Once again DCW you excel yourself especially in these different (unusual!) but still trying weather conditions. Lovely to see the Herc, hope a wind up of certain forumites is not on the cards. Just for the record, this Herc was first delivered some 47 years ago this month and is still operational.

There was a famous photo of The Rt Hon Winston Churchill observing (IIRC) MG-D or MG-O taking off. It was annotated – late 1941. MG-D = N3641. MG-O was N6022 but that was abandoned on 15 Jul 41.

The 7 Sqn F541 for 21st July 1941 states that ‘S/Ldr R.W. Cox took part in a review at NORTHOLT where the latest types were inspected by a distinguished company that included the Prime Minister and Mrs. Winston Churchill (who went over the Stirling).’

But there again how many units did he visit throughout the war?:diablo:

Privatisation of SAR has been a long time coming and not a surprise to the military. Bristow’s did a sterling job in the Falklands for a number of years and IIRC accidents per flying hours are comparable with other operators to the hostility of the environment.

Bristow’s will bring new aircraft to the table some to be built in the UK. The S92, if it performs to close to what the company presentations envisaged then all is well. SAR crews were suitably impressed with it. It must also be remembered that a great deal of SAR aircraft engineering is already in private hands. I wonder how many military SAR crews will be drafted in to retain experience?

As an aside, SAR was often seen as a rest period away from intense operations such as Afghanistan. I wonder where will these crews wind down yet maintain their skills in the future?

Mr Bowyer & Rawlings think ‘RS’ belonged to 229 OCU who also operated Tempest tugs. I believe 229 was at Leuchars at that time?

As previously stated, scrapped: http://www.hawkertempest.se/TempestsatInternationalAlloys.htm

i think you will find this was/is fitted to a number of aircraft types. Piston Provost WW397 was fitted with one and IIRC the Chipmunk as well.

Very, very sad news. Worked with Mick in 80’s and helped him retrieve some of Odihams Meteor (ex gate guard) from the burning dump. Many happy memories .

RIP Mick you will be sorely missed.

We may be quick to damn these idle %% etc, but for many a year politicians have shied away from doing anything that will damage votes. The idle are just taking what’s given to them by an extremely over generous state.

For those of us who have never claimed a penny (and are now retired but still working) it is hard to understand the mentality of those who believe that the world owes them a living and low and behold it continues to cough up.

At least one man in the current government understands this cannot carry on and is trying hard to change things, only to be thwarted at every turn by everyone around him.

Votes are obviously more important than sorting out this multi-billion pound travesty.

Andy
Tis on its way
Bob