from the service…:confused:

Happy days eh?
I’m also getting odd looks because of my stupid nostalgic grin on my chops!
I was with 5(F) and although we had little contact with the real 5F we did manage a bit of a photo call with their Tornado at Bournmouth Airshow in 91 where we were helping out. Long trip from Northampton for that weekend but well worth it especially the Sea King and Lynx jollys.
I miss the old Ventures too… That was with 616VGS at Henlow. Managed to have a chat once with the new owners of one of “my” Ventures a few years back…
I even miss drill… how sad is that?:eek:

Even though 5AEF was “my” AEF I never managed to “do” the Husky… Managed an Auster during my time though.
OAW
ex-5F, 5F(DF) and 1875 (Towcester)

I was only subjected to “John” and his film.

I miss flying in Chippies… but thanks to being a spacey managed various types and some great flying.

ONe of the best was laying on the floor of a BAC1-11 with a map peering over the edge of the window and working out our track… AFTER we’d done a T&G at Marham and seeing all those lovely Victors!

OAW

JDK
Yep guilty as charged… It is the one now in Spain. It was taken at Finmere… It’s there because I had it loaded on this PC and altered it accordingly to fit.

Auster Fan
Yes again… One of my most memorable flights was with Ced. It was my THIRD of the day!!!! He performed a whole display routine because he was “…a bit rusty and want to practice…” To this day I’ve no idea what we did apart from being utterly rotated about all three axis… And we finished higher than we started…
Must try to get copy of the book.

So nice to hear from other nice people and ex-spaceys…;)

Enjoy
OAW