OMG A real blast from the past. I had 16 years with the Phantom 1974 to 1990 and still have the fullest respect for the machine. A real mix of good times and bad. Great aircraft but the hours that were put in to keep them flying were horrendous.
They were good days, I remember lots of jets go like that, Vulcan, Harrier, Buccaneer, lighting, phantom, jags, that was my era, those days are all gone, just a few typhoons now....
Taken from the excellent Phantom Phinale videos, produced by Flt Lt Mark Manwaring who was the display navigator in the Phantom's last season in RAF service.
At least they showed a few clips of the ground crew, that kept all the toffs flying. You can tell it was an officer who put this all together, literally we are totally ignored for most of the video. I only skipped through as never been a cabbage, but shall see if we ever did get a mention. I just checked and no thank you to ground crew what a shock there.
Couldn't believe my (good) luck when posted to Coningsby on Phantoms in 1980. But as other comments indicate, that's when we had an Air Force - and as an AEngTechAP their so many good aircraft still around - Lightnings, Vulcans, Victors, Buccaneers - God - even Shackletons. With all the sh*t they have to put up with in the RAF these days, there can't be much compensation for the Groundcrew working on Typhoons & (new) Lightnings.
@BillyTheFlid1 I was a stacker at WTM, yeah 20 years has flown past ain't it mate? That's Flt Lt Bill Preece with the ice cream, known to all as "Fugly", he's now a Wing Commander!
I was phantom ground crew 74-79 and watched this with a tear in my eye, happy carefree days.
I remember John Bray as well
OMG A real blast from the past. I had 16 years with the Phantom 1974 to 1990 and still have the fullest respect for the machine.
A real mix of good times and bad. Great aircraft but the hours that were put in to keep them flying were horrendous.
Thanks for the upload.
Excerpt from a video by Flt Lt Mark "Manners" Mainwaring. Superb.
Fantastic Vidoe, great tribute to the one and only FGR2's, really miss them :(
Medical Officer RAF Coningsby 1981-3, 29 and 64 Sqds, memories...
RIP Riley/Hanton mid 1982, got me into psychiatry...
They were good days, I remember lots of jets go like that, Vulcan, Harrier, Buccaneer, lighting, phantom, jags, that was my era, those days are all gone, just a few typhoons now....
Back when we had an Air Force....
Taken from the excellent Phantom Phinale videos, produced by Flt Lt Mark Manwaring who was the display navigator in the Phantom's last season in RAF service.
Best start to an old aircraft video ever?
At least they showed a few clips of the ground crew, that kept all the toffs flying. You can tell it was an officer who put this all together, literally we are totally ignored for most of the video. I only skipped through as never been a cabbage, but shall see if we ever did get a mention. I just checked and no thank you to ground crew what a shock there.
Couldn't believe my (good) luck when posted to Coningsby on Phantoms in 1980. But as other comments indicate, that's when we had an Air Force - and as an AEngTechAP their so many good aircraft still around - Lightnings, Vulcans, Victors, Buccaneers - God - even Shackletons. With all the sh*t they have to put up with in the RAF these days, there can't be much compensation for the Groundcrew working on Typhoons & (new) Lightnings.
brilliant thanks for that
I enjoyed that- thanks.
great video !!!!
A few faces there I remember, including the late 74 Sqn QWIN Mick Mahoney!
Sad sight ...
Does anyone have the rest of this video? There was one with the Phantom flying formations with the Russian Fulcrum as well as a few others.
Look up Phantom Phinale. It's all there.
Sad sad, ex 41 phantoms...
@BillyTheFlid1 I was a stacker at WTM, yeah 20 years has flown past ain't it mate? That's Flt Lt Bill Preece with the ice cream, known to all as "Fugly", he's now a Wing Commander!