A Phantom pilot remembers

[Ex-Bay]

The FGR2 was, according to my correspondent, a Very Nice Aeroplane. Especially when it was 'clean'.
Picture the scene; a nice FGR2 has to fly to another airfield some few miles away. No external tanks needed, no weapons, either, for it's due some sort of service (Holme-on-Spalding Moor?). In order that the pilot burn off some fuel, he arranges permission to do a re-heat climb, and generally have a bit of fun whilst he's up there. He duly took off and confirmed OK for his climb.

ATC; Cleared for reheat climb.
There's a pause, then : Call when passing ten thousand feet, please.
Anonther, shorter, pause then:
Pilot, Level at Forty thousand. . . . .

There was a stunned silence......

 

[Goatherdingsplitter]

Went up from Coningsby to Finningley to take a look at a 29 Sqn toom with a reported birdstrike - nothing wrong so quick turnround, drag chute and saw it off. Walked over to the nearby hangar to let the line at Coningsby know it was airborne. Answer was "you took your fookin' time letting us know, it's just landed"! So they obviously wanted to get back quickly for the beer call that I had been volunteered to miss the start of (must have been the fastest mini van in the world too, cos we made it back in time to get a few beers).DT_Xtremez_28:

 

[Lamptramp]

The FGR2 was, according to my correspondent, a Very Nice Aeroplane. Especially when it was 'clean'.
Picture the scene; a nice FGR2 has to fly to another airfield some few miles away. No external tanks needed, no weapons, either, for it's due some sort of service (Holme-on-Spalding Moor?). In order that the pilot burn off some fuel, he arranges permission to do a re-heat climb, and generally have a bit of fun whilst he's up there. He duly took off and confirmed OK for his climb.

ATC; Cleared for reheat climb.
There's a pause, then : Call when passing ten thousand feet, please.
Anonther, shorter, pause then:
Pilot, Level at Forty thousand. . . . .

There was a stunned silence......

Do you have the book details please?

 

[Ex-Bay]

Do you have the book details please?

Sorry, the book's not yet written. I was told it by the pilot himself (now something to do with the ATC). Of course, he told the story far better than I. . . .

 

[SepticCalling]

Do you have the book details please?

Have you read " F4 PHANTOM, A Pilot`s Story", published by Cassell Ltd? Bloke who wrote it was with 43, then the OCU and then 92. A superb Cold War Story, the best bits are his descritions of PUs in RAFG!

 

[Lamptramp]

Have you read " F4 PHANTOM, A Pilot`s Story", published by Cassell Ltd? Bloke who wrote it was with 43, then the OCU and then 92. A superb Cold War Story, the best bits are his descritions of PUs in RAFG!

No I haven't do you know the name of the author please?

 

[SepticCalling]

No I haven't do you know the name of the author please?

Yessir, the author is Robert Prest. The way he writes about the toom it sounds like the best aircraft ever!

 

[SepticCalling]

Yessir, the author is Robert Prest. The way he writes about the toom it sounds like the best aircraft ever!

Mind you, if you are not a goat purest, there are some superb anecdotes on pprune under F4 Phantom in the military aircrew section!

 

[gemarriott]

Mind you, if you are not a goat purest, there are some superb anecdotes on pprune under F4 Phantom in the military aircrew section!

there is also a great dealof sh1t thereDT_Xtremez_14:

 

[SepticCalling]

there is also a great dealof sh1t thereDT_Xtremez_14:

Spoken with the verve and pragmatism only apparent in our august plumbers.

 

[Ex-Bay]

I was talking one day to a former RAF pilot. During the chat, he reckoned he'd flown Lightnings, Phantoms and Tonkas. I asked which one he preferred.
"They's all got their various good and bad points, but the Lightning was pure FUN"

 

[extrembler]

robert prest

robert prest

Robert Prest left the RAF and became a fulltime writer of thrillers with a strong aviation theme.