Topic: Falkland Islands- what a detachment! (Read 108064 times)

raflaunches · « **Reply #25 on:** August 23, 2012, 02:08:48 pm »

Weather update: mixture of rain showers and winds upto 30mph gusts, still very cold due to wind chill, my room hasn't felt this cold for a little while!

Managed to see the stars on the darkest part of the airfield, even with the runway lights on I could make out several other constellations such as the Southern Cross and could even see the Milky Way!
We had fun yesterday trying to make the pilot and ground engineer understand what we needed them to do, a bit difficult considering they only spoke (or claimed) Spanish! Armed with our GCSE Spanish we managed to get through and tell them that they needed to turn left on the aircraft pan and not carry on travelling forwards towards the western approach, this would have ended in disaster due to the Hercules being parked in the way, I would not want to be the person filling out the paper work to explain how that happened!

The Typhoon pilots were showing off last night putting on a excellent display of aerobatics, it never ceases to amaze me to see them do a vertical climb after takeoff and disappear into the blue sky and then a few minutes later seeing them screaming down the runway at 100ft!
Oh well back to work, got another jet coming in this afternoon hopefully there will be no problems...

Bryan Young · « **Reply #26 on:** August 23, 2012, 04:53:25 pm »

Nick, do you still get 747s coming in? I had the pleasure of flying out on the 1st one from there (First Class yet!) "Only" 18 hours to Brize...including a 3 hour stopover at Ascension. Beats the Herc hands down. Bryan.

Shipmate60 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 23, 2012, 05:04:21 pm »

Almost anything beats a Herc!!!

Bob

Netleyned · « **Reply #28 on:** August 23, 2012, 05:19:57 pm »

A Beverley takes some beating

Ned

Stu · « **Reply #29 on:** August 23, 2012, 07:37:47 pm »

Wow this one brings back some memories of serving down there on 2 different ships 7 months on Leeds castle and 3 months on the Cardiff. Last time I flew back it was being done by a private company air Luxor I think as the tri-stars we tied up with afghan and Iraq missions.

regiment · « **Reply #30 on:** August 24, 2012, 02:55:52 pm »

do not forget the argosy nice and quite way back 1960 s Aden to Oman

Netleyned · « **Reply #31 on:** August 24, 2012, 03:48:28 pm »

Quote from: regiment on August 24, 2012, 02:55:52 pm

do not forget the argosy nice and quite way back 1960 s Aden to Oman

I think RAF Steamer Point Aden was a tad warmer than MPA

Ned

raflaunches · « **Reply #32 on:** August 24, 2012, 03:56:54 pm »

At the moment we only have a 767-300 flying in twice a week, an Airbus A340-300 with two super Pumas (helicopters) every 2nd wednesday, a small Airbus (don't know which one!) every Saturday and once a month a C-17 pops its wheels down on the runway. We also have to deal with aero medical evacs and VIP visits. I have also had to see in the VC10, BNG Islander and a Learjet, but the one I am looking forward to is the huge Russian 'Antonov' transport which sometimes appears down here, I have not seen yet but the pictures of it down here are impressive!

Weather has been unkind to us on the VASS pan, we struggled to get power to our knackered Landie this morning due to its well known 'not liking the cold climate anymore' starter motor and glow plugs. Eventually when we turned up it was that cold the 767's apu wouldn't start and there was no electrical power to the aircraft! We had to nick one of the VC10's power sets (Houchin) to get enough power into the 767 before it would start its apu! The wind has blown down for now but the temperature this morning was very cold, we had to wait for the sun to rise for the frost and ice to melt off the 767! We also had to go on a wild goose run to chase some geese off the pan to avoid them being sucked down the jet intake!

regiment · « **Reply #33 on:** August 24, 2012, 06:59:07 pm »

only a tad

Stu · « **Reply #34 on:** August 24, 2012, 08:18:24 pm »

The antonov is good fun if you get a chance to fly on her a nice viewing window in the floor to watch the world go by.

raflaunches · « **Reply #35 on:** August 25, 2012, 01:36:37 pm »

I only hope the Antonov does turn up, even if it's only to marshall it around our aircraft pan.

