Sad to see these go...!!! - Page 2

acropolite (Phil) · #21 28-01-2011, 08:11 PM

Gotta love the F111, I'm old enough to remember the controversy surrounding their purchase. Speaking of "sneaking up", HRH, myself and the kids were watching rays swimming in the waves beneath the cliffs under the lighthouse at Byron bay and an f111 flew underneath us hugging the cliffs, by the time I had turned on and raised my camera for a shot it was far away in the distance. We didn't hear a sound until it was past.

Jeffkop (Jeff) · #22 28-01-2011, 08:13 PM

Hi all A126047 with my bit. I will NEVER forget that number.
As a Raafie I never had anything to do with the F111. 486Sqn and 35Sqn were my life so Hercs, 707's, Caribou and Iroqois received my attention as a RadTech in the late 70's early 80's. I certainly had heard of Funnel.
As a civvy though I worked for Honeywell Space and Aviation and spent many hours at 482sqn. We repaired the ring laser gyro (part of the Avionics upgrade the F111s had) and I also designed computerised test and overhaul equipment for the rotary shaft positional encoders used in the F111 NavSim (It was FULL of them). Was interesting times. I enjoyed those trips as I also got to catch up with mates who were still in.
I was amazed at how different attack aircraft were kitted out campared to the transports I hade worked on. It sure was quite an aircraft, but past its use by date now in most facets I would imagine.

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #23 28-01-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Yep, and another one here

After Edinburgh I did my time at Wagga (Intruments fitter) back in '75.

Well...what a small world....I was at Edinburgh in Oct'72.....No 1 RTU Squadron....Course No 1192 ....doing my recruit training....3 months it was... then graduated and went to RAAF Base Wagga Wagga....then did a trainee's fitters course ( No 34 Trainee Fitters )... and ended up as a " SUMPY " ..... ( AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ENGINEER ) specializing in Jet Engines and Piston Types.
Got my first posting to Amberley after that.

I recently visited the old Base at Wagga....see photos....that's me " trying " to get a feel of the place again.... The memories that place brings back to me. Got " CB " ( CONFINED TO BARRACKS ) a few times while there....

Remember the big long road up to the Guard House ( front entrance to the Airbase )... had to walk all the way up to it... in your uniform and report to the Sargent of the Guard....every hour ....on the hour.. ( starting at 7pm until midnight ) he would inspect you for proper attire and stand " real close " to you to see if you had been drinking....if you had YOU WERE IN BIG TROUBLE..... no drinking allowed while on " CB "

My time in the RAAF was the best Job I ever had.....never regretted it....

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #24 28-01-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeffkop

Hi all A126047 with my bit. I will NEVER forget that number.

Hi there A126047 ...... This is A122940 ..... I to have never forgotten that number .....

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #25 28-01-2011, 09:25 PM

A1XXXXX...Queenslanders.

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #26 28-01-2011, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

A1XXXXX...Queenslanders.

Hey Hans ....Something tells me you should share a bit ...ehhh ..!!!!

Correct me if I'm wrong....No's starting with A1 were Queenslanders.
A2 were from NSW ... A3 were Victorians ... etc. etc.

I think that's how the Defence Dept knew what State you enlisted from.

Cheers .... Colin.

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #27 28-01-2011, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

Hey Hans ....Something tells me you should share a bit ...ehhh ..!!!!

Correct me if I'm wrong....No's starting with A1 were Queenslanders.
A2 were from NSW ... A3 were Victorians ... etc. etc.

I think that's how the Defence Dept knew what State you enlisted from.

Cheers .... Colin.

Yep...A512967 served from 1987-2008..Enlisted as a Cat2B...wanted to be an Engine Fitter but because Adult Trainees, unlike Apprentices, were only offered three trades...ended up as an Instrument Fitter, Sumpie trade was not on offer...thankyou recruiting. Unlike you gentlemen I worked on toy aircraft Macchi's & PC-9/A trainers at 2FTS Pearce. Last 8 years in the Mushroom factory at Williamtown (481 AVMF). I have no regrets....ok maybe one..that I didn't serve a overseas deployment.

