An unusual shot

I haven't seen another picture like this, it was made whilst the Bucc was trialling the Sea Eagle. As you can see it is actually carrying four of them, and to my knowledge other aircraft only ever carried two. It was quite capable of carrying these a long way so even today it would have been a formidable weapon platform in the face of a maritime enemy.

A trip to Maple flag

This one is from a while ago, I can't remember if i did this trip to Maple Flag with 216, or with 208, anyone remember?

He returns

A returning aircraft usually attracts a few snags to deal with, but a returning major servicing airtest is something else. You could be stood there some time at the crew desk, whilst the test pilot rattles off an hours worth of things he found wrong. Still at least he was in one piece to make the report....

A successful air test

This one is actually at St Athans, the aircraft were towed out to the pan you see in the picture, made ready and then air tested by the resident test pilot, i have forgotten his name but he loved his job and flew both Buccs and Phantoms. usually with a fly past, only on the way back though as something might be adrift in an aircraft that has just had a major service. the phrase "millions of rivets flying in close formation" comes to mind. there were some mishaps, a fire destroyed one Bucc on a day like this because of a piece of blue towelling in a duct in the Avionics bay. not this one though.

Towing out was often done by several people, it was supposed to be done by a tractor driver, brakeman, wingmen and IC. this one had several so quite keen really.  First thing in the morning, it usually consisted of the tractor driver and the brakeman. And if we were late the speed we went at increased.

If it meant going down to the detuners, that was long walk so everyone ended up on the back of the tractor.

Picture from the Major servicing team

The unsung part of operations at Honington was the aircraft that went off for Major servicing, this was done at St Athan and sometimes we would have a get together and take a picture, here is one from early 1980.
Some of the peole in the team had worked there for 12 years when i got there, some went as far back as the Vulcun majors in the 60's.Perhaps you can spot somone...

What were the aircraft on 216 Squadron?

I do believe this one was one of them, along with XV865, 880, 885, xx 900 or 901, and XZ 430 or 431.

Anyone remember all of them?

Where did they all go

Well I must confess to not having all the numbers of the aircraft we had during 1979 because i didn't write them down, it seemd a bit like trainspotting but here is a picture and a story of a few that made it into preservation in 1994. A few ring a bell and i do beleive one of these was in the hangar back in 1979, before they all did when they were grounded of course.

You might recall that in July 1979 there was a families day and there was a group photo as shown here, there were quite a few otrhers, perhaps you have them somewhere if so please let me know and I'll include them.
 the air displays were fairly frentic, particularly the practises. There was one time when they tried a four ship over the hangars approach and converge in front, there wasn't a lot of room when they passed over and by the way they did evasive manouvers i don't beleive it worked out at all as planned.

216 Squadron 1979

Working in the hangars at Honington back then comprised of packing the aircraft into the hangars like sardines, plus we were sharing it with the Navy Buccs. Meant we were having an interesting time keeping enough space to work on everything. the bucc was virual;ly the only aircraft they could have done this with because everything folded up nicely.

Happy memories

There would be many a time when this picture would have been one of the first things we saw in the morning. usually preceded with towing them out on to the pan. A seemingly endless procession of aircraft all being lined up for the days flying, followed by another procession of power sets and paloustes.

The bin reminds me that they didn't all leak but obviously this one did.

216 Squadron

Hi there

hope some of you from 216 are still out there.