Was privileged to serve as a Fighter Allocator(FA) at Buchan in the late 1980s. The female FA was Kate Lacey. My first ever QRA launch I was being checked out as an FA and pre-empted the order to launch, effectively without authority. My bacon was saved by the fact that the order to launch came about a minute later, the powers that be thinking it had been a really expeditious scramble! My checker did notice but we smiled about it later, although it did cost me a couple of beers! Great days. These days I sit in the left hand seat of an airliner but would do it all again.
@@RAFASOP Ah Saxa Vord, I served there 73/74, techie on the old type 80 and type 13 radars, I was always led to believe it was classed as a hardship posting but I found it a beautiful place to live and work, went back in 1980 after my demob to visit old local friends.
@@johndublyoo2553 Was at Saxa in 88. If you can get hold Daily Mail Feb 23 and 28, 2022 a couple of letters about the wind speeds their. If you look at google earth you can see the new top site layout with double security fence and now its about to be a rocket launch site.
@@RAFASOP Yeah, I'll never forget how strong the winds could be, especially top site, been known to crawl on hands and knees to get into the radome. Got snowed in the R10 my first Easter weekend, went up the hill on Thursday afternoon and didn't get back down until Tuesday just after lunch, lived on dry rations for 2 days too, Yuk!! The site for the new rocket launch site will, it's said, be on the old Chain Home Low site over at Lamba Ness near Skaw.Thanks for the reply by the way 👍👍
I'm sure that the Fighter Controller at Buchan scrambling the QRA is none other than Kate Lacey, a very pretty WRAF Officer whom I worked with at RAF Boulmer in the late 70's and early 80's!
My phirst phlight in the Phantom, i phlew it & phired the gun, in Cyprus 1992 with my sqn 74(F) Tigers, my profile pic is a selfie i took in the rear seat over the UK in June 92'.🐅
Think you mean 43 squadron not 49 squardon (Bomber squardon WWII). Since the scramble is from Buchan to Leuchars. Must be 43 or 111 sqn. Both used FG1 from the Royal Navy. The FGR2 was the ground attack and recon version.
I loved writing backwords. Nearly completed tape 10 at West Drayton. Unfortunatly had to think for a second in what colour jamming was displayed in. I don't believe up to then anyone had completed tape 10.
No other nation is better then the British at kicking the can down the road when it comes to defense spending. TRS became F-111K. F-111K became F-4 FRG with rolls engines pushing the cost up and the numbers down. Fast forward to today and the tradition continues. Instead of buying the 138 F-35’s they will reduce the orders to Fund Tempest . Which you know will suffer the issues that. Typhoon and Tornado did being a joint venture.
Yes loved writing backwards. Nearly finished tape 10 at West Drayton, but just for half a second had to think what colour to use for jamming and after that was playing catch-up. Only problem I was a engraver so took a while to rub out. Still write backwards as a party trick