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #28 28-01-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

Yep...A512967 served from 1987-2008..Enlisted as a Cat2B...wanted to be an Engine Fitter but because Adult Trainees, unlike Apprentices, were only offered three trades...ended up as an Instrument Fitter, Sumpie trade was not on offer...thankyou recruiting. Unlike you gentlemen I worked on toy aircraft Macchi's & PC-9/A trainers at 2FTS Pearce. Last 8 years in the Mushroom factory at Williamtown (481 AVMF). I have no regrets....ok maybe one..that I didn't serve a overseas deployment.

Well done Hans.... yeah... quite right.... Cat2B included all " ground crew " mustering....except...Avionics and Radios... which was Cat1a.
I had all trades offered to me...Engines, Airframes, Electrical, Instruments, Armorer..... chose Engines because I was a bit behind in my " Mathematics ".....I was more mechanically minded.

As far as your so called " toy " planes go.....Macchi's ( based at Sale in my time ) ....they were all important as the others.

As far as Deployment went.....Had a 3 week trip to Hickam Airforce Base in 1975 on a RIMPAC Exercise ( Hawaiian Islands )
A trip to Butterworth in Malaya for 2 weeks .. and the usual trips to Darwin for the Kangaroo Exercises.......

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #29 28-01-2011, 10:31 PM

So many changes in the Airforce now (no longer RAAF...thankyou white ant republicans). 1RTU moved from Edinburgh to WAGGA. OTS moved from Point Cook to East Sale. Only Avionics & Mechanical trades exist although they have re-establish the Gunnie trade as a stand alone trade. There are more civilian contracts for a bulk of the deeper level maintenance on all aircraft platforms...kind of sad really for those of us whom remember the times when we were the RAAF and were self sufficient. Oh..the A1, A2, A3 ect service numbers have been replaced by a PMKey's number.

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #30 28-01-2011, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

So many changes in the Airforce now (no longer RAAF...thankyou white ant republicans). 1RTU moved from Edinburgh to WAGGA. OTS moved from Point Cook to East Sale. Only Avionics & Mechanical trades exist although they have re-establish the Gunnie trade as a stand alone trade. There are more civilian contracts for a bulk of the deeper level maintenance on all aircraft platforms...kind of sad really for those of us whom remember the times when we were the RAAF and were self sufficient. Oh..the A1, A2, A3 ect service numbers have been replaced by a PMKey's number.

GEEEEEES....!!! Things have changed....didn't know about the PMKey's....What the heck are they.
As far as civilian contractors go....I know they employ Private Security Firms to guard the entrances to Airbases now .....we used to do that in the 70's on a 3 month rotational squadron roster.
I had heard about OTS ( Officer Training School ) moving to East Sale.
But you say it is no longer RAAF.... Just Airforce now.....????

Sounds like a " sneaky " way of getting rid of the Queen or the Monarchy from any " ties " with the Australian Defence Forces.
Rumblings of the REPUBLICAN Movement I'd reckon.

Remember it was RAAF... ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE.
I have also heard that the WRAAF'S ( WOMENS ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE ) is no longer.

Well ... we had the best time Hans ... maybe not now though...!!

Hans Tucker (Hans) · #31 28-01-2011, 11:12 PM

Yes civilian firms now man the gates and entrances to the bases so no more guard duty....not a bad thing as I always got the grave yard shift.

PMKeys replaced the traditional service numbers and is an electronic way to link a member to his online service record..mines was 8206453.

Contractors now also control the major servicing of aircraft frames, engines and avionics. Uniform personnel basically handle the Flight Line stuff. Technical Training whilst now civilian recognised falls below how we were trained.

RAAF disappeared from our uniforms 10-15 years ago..replaced by AIRFORCE. WRAAF's were gone before I joined in 1987.

1FTS no longer exists as all Pilot induction training is done up in Tamworth by civilians. 2FTS is completely run by a civilian company, no uniformed members except the trainee pilots.

Yes, it has all changed and part of the reason why I discharged.

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #32 28-01-2011, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans Tucker

Yes civilian firms now man the gates and entrances to the bases so no more guard duty....not a bad thing as I always got the grave yard shift.

PMKeys replaced the traditional service numbers and is an electronic way to link a member to his online service record..mines was 8206453.

Contractors now also control the major servicing of aircraft frames, engines and avionics. Uniform personnel basically handle the Flight Line stuff. Technical Training whilst now civilian recognised falls below how we were trained.

