End of the line for the A-10 Warthog?
Discussion
Ginge R said:
As a baby rock in ops at Akrotiri, I watched some footage of the jets returning from Op Pulsator. This is going back 30 years now. I think the episode set the basis for the Vangelis stuff.
Anyway, imagine early 80s video and recording in cockpit quality as the banana bombers swept in low over Beirut. "Left main intersection ahead".. "Uhhhh, no.. there's a no entry sign" (sounds of grunts and chuckles). That summer, standing on a CVR(T) as they would return for a flypast or two for the troops, I swear they were level with me. Ok, so allow 25% for creativity and senility and it's still impressive.
As a stable platform, it seems to have been beyond reproach. We never realised how good it was (to our detriment) until it was too late - I think it was looked on by the Admiralty as a stop gap. The Germans wanted to buy it but were put off by the fact we seem disinterested in it.
Anyway, the Buck - fast, low and noisy. Tick, tick, tick.
and long legged down low....Anyway, imagine early 80s video and recording in cockpit quality as the banana bombers swept in low over Beirut. "Left main intersection ahead".. "Uhhhh, no.. there's a no entry sign" (sounds of grunts and chuckles). That summer, standing on a CVR(T) as they would return for a flypast or two for the troops, I swear they were level with me. Ok, so allow 25% for creativity and senility and it's still impressive.
As a stable platform, it seems to have been beyond reproach. We never realised how good it was (to our detriment) until it was too late - I think it was looked on by the Admiralty as a stop gap. The Germans wanted to buy it but were put off by the fact we seem disinterested in it.
Anyway, the Buck - fast, low and noisy. Tick, tick, tick.
Ginge R said:
Anyway, the Buck - fast, low and noisy. Tick, tick, tick.
I have fond memories of them doing displays at RAF Valley for the wings days (baby pilots got their fast jet wings), all you would see would be a black dot leaving a smoky trail just above the sea, then they would disappear behind the tower or other buildings, then sweep down the pan below the height of the pan lights making all the gathered families jump a mile! 
That video - it predates Op Pulsator, got that bit wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz3ECzpu6CQ
(Cheers Andy, didn't know that)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz3ECzpu6CQ
(Cheers Andy, didn't know that)
I think A10's were always a bit slow. We couldn't keep up with an A10 in a Piper Warrior but we could turn in on them. Great fun in the early nineties around the West Midlands.
Seen them at the range at Wainfleet near Skegness. Could drive down to the range and watch them drop practise bombs. On that occasion there was only two of us watching and when finished they each flew low over the car park and operated the air brakes as if to say "bye, bye".
Only seen them from a distance firing the gun, thank goodness.
Seen them at the range at Wainfleet near Skegness. Could drive down to the range and watch them drop practise bombs. On that occasion there was only two of us watching and when finished they each flew low over the car park and operated the air brakes as if to say "bye, bye".
Only seen them from a distance firing the gun, thank goodness.
I've just reminded myself.. apologies if this sounds like one of the cringeworthy facebook posts.
Ages ago, I was at Spadeadam doing some FAC. We broke for lunch and were nattering by a woodline - Kenny and ai were talking about the new Escort hire car we had driven up in. We noticed a chap in a wheelchair parked near a wire fence, with a bloke pushing him. Said pushing bloke beckoned us over. Said old bloke in the chair was a frail 70 or so year old and wearing a RAF badged blazer.
His son told me it was his dad's treat to occasionally watch the jets tipping in, his health was failing and the fresh air did him good. He told me that his dad was groundcrew on 617 (Dambusters if course) Sqn. I ambled over to Kenny who had thoughtully eaten my lunch and asked him what the running order was, and whether we had any Tonkas from 617 playing. He replied that we had and told me the window.
I went back to the son told him what I had in mind and suggested he stick around for another hour or so. We controlled a few more jets until I hailed the 617 callsign waiting for the rearbrief. As luck would have it, it was the sqn boss. The means were secure so I told him there was a sqn old boy at the run in who was a little deaf so wouldn't mind a bit of a low pass if the attack heading was changed. The plan was hatched..
I had returned to the car park with the radio as the jet was leaving the IP and about a minute out. I told the old boy that there was someone on the net who wanted a chat and passed him the HaveQuick handset. He looked at me blankly and then said "Hello, who's there, can you hear me?". The pilot said hello and introduced himself. I swear the old FS tried to sit to attention and his eyes came alive. "Hell, hello.. where are you sir?" he said (paraphrased, but his voice and face were a sight to behold).
"Look behind you Chiefy" said the swing-winged deliver of death.
The son turned the chair around and his dad got about 10 seconds of the approaching Tornado at Not very high at all and probably taking the p*ss Feet, and really chucking the coal on with the wings swept back, before it went straight overhead almost rocking the chair back as the old Flight Sgt turned to watch it dissapear, waving his blanket in sheer delight. Dad and the boss had a bit of a natter.. the son had hay fever that day, his dad did.. hell, we all did.
The sqn got in touch with the old boy and very kindly sent some momentos over - it was nice to have bought some happiness to him. Like I said, sorry if that strikes anyone as a facebook cringe story, but I know it happened - coz I was there.
Ages ago, I was at Spadeadam doing some FAC. We broke for lunch and were nattering by a woodline - Kenny and ai were talking about the new Escort hire car we had driven up in. We noticed a chap in a wheelchair parked near a wire fence, with a bloke pushing him. Said pushing bloke beckoned us over. Said old bloke in the chair was a frail 70 or so year old and wearing a RAF badged blazer.
His son told me it was his dad's treat to occasionally watch the jets tipping in, his health was failing and the fresh air did him good. He told me that his dad was groundcrew on 617 (Dambusters if course) Sqn. I ambled over to Kenny who had thoughtully eaten my lunch and asked him what the running order was, and whether we had any Tonkas from 617 playing. He replied that we had and told me the window.
I went back to the son told him what I had in mind and suggested he stick around for another hour or so. We controlled a few more jets until I hailed the 617 callsign waiting for the rearbrief. As luck would have it, it was the sqn boss. The means were secure so I told him there was a sqn old boy at the run in who was a little deaf so wouldn't mind a bit of a low pass if the attack heading was changed. The plan was hatched..
I had returned to the car park with the radio as the jet was leaving the IP and about a minute out. I told the old boy that there was someone on the net who wanted a chat and passed him the HaveQuick handset. He looked at me blankly and then said "Hello, who's there, can you hear me?". The pilot said hello and introduced himself. I swear the old FS tried to sit to attention and his eyes came alive. "Hell, hello.. where are you sir?" he said (paraphrased, but his voice and face were a sight to behold).
"Look behind you Chiefy" said the swing-winged deliver of death.
The son turned the chair around and his dad got about 10 seconds of the approaching Tornado at Not very high at all and probably taking the p*ss Feet, and really chucking the coal on with the wings swept back, before it went straight overhead almost rocking the chair back as the old Flight Sgt turned to watch it dissapear, waving his blanket in sheer delight. Dad and the boss had a bit of a natter.. the son had hay fever that day, his dad did.. hell, we all did.
The sqn got in touch with the old boy and very kindly sent some momentos over - it was nice to have bought some happiness to him. Like I said, sorry if that strikes anyone as a facebook cringe story, but I know it happened - coz I was there.
Ginge R said:
doing some FAC
We broke for lunch
watch the jets tipping in
whether we had any Tonkas
told me the window.
hailed the 617 callsign waiting for the rearbrief
"Look behind you Chiefy" said the swing-winged deliver of death.
chucking the coal on with the wings swept back
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