Weather has gone down hill rapidly last night with snow/sleet showers before freezing to well below -10. I know this becasue I was standing out in it last night being duty doorman for the Timmy's Bar until 1130pm! Wish I had dressed a bit warmer for the weather!

Whislt we are dicussing the type of aircraft we all flew down here in, how long did the flight or flights last? My 767 flight seemed to go on forever, 9 hours from RAF Brize Norton to Ascension and then (supposededly) 8 hours from Ascension to the Falklands, we had an hour stop at Wideawake on Ascension before reboarding and continue our long journey!

Stu · « **Reply #36 on:** August 25, 2012, 02:08:26 pm »

The air Luxor flight was about the same, the c10 was about 10 hours from the uk 3 hour stop over 9 hour to Falklands really long ready to cry by the time we got off.

Bryan Young · « **Reply #37 on:** August 25, 2012, 04:56:15 pm »

VC10 then Herc....about 27 hours total. BY.

nick_75au · « **Reply #38 on:** August 25, 2012, 11:18:39 pm »

Very interesting thread, Seen 66 knots on our ships anemometer whilst in the harbour in Fremantle.

Nick

irishcarguy · « **Reply #39 on:** August 26, 2012, 05:49:47 am »

Hi Nick B, this is a great thread I am really enjoying it,I spent 7 years in the RAF (MT) & enjoyed it all but wander lust caught up with me & I just wanted to go when I wanted not when I was told I had to. Mick B.

derekwarner · « **Reply #40 on:** August 26, 2012, 08:42:16 am »

Guys.....66 knots is very fast for the wind........

Many years ago .....I was onboard HMAS Brisbane [DDG - 4500 tons] ....150 km east of NSW in a force 9 gale = ~~~~ 45 knots

The only location to view the consequences was on the bridge

...an eye opener...... Derek.....

nick_75au · « **Reply #41 on:** August 26, 2012, 09:26:59 am »

There's a bit more to that story, maybe another thread

NicK

raflaunches · « **Reply #42 on:** August 26, 2012, 02:02:46 pm »

I am glad everyone is finding my little exploits interesting, I thought that the winds were bad here on land but I don't like the idea of being on board a ship during those type of conditions!
I don't think I'll be complaining about the return trip so much knowing that how long it took everybody else to reach this wonderful little rock in the South Atlantic!

The wind has gone away for now but the temperature has remained its usual 'brass monkey' condition, but I would be willing to put some good money down that the weather will get worse for the end of the week when I have to go on exercise down at Mare's Harbour for a day. Mare's Harbour is not far from Bertha's Beach where next colony of Gentoo penguins are located so I will be taking my camera with me.
I mentioned earlier in this thread that I was trying to get on a trip to South Georgia in a Herc... apart from the weather putting it the flight on hold I found out how far away the island is from the Falklands... in total it is 10 hour trip!!!, 4.5 hours to get there, 1 hour circling around, then another 4.5 hours to return!!!

(and that's in perfect conditions!)
Our Landrover died last night and had to be towed away, I bet we don't get a decent replacement, we have had to borrow the Herc team's spare wagon which is nicer to sit in but an appalling drive (I take it all back VASS Landie I would prefer to have you back... once you are fixed!)

roycv · « **Reply #43 on:** August 26, 2012, 05:16:54 pm »

Hi raflaunches, really interesting the thread. I enjoyed 4 years in the RAF, worst thing to happen to me was 6 weeks in a tent in Feb. in a turnip field in Germany in 1959. Apparently I was evacuated after a simulated nuclear attack! I "died" about 4 weeks into this.(Which meant I could get back to camp for a shower etc.)

