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Posted: 03 May 2007, 12:46
by DispatchDragon
The truth to tell Ian

The only bit of England that was still familar was Gloucestershire - well the Cotswolds anyway - Even my alma mater EGGW was totally unrecognisable except for the original tower and some of the old apron,
the new tower - the new exit down through where the old Spittlesea Hospital was were totally alien as was that strange Nissan hut they call a terminal - ah well memories are much better


Leif

Posted: 03 May 2007, 12:59
by jab
Brilliant shots there like the griffin shot, Whats it like flying on a griffin? and I visited the dome three months after it opened it was fantastic :dance: shame they shut it.

James

Posted: 03 May 2007, 13:51
by Garry Russell
The Dome was one of those project the Government insisted was good and the right thing to do despite most people saying it was a waste of money

Pity they built it.....costing millions just to maintain it empty.

Nice shots ...a bit different to when I last went to London in 1994.

In those days Canary Wharf was buiding that stood on it's own


Garry

Posted: 03 May 2007, 13:55
by Pringle
jab wrote:Brilliant shots there like the griffin shot, Whats it like flying on a griffin?
Hard on the back and knees. No way you can stand up in the back, hence the crouching down from everyone involved. It's a nice little airframe, good to learn your skills on. As for a comparison to another aircraft, well its going to be hard as i have only worked on the Dominie...which was usually unserviceable :roll:

But overall, a good replacement for the Wessex me thinks.

Posted: 03 May 2007, 15:15
by Chris Trott
I've flown in the 412 (civilian version of the Griffon) and it's a pretty decent ride as long as you've got decent seats in it. I flew one with canvas seats and it sucked and I flew in an offshore rig that had pseudo-airline seats and it wasn't bad. One big problem with the 412EP that I was flying in (the offshore one) was that it had tall skis for the floats, so it wasn't exactly the easiest aircraft to get into (long first step going out). Although it's definitely better than the Mi-24, so I guess I can't complain too much. And the Crew Chief in the Griffon/412 definitely has a nicer seat. Oh, and once the Griffon/412 gets going, it's a smoother ride than in the Cessna 172 that I fly or the R4D-6, so it's definitely not the worst helicopter out there. :)

Posted: 03 May 2007, 15:25
by Robin
Much better shots than I got!

I went in 2003 in a Chinook, for some low low level and a trip down the helilane. Was amazing!

Posted: 03 May 2007, 20:10
by stafflad1976
Ah, the griffin, spent many an hour watching my students refuelling them at Shawbury.

Posted: 03 May 2007, 21:09
by jab
Pringle wrote:
jab wrote:Brilliant shots there like the griffin shot, Whats it like flying on a griffin?
Hard on the back and knees. No way you can stand up in the back, hence the crouching down from everyone involved. It's a nice little airframe, good to learn your skills on. As for a comparison to another aircraft, well its going to be hard as i have only worked on the Dominie...which was usually unserviceable :roll:

But overall, a good replacement for the Wessex me thinks.
Thanks for that information very good. Does the griffin do SAR for the RAF in Cyprus and do you think it would be a perfect replacement for the Sea Kings when they get replaced in years to come?(which I dont want to get rid off :huf: )

Regards
James

Posted: 03 May 2007, 21:37
by Robin
In my opinion, they couldn't be a replacement for the Sea King as they are nowhere near large enough.
And from what I remember I think there are 1 or 2 in Cyprus.

Posted: 03 May 2007, 21:49
by Pringle
Agree with Robin. Alot of forces seem to use them for SAR effectively, but I can't see the Griffin replacing the seaking