New to FC or not so new? Introduce yourself here.

[GOOSE]

75 new members in the last week, 181 new members since the turn of the New Year.

You are all so very welcome.

Please feel free to enhance your enjoyment of the Forum by getting involved where you can.

[Mike]

Welcome Gareth,nice to have you aboard mate.

p.s. Any free passes ?

[TS010]

Been on here for a while now, but a little bit of background: -

Joined the RAF in 1983 as an Airframe ,after spending my school years staring out of the window watching the RAF and many NATO countries aircraft low flying around our area.
First posting was Binbrook, followed by two stints at Valley and finally finishing up at St Athan.
Forced out of the mob by the 'options for change' cuts in 1995, and am now a condition monitoring engineer working at a Chocolate manufacturing company (recently bought out by our colonial cousins).

[Jinks]

Hi all,
Im Dave. Vehicle technician by day,and scanner mad by night! As a kid was really into aviation(generally because of Binbrook and the Lightnings). Became a teenager,Binbrook closed and other things took me away from aviation. Then a couple of years ago i decided to by a scanner,discovered fighter control and that was it! Hooked
Many thanks to all involved on this site,for your time,info and help. Almost everything i have learnt over the past couple of years has been from here.

Dave

[BANDIