Tales from the RAF
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:57 pmSee if you like them, I have a few.
A Canberra is ready for a navex and I am out front controlling things. I point to the port engine, the pilot thumbs up, there a bang and the turbo starter belched clouds of black smoke and No 1 engine settled to idle. I pointed to the starboard engine and all hell let loose. The turbo starter exploded, red hot turbine blades went through the fuselage wall into number one tank and kerosene poured out over the still burning cartridge and the whole lot went up. The aircrew were out in ten seconds flat and they bought their parachutes, they had to, they would have been charged for them if they were lost! A phone call to the fire section, had their brand new Rolls Royce fire engine trundling round the peri track toot sweet. It screeched to a halt a the inferno and an erk in gents natty asbestos suit and a big helmet jumped down and pointed a huge pipe at the fire and shouted . "Send it froo". Noffink came 'froo'. They'd been so busy polishinf their new toy, they hadn't filled it with foam! We all stood in a big circle and carried on warming our hands, it was January! Then there was a brilliat flash as the cockpit coaming and wheel hubs, which are magnesium alloy, went up. Some onw muttered something about ejector seats, so we all backed of a few more yards and sure enough, ther was a triple bang and three steel tubes shot a few hundred feet inti the air. Next morning there was a perfect silhouette of a Camberra burnt into the tarmac and a few days later there were fresh faces at the fire section.
Ken, want any more?
A Canberra is ready for a navex and I am out front controlling things. I point to the port engine, the pilot thumbs up, there a bang and the turbo starter belched clouds of black smoke and No 1 engine settled to idle. I pointed to the starboard engine and all hell let loose. The turbo starter exploded, red hot turbine blades went through the fuselage wall into number one tank and kerosene poured out over the still burning cartridge and the whole lot went up. The aircrew were out in ten seconds flat and they bought their parachutes, they had to, they would have been charged for them if they were lost! A phone call to the fire section, had their brand new Rolls Royce fire engine trundling round the peri track toot sweet. It screeched to a halt a the inferno and an erk in gents natty asbestos suit and a big helmet jumped down and pointed a huge pipe at the fire and shouted . "Send it froo". Noffink came 'froo'. They'd been so busy polishinf their new toy, they hadn't filled it with foam! We all stood in a big circle and carried on warming our hands, it was January! Then there was a brilliat flash as the cockpit coaming and wheel hubs, which are magnesium alloy, went up. Some onw muttered something about ejector seats, so we all backed of a few more yards and sure enough, ther was a triple bang and three steel tubes shot a few hundred feet inti the air. Next morning there was a perfect silhouette of a Camberra burnt into the tarmac and a few days later there were fresh faces at the fire section.
Ken, want any more?