RAF Fairford - Exercise starting next week. - Page 1 - Boats, Planes & Trains

Not sure about the first exercise here. I remember years ago when the French/Germans used to use waddington for practice up on the ranges.

I was on guard when a French mirage put its undercarriage through the perimeter fence just by the wave. I was sent to guard the hole while the fence was repaired. To this day you can still see the new bit of fence.

I also had to go out and ask a load of spotters who had ladders up on the centreline a few days later taking pictures to move. About 30 people in total I remember one particular, I know better you can’t tell me to move I know my rights civie refusing to move.

I then pointed out the new piece of fence he had his ladder up against and that it had happed 2 days ago by a French pilot and it was his choice. I could hardly hide the smile on my face when he reluctantly saw the error of his way and got down and shifted grumbling under his breath. (t

t, I was only trying to offer him some advice that might have stopped his head being detached), Fighter pilots being competitive people love a good completion and they were trying to see who could get the lowest pass on to the field.

Around 97-98, I was out in a place called Ali al saleam in Kuwait with/when two sqn guys were having lowest passed the antenna at the end of the runway. As a avionics trade guy we used to have a bus parked at the end of the taxiway to do iff/esm checks (mandatory last check before they go in to combat. We had a camera and the pilots would ask us to take pictures as they went past this antenna mast (painted red/white to use as a guide). I swear some of the guys were going down the runway, taking off, up with the gear, lower the nose and descend to go past the mast lowest.

Edited by MB140 on Wednesday 28th August 20:27

NM62

952 posts

174 months

[report]

[news]

Wednesday 28th August 2019

MB140 said:

baldy1926 said:

The Israeli Air Force arrived today its the first time for an exercise here i believe

Not sure about the first exercise here. I remember years ago when the French/Germans used to use waddington for practice up on the ranges.

I was on guard when a French mirage put its undercarriage through the perimeter fence just by the wave. I was sent to guard the hole while the fence was repaired. To this day you can still see the new bit of fence.

I also had to go out and ask a load of spotters who had ladders up on the centreline a few days later taking pictures to move. About 30 people in total I remember one particular, I know better you can’t tell me to move I know my rights civie refusing to move.

I then pointed out the new piece of fence he had his ladder up against and that it had happed 2 days ago by a French pilot and it was his choice. I could hardly hide the smile on my face when he reluctantly saw the error of his way and got down and shifted grumbling under his breath. (t

t, I was only trying to offer him some advice that might have stopped his head being detached), Fighter pilots being competitive people love a good completion and they were trying to see who could get the lowest pass on to the field.

Around 97-98, I was out in a place called Ali al saleam in Kuwait with/when two sqn guys were having lowest passed the antenna at the end of the runway. As a avionics trade guy we used to have a bus parked at the end of the taxiway to do iff/esm checks (mandatory last check before they go in to combat. We had a camera and the pilots would ask us to take pictures as they went past this antenna mast (painted red/white to use as a guide). I swear some of the guys were going down the runway, taking off, up with the gear, lower the nose and descend to go past the mast lowest.

Edited by MB140 on Wednesday 28th August 20:27

I think he means the first time the Israelis have been in the UK on Exercise.

I remember a massive exercise at Waddington in the mid 80’s when some FB-111,s where in attendance so definitely not the first at Waddington.

As for snotty spotters they have always existed.

Edited by NM62 on Wednesday 28th August 21:13

twister

1,561 posts

260 months

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[news]

Wednesday 28th August 2019

Yertis said:

Old now too – 20-odd years old?

When I saw it the first time at RIAT, in about 1990-something, it was quite unsettling... eek

This was from the '97 show, and I still remember a) how quiet the whole flightline fell as it came into view, and b) just how quiet the B2 itself was - if it hadn't been for its F15 shadow, you'd have been hard pressed to hear anything flying past. Eerily sinister, and definitely one of those "so pleased I was there" moments.