Classic British Flight Sim

ukmil · Post by **ukmil** » 17 Mar 2007, 13:44

gR1

kit · Post by **kit** » 17 Mar 2007, 13:47

Nice one!

I saw AJ-G a few days after it's delivery to Lossie, and I think it was the first GR4 in the RAF at the time. It was certainly the only one at Lossie at the time. Looked very odd with it's twin chin turrets.

ukmil · Post by **ukmil** » 17 Mar 2007, 14:09

nope actually, the first GR4 was delivered to Bruggen. I know, i was at ST Athan at the time, and worked on the first one. we recieved ti from Warton, and deleivered it to Germany. the first half a dozen went there i recall

kit · Post by **kit** » 17 Mar 2007, 16:49

OK, that's interesting though.

Do most RAF a/c these days go from the factory via somewhere like St Athan to their final bases? Back in the 50s we lived at Benson when it was HQ Ferry Command and at times it seemed that every a/c in the RAF came through there.

Fascinating for an aviation soaked kid as I was back then, but I suspect there isn't anywhere quite like it these days.

ukmil · Post by **ukmil** » 17 Mar 2007, 18:42

usually, as which happened with the GR midlife update, we recieved the aircraft as a gR1, prior to going to warton, where it received a service. it then went on the programme, and returned to St athan for acceptance checked, prior to issue to service

Motormouse · Post by **Motormouse** » 17 Mar 2007, 18:55

'Acceptance Checks' is what they're called, can be done at main base or an MU (oh! hang on, there aren't any MU's anymore thanks to B'Liar & Co).

I've 'done' Sea Harrier's at both St Athan and Yeovilton in the past.

ttfn

Pete

Post by **DaveB** » 17 Mar 2007, 21:03

Kit..

Re: Benson.. I bet there are quite a few bases like it is today.. that is, quiet :sad: I believe it's the HQ for some Nato Rapid Response Unit but that almost certainly involves Helo's. Very little fixed wing activity there these days.. other than the ubiquitous Grob's.

ATB

DaveB :tab:

kit · Post by **kit** » 18 Mar 2007, 00:34

DaveB,

DaveB wrote: Re: Benson.. I bet there are quite a few bases like it is today.. that is, quiet :sad: I believe it's the HQ for some Nato Rapid Response Unit but that almost certainly involves Helo's. Very little fixed wing activity there these days.. other than the ubiquitous Grob's.

Indeed, I think only 28 Sqdn with the Merlins are there these days.

A year or so ago I asked for a guided tour round the place for an American friend of mine on the grounds my Dad was SWO there back then.

Worked like a charm, we had the full 1/2 day tour, and even had a look at our old house. But there was very little flying going on, unlike when we lived there.

Post by **DaveB** » 18 Mar 2007, 01:17

That's about it mate.. 28, 33 and 606(res) Sqn's. They have a nice airshow every couple of years (sadly lacking in 2006) but other than the Grob, the usual daily stuff is becoming more and more Merlins. Still get quite a lot of Puma and Chinook activity.. even the odd Gazelle and Apache at times but a shell of it's former glory. Word has it there is still an ex QF Andover there tucked away in one of the hangars. Did you get to see it or has this become myth more than fact?? :think:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

kit · Post by **kit** » 18 Mar 2007, 11:34

DaveB,

Not on that visit, but I've been in the QF Hangar numerous times when we lived there. I can't recall if they had the Andovers then, may still have been the 'Super Posh' Valettas still.

The hangar looks a bit dilapidated now though, considerably less 'bull' than in the 50s, so maybe it's used for 'other purposes' these days.

Classic British Flight Sim

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