Discussion
andy97 said:
I'm reasonably sure that "cab" as a slang term for aircraft is a tri-service term, whether helo or fixed wing.
It may be now, but it wasn't originally.The RAF and Army terms were always 'Helo'or 'Heli' for helicopter (dependant upon the context).
The RAF terms for 'fixed wing' were always 'Jet' or, for non jets, merely 'Aircraft' ('Crate' went out with Pontius!)
WRT the term 'Cab', I used to fly with a JAFO (For Eric: JAFO = Just Another F*****g Observer, ie a FAA Observer) who told me that 'Cab' was originally a WAFU term (For Eric: WAFU = Wet And F*****g Useless, ie a FAA Aviator) for a Helo, but that it was picked up by the Fish Heads (For Eric: Fish Head = Blue Water Royal Navy, ie non Aviators) and applied to all aircraft.
Do service personnel actually speak the Queen's English - ever?
I'll never complain about accountants using jargon again.
I've read dozens and dozens of aircrew biographies and autobiographies spanning from the dawn of flight right up to modern conflicts. And in all those books I have never heard the expression "cab" being used. That is why I asked.
I'll never complain about accountants using jargon again.
I've read dozens and dozens of aircrew biographies and autobiographies spanning from the dawn of flight right up to modern conflicts. And in all those books I have never heard the expression "cab" being used. That is why I asked.
They have their uses.
The problem is that not everyone will understand them - especially when you are talking on an open forum which is not necessarily made up of people from your own background.
In my opinion, it is actually downright rude and unthoughtful to use them in this context unless (like G15 did above), you pop a little explanation into the text.
The problem is that not everyone will understand them - especially when you are talking on an open forum which is not necessarily made up of people from your own background.
In my opinion, it is actually downright rude and unthoughtful to use them in this context unless (like G15 did above), you pop a little explanation into the text.
Ginetta G15 Girl said:
andy97 said:
I'm reasonably sure that "cab" as a slang term for aircraft is a tri-service term, whether helo or fixed wing.
It may be now, but it wasn't originally.The RAF and Army terms were always 'Helo'or 'Heli' for helicopter (dependant upon the context).
The RAF terms for 'fixed wing' were always 'Jet' or, for non jets, merely 'Aircraft' ('Crate' went out with Pontius!)
WRT the term 'Cab', I used to fly with a JAFO (For Eric: JAFO = Just Another F*****g Observer, ie a FAA Observer) who told me that 'Cab' was originally a WAFU term (For Eric: WAFU = Wet And F*****g Useless, ie a FAA Aviator) for a Helo, but that it was picked up by the Fish Heads (For Eric: Fish Head = Blue Water Royal Navy, ie non Aviators) and applied to all aircraft.
Edited by andy97 on Thursday 31st July 19:08
That makes sense. Using choppers to drop people off and pick them up again is very much a "cab" like operation.
Another possible explanation might be to do with the WW2 practice of ground attack aircraft flying a circular pattern waiting to be called in to strike a designated ground target. These were often referred to as "cab ranks".
Another possible explanation might be to do with the WW2 practice of ground attack aircraft flying a circular pattern waiting to be called in to strike a designated ground target. These were often referred to as "cab ranks".
321freeflow
Great war stories. Thanks.
'Cab' as an expression is certainly still used by Teeny Weeny Airways
I used to work at Sandtoft and remember some blokes connecting ground power to the Gannet with a view to assessing how much work was required to get it airworthy. I can confirm that the nav lights worked.....
Great war stories. Thanks.
'Cab' as an expression is certainly still used by Teeny Weeny Airways
I used to work at Sandtoft and remember some blokes connecting ground power to the Gannet with a view to assessing how much work was required to get it airworthy. I can confirm that the nav lights worked.....
Long time ago now but loved to hear the sound of the Gannet overhead. Westland Wyverns had the same power units and that distinctive sound too. Distant fond memories now.
Last Gannet I saw was one parked in a back garden next to the main Swindon-Gloucester Road ( A417/9?) near Cirencester. Must have been back in the late 70s. Wonder if its still there. Doubt it.
They are one of those planes which looks small in the sky but massive on the ground.
Last Gannet I saw was one parked in a back garden next to the main Swindon-Gloucester Road ( A417/9?) near Cirencester. Must have been back in the late 70s. Wonder if its still there. Doubt it.
They are one of those planes which looks small in the sky but massive on the ground.
Eric Mc said:
In my opinion, it is actually downright rude and unthoughtful to use them in this context unless (like G15 did above), you pop a little explanation into the text.