RAAF disappeared from our uniforms 10-15 years ago..replaced by AIRFORCE. WRAAF's were gone before I joined in 1987.

1FTS no longer exists as all Pilot induction training is done up in Tamworth by civilians. 2FTS is completely run by a civilian company, no uniformed members except the trainee pilots.

Yes, it has all changed and part of the reason why I discharged.

Hans....What a mess it all seems to be now ..... they have become " lazy " as far as training goes .... what's the point of even teaching anyone when they end up on the " flight line " doing basic duties....how boring.... not to mention other changes...It was a " REAL " job in our day and you had to study and know your trade..!!

Pufffff..!! If that's how it is .....

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #33 29-01-2011, 01:52 AM

I'm a Navy guy myself, but they taught us a lot about how to shoot down aeroplanes (no offence!).
I assume were referring to Indonesian planes when discussing the Flankers.
Although it's is more manouverable than its predecessors, the Flanker is not particularly so at high-speed. I've seen its shenanigans at Farnborough and Paris - the Cobra manouver and such - and as one pilot pointed out to me: "Impressive. But why would you WANT to do that ?"
It also has the radar signature of a football pitch and the thermal imprint of a volcano. Compared to any post-2000 American fighter, its radar and stealth suite is medieval and they're always crashing.
The F111 or any other fighter, would just zoom-in at high speed, fire a stand-off missile, and head home for tea.
Any they missed could be picked-off by Queenslanders with night-sights and .338s.

renormalised (Carl) · #34 29-01-2011, 02:05 AM

True Peter, but you don't dogfight at mach 2. Most dogfights occur down around 300-600 mph and it's down there the vector thrust and huge engines of the Flanker will tell. It's who has the most energy and height after all that turning and dodging that wins. Plus, the skill levels of the pilots and luck on the day.

Barrykgerdes · #35 29-01-2011, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

Hi there A126047 ...... This is A122940 ..... I to have never forgotten that number .....

Hi A122940 and A126047 This is A214061

Yes You never forget that number.

I later had another when I was in the CMF 2/84032

Barry

Brundah1 (David) · #36 29-01-2011, 09:31 AM

I was in my last year at school when Frazer announced the purchase of the then named TFX (aka Trouble and Fuss Extraordinary).

So my career was almost a decade shorter than the life of our most wonderful and potent weapon system.

I'm no Raafie, but I did "serve" 40 years with QF our "reserve airforce", so quite often experienced the up close and personal rush of a Pig.

I watched a F111 do a touch & go whilst stationed at Avalon in the early 1970s. The driver kept the burners on in a near vertical climb, sweeping the wings back and disappearing up into a blue sky.

Those who attended the official opening of Expo 88 will remember two F111s do an opposite loop dump n burn from 500ft along the Brisbane river.

Those two events still give me goose bumps.

Being such a highly effective piece of old technology, perhaps it outlived the manufacturing facilities ability to support its operation. One exception to this rule seems to be the B52 (a weapons system close to 60 years old with no firm end in sight!)

There was a Ch 2 program a few years back about the merits of the F111 and the difficulty Australia faced in acquiring an effective strike replacement. Unless our next submarines are equipped with cruise missiles I can't see us having the deterrent strike capability of the F111.

Watched the last dump and burn over Brisbane, with a lump in my throat.

For those so inclined Aero published a great read mid last year "F111" $14.95

I do hope we see a few of these birds properly preserved indoors, so our grandchildren can know the story of when the RAAF "spoke softly and carried a big stick".

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #37 29-01-2011, 12:18 PM

Just a couple of more of the " Pig "

FlashDrive (Poppy) · #38 29-01-2011, 12:35 PM

Poetry in motion ....

Analog6 (Odille) · #39 29-01-2011, 04:22 PM

Wonderful images - just love 'em! One year they did a dump and burn at an ANZAC day evening concert at the War Memorial in Canberra. We saw them sneaking up Anzac Pde but they were totally silent - UNTIL! I reckon a few folk had to change their duds. And there was low cloud and the flaming plane disappeared into it and the whole sky went red - it was wonderful and to cap it off a lone piper on the walls then started up and that was really spine chilling. I wish they'd kept a couple for displays, there is nothing to touch them.