regards Roy

Bryan Young · « **Reply #44 on:** August 26, 2012, 06:54:23 pm »

Regarding your 10/11 hour "trip" to S. Georgia....It would normally be a very uncomfortable 4 day trip to get there, followed by a 4 day calm interlude, followed by a really wild 5 day run "home".
The best part of the entire trip was always the fact that the conditions (seas and wind) meant that the Sea Kings were "confined to barracks" for a few days. Blessed peace! And many miffed Naval Aviators.
You (and somebody else) mentioned wind speeds.
45 knots of wind isn't very much. Add in perhaps 20knots of ship speed and then you could see 65knots of airspeed. Still not all that much.
In some parts of the world ...the N.Atlantic in winter, China Sea in "Typhoon" season, along the great Australian Bight, and the 800 mile stretch from the Falklands to S. Georgia ....I've regularly observed the anemometer hitting "the ton" (and that was with the ship virtually stopped). But the most "impressive" was the "Hurricane That Never Was" in the English Channel . No real seas to speak of, but the ships got blown backwards. Anemometer hit 120knots at one point. Happy days. BY.

Bryan Young · « **Reply #45 on:** August 26, 2012, 07:03:31 pm »

Quote from: roycv on August 26, 2012, 05:16:54 pm

Hi raflaunches, really interesting the thread. I enjoyed 4 years in the RAF, worst thing to happen to me was 6 weeks in a tent in Feb. in a turnip field in Germany in 1959. Apparently I was evacuated after a simulated nuclear attack! I "died" about 4 weeks into this.(Which meant I could get back to camp for a shower etc.)

regards Roy

I rather wish that the same principle could be applied to Naval exercises. Sink a ship, and then remove that ship from the scene (for a few days, at least). That would teach the war-canoes of all nations that protecting their Fleet Train was quite important! BY.

raflaunches · « **Reply #46 on:** August 27, 2012, 01:59:23 pm »

I can only hope that's what will happen this Friday, 'oops sorry you are dead you can go back the camp now!' (I wish, they just move you to another part of the exercise!

)
Either that or they could allow me to go for a walk down to Bertha's Beach for the penguins.

Yesterday was my day off, yes I know, time off would never have happened in my day I hear you say!, but for once its nice to have a proper day relaxing with your mates. We decided that we wanted to go the Karting club for a drive. When we arrived we found out that we were driving for the World's most southern go-kart club in an endurance race against each other. The day was going well and at one point my team was actually winning when the front sprocket gave out and the cart lost all drive, it took 20mins for it to be repaired but by then it was too late, oh well.

The wind is getting up again and according to Sky News the temperature in Port Stanley is 7 deg C, we don't believe that here at MPA where it feels more like 7 below!
Hopefully my package from home will arrive sometime this week but since I am the one one marshalling the aircraft in to its parking bay I usually end up being the last one to get any mail! It looks like its going to be a busy week again with aircraft coming in everyday just hope the temperature does not go below freezing too much otherwise I'll be de-icing them on a regular basis!

regiment · « **Reply #47 on:** August 27, 2012, 03:39:18 pm »

look on the bright side next posting could be cyprus cor all the loverly beaches to play on gordon ex raf 22 yrs

irishcarguy · « **Reply #48 on:** August 27, 2012, 04:57:41 pm »

Hi Regiment, I spent 2 years @ RAF Nicosia, it was a great posting & yes the beaches were first class, would go back in a heart beat. The worst thing about the island was the silly people fighting each other, not realising that they were living in a kind of paradise. When you get some pictures of the penguins it would be nice to see, also what model Karts were you racing ?, Mick B.

regiment · « **Reply #49 on:** August 27, 2012, 08:21:33 pm »

went back to raf akrotiri to see my grand son cpl fire man at the base how it has changed iv 30 odd years could not get over that nobody was wearing blues- -had a nice time memories -gordon----------------------

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Author Topic: Falkland Islands- what a detachment! (Read 108064 times)