I would say it is far ruder and thoughtless to start criticising other contributors who have added an interesting and personal story based on their experiences. You can always ask politely when you don't understand a term. No matter how often this is, I'm sure most would be happy to oblige.Thanks to those with personal experience who've added to the thread
I really love personal stories provided by those who have intimate working knowledge of these machines and how they were used. I love reading them.
BUT (and it's big "but"), in order for everybody to enjoy and appreciate the stories they are telling, over reliance on "in house" jargon and acronyms can render such a story almost completely incomprehensible to the outsider.
What happens is that the thread becomes a "yarn swap" for the ex-military - which is all well and good but it does exclude those of us who are keen to learn more.
So, please continue to tell us your tales - but remember those of is who didn't serve and who won't instantly recognise the lingo.
Indeed, explaining the lingo in itself is quite fun so don't shy away from using it - as long as you tell us what it means.
BUT (and it's big "but"), in order for everybody to enjoy and appreciate the stories they are telling, over reliance on "in house" jargon and acronyms can render such a story almost completely incomprehensible to the outsider.
What happens is that the thread becomes a "yarn swap" for the ex-military - which is all well and good but it does exclude those of us who are keen to learn more.
So, please continue to tell us your tales - but remember those of is who didn't serve and who won't instantly recognise the lingo.
Indeed, explaining the lingo in itself is quite fun so don't shy away from using it - as long as you tell us what it means.
Eric if people only made contributions that were compatible with your (or my) limited knowledge of aeroplanes it would be a very short forum 
If I wanted dry facts I could go on Wikipedia or Janes bumper book of aircraft spotting. Whinging about people's contributions is hardly likely to encourage them to post more, but I found the personal stories shared on here much more interesting. Anyway I don't want to derail things any more so I'll STFU.
If I wanted dry facts I could go on Wikipedia or Janes bumper book of aircraft spotting. Whinging about people's contributions is hardly likely to encourage them to post more, but I found the personal stories shared on here much more interesting. Anyway I don't want to derail things any more so I'll STFU.
andySC said:
There used to be a Gannet sat looking sorry for itself & neglected at Sandtoft airport near Doncaster. I was surprised how big it was,an impressive looking aircraft.
I remember that well & used to know the guy who flew it down from Blackpool? on an engineering permit. His Company did survey flying for us so I was over there fairly often at one stage. He had someone in the back holding some breakers in who thought he was only going for a little jolly! (That story may have grown in the telling in the bar afterwards I suspect).He had a bit of a job getting it in as some of the systems were u/s. Would I be right in thinking the blades could be angled to provide some braking? Anyway, all he had to stop the thing were the pretty paltry wheel brakes - so it got plonked down quite firmly I believe. Couple of burst tyres later it was sat in the engineering hanger to be refurbished.
But unlike some of the other lovely stuff in there (couple of Typhoons at one stage) it languished unloved - I believe they were trying to get hold of a special tool which had something to do with the contra-rotating props - that was back in the 90s though so my recollection may be wrong.
Eric Mc said:
I really love personal stories provided by those who have intimate working knowledge of these machines and how they were used. I love reading them.
BUT (and it's big "but"), in order for everybody to enjoy and appreciate the stories they are telling, over reliance on "in house" jargon and acronyms can render such a story almost completely incomprehensible to the outsider.
What happens is that the thread becomes a "yarn swap" for the ex-military - which is all well and good but it does exclude those of us who are keen to learn more.
So, please continue to tell us your tales - but remember those of is who didn't serve and who won't instantly recognise the lingo.
Indeed, explaining the lingo in itself is quite fun so don't shy away from using it - as long as you tell us what it means.
I find Google helpful for this kind of thing. Tap in the word you don't understand plus "acronym", "slang" or "jargon" and you'll get a definition back in seconds.BUT (and it's big "but"), in order for everybody to enjoy and appreciate the stories they are telling, over reliance on "in house" jargon and acronyms can render such a story almost completely incomprehensible to the outsider.
What happens is that the thread becomes a "yarn swap" for the ex-military - which is all well and good but it does exclude those of us who are keen to learn more.
So, please continue to tell us your tales - but remember those of is who didn't serve and who won't instantly recognise the lingo.
Indeed, explaining the lingo in itself is quite fun so don't shy away from using it - as long as you tell us what it means.
That's assuming you can't just infer from the context.
At the rate some people were inserting them into their posts, you would spend more time searching what they meant to say rather than reading and enjoying their stories.
When I post, I would prefer the readers to understand what I meant without requiring them to have to decipher the message.
Anyway, enough of this.
I think people might take on board what I asked and think a bit more carefully before over using them.
When I post, I would prefer the readers to understand what I meant without requiring them to have to decipher the message.
Anyway, enough of this.
I think people might take on board what I asked and think a bit more carefully before over using them.
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