Under the RADAR: Inside the C130 Hercules 

Hi all thanks for watching my first RU-vid video. As you can see I look back on my time working as a Mechanical Technician (Rigger) with great memories working with and for some of the best Engineers in the world, they had to be the old girl was getting on even when I arrived as a baby faced Mechanic in 1997. I am aware that I may of got a few things wrong in the film and there may be some editing errors (the videographer did a great job with what he had to work with thanks Kris) but we did our best. I look forwards to your comments ( from behind clenched hands) and to those who remember me from my days on the C130 you’ll know I wasn’t the best Rigger but always tried my best 😉 maybe those stories could be on the next instalment !!! Thanks again for watching my memories of the greatest Aircraft the RAF has ever had (yep it’s true) and see you all at the Museum at Cosford some time. Mick

Hi Mick, I joined the RAF in April 1966 and was based at RAF L YNHEM for 3 years as a A/C mech air frames,first of all on Comets and Brits then onto the 2 Herc squadrons that where just being formed there.I had the pleasure of marshalling in the first Herc and me and my wee mate Geordie did the first A/F B/F on the Herc as per our BIG BOOK. Did a couple of fortnight detatchments to RAF El Addam, Libiya dropping a Parra regiment in the desert and watching the Buccaneers from the Fleet Air Arm based at Lossiemouth beating up the desert, too hot but a great time. I then joined 1563 H Flt SaR at RAF Akrotiri Cyprus working on Westland Whirlwinds and had a great 2 years then demobbed in 1971.

Good video on the GE's view of the RAF C-130. But just so you know, although that is the IRCM transmitter mounting you show at about 1:58, the shot at 2:00 is actually of the ALE-40 chaff and flare magazines. The flare fit was in fact very good but the old IRCM was a bit vintage even when it was first fitted, and it certainly wouldn't have beaten the missile you show at 2:10, which is of course an optically guided Rapier. In fact that looks very like the emplacement that was next to our Hercdet tents on RAF Stanley in 1982. Oh and the sextant wasn't an emergency bit of kit. In the days before Omega and GPS there were large parts of the world where it was your only fixing aid. Happy days!