FighterControl

In that video regarding farewell to Marham's Victor, we were informed the Tornado replacing it has been repainted by Serco.
Once in situ, is it down to each Station to keep their gate guards "presentable" or is there a central organisation / department?

That Victor had plenty of green mould visible. Earlier this week I passed Wyton and their Canberra's paint is very faded.
When Brampton was open their two guards, (a JP and a Gnat) were the responsibility of a SNCO MT Fitter and periodically he made sure they were clean.
At Coltishall I remember seeing the Spitfire being washed down, but not the Lightning. I might have missed that.

I think it's the responsibility of the Station, pretty sure it is with the Vulcan at Waddington.

They wash it every now and again, but I think the bits people can see (tail/nose) are much better looked after than the top of the wings, would guess they are very faded.

Mike

I heard somtime ago that due to everything being outsourced nowday. The forces have eg. no high pressure sprayer left. (All cleaning is outsourced) And so have to pay for any (extra) cleaning.
Believe this is the case in Netherlands not sure this is also the case in UK.

If they can clean a fleet of C130's or Typhoons, I'm sure now & again they could clean a station gate guard aircraft!!

Vulcan74 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 15, 2020 11:47 am

If they can clean a fleet of C130's or Typhoons, I'm sure now & again they could clean a station gate guard aircraft!!

Sounds an ideal job for “Jankers” instead of pan bashing or sweeping the MT yard.

Jankers disappeared years ago Dougie!

Last time I was involved with gate guards was at Leuchars, and it was complicated enough back then. I thought all gate guards were going to be replicas these days?

Vulcan 74

I suspect when you were in the mob, they had rather more than the 30,000 manpower (IIRC) they are reduced to now

That's true, but to let these Gate Guards go to rack & ruin is a such a shame! I can remember when the Victor was put there back in the 80's, maybe plastic replicas is the way forward as it is now in some cases.

I suspect when you were in the mob, they had rather more than the 30,000 manpower (IIRC) they are reduced to now

1985-2010, so around 90,000 I think when I joined, not sure about when I left. I suspect it's more than just a manpower issue though, probably more to do with regulations and contractorisation.

Yep Gamecock, I think that hits the nail on the head right there.... As for a replica Victor Cosford has one, Hendon has a nose section. I suspect the RAF has rather more pressing issues. Fighting for funding in the forthcoming SDSR me thinks

I flew in XH672 the Cosford Victor!!

Vulcanone wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 15, 2020 3:21 pm

Vulcan 74

I suspect when you were in the mob, they had rather more than the 30,000 manpower (IIRC) they are reduced to now

I think the bigger problem now would be the H&S work required. “Live” aircraft washes etc will all be under contract by people qualified to do them.

Hi
The difference between washing front line aircraft and gate guards is quite a lot. Front line aircraft are washed on designated wash pans that have filters in the drains to prevent chemicals reaching the local water treatment plants. If any is found the station gets billed by the water company. Gate guards by their very nature do not have this luxury and so you have to be very careful how any water is disposed of. The other thing to consider is that most aircraft wash teams are civilian contractors. The contract will be very specific as to what gets washed and most likely Gate guards are not included.

John

laughable really, I'm sure the cadets could do it on a weekend morning with a standard domestic car washing solutions & a jetwash in return for a tour of the hangars or lunch in the mess.
Not as if they're ever going to fly again so need specialist treatments.

Minors potentially working at height, same probem disposing of potentially environmentally unfriendly waste water with liability. Unfortunatley H+S with environmental issues is just a minefield for all. Not defending it but sometimes there are just too many hoops to jump through.

Andy_99 wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 15, 2020 8:57 pm

laughable really, I'm sure the cadets could do it on a weekend morning with a standard domestic car washing solutions & a jetwash in return for a tour of the hangars or lunch in the mess.
Not as if they're ever going to fly again so need specialist treatments.

In the 1980s, maybe. Not anymore. How would the do the wings? Who’s putting them in the harness? What if they fall off? In the Victor’s case about 1/5 of the aeroplane is within reach at ground level. Even getting fully grown amateur adults to do such a task has many hurdles.

This is the 21st century. You might want to come into it.

gamecock wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 15, 2020 3:01 pm

Jankers disappeared years ago Dougie!

Last time I was involved with gate guards was at Leuchars, and it was complicated enough back then. I thought all gate guards were going to be replicas these days?

When did that disappear? I left in 2011 and people on “Restrictions of Priveleges” (Jankers) were still attending defaulters parade at the Guardroom. Although the use of MAA (Minor Administrative Action) was becoming more prevalent.

As an aside one of the most petty offences I heard of was a baby mover who had to parade for three nights, they had been stuck on by one of the instructional staff for wearing ‘non-issue’ black socks!

Regarding Station Personnel cleaning aircraft - in the good old days those on 'Jankers' (Defaulters) often completed the task.

At RAF Shawbury one poor lad (well idiot to be precise) got charged twice in the same day.

In the morning he was Charged via the usual Form 252. In the evening (whilst washing Whirlwind XP351 on the gate) - he received a further charge of approximately 40,000 Volts courtesy of a Lightning Strike! He was seen curled-up on the floor and spinning around looking like a Poor Man's Break Dancer!

The Orderly Officer took pity on him and let him off the 2200 Uniform Inspection!

Arthur

SWO in the guardhouse at the Main Gate leaning out of the window, airman!! get your haircut and you comes the reply from airman on push bike peddling out of the camp!

Back to the actual topic of gate guardians, most of the units I was posted to, the gate guardians (if there was one) were nowhere near the Main Gate!

Laarbruch: outside SHQ (possibly a Jaguar)??
High Wycombe: I think had a Spitfire possibly at the Gate to No1 site.
Bruggen: again outside SHQ and again possibly a Jaguar??
St Athan: I don’t think had one.
Aldergrove: No GG
Henlow; Hawker Hunter visible from the main road next to the fence line.
Brize Norton: surprisingly no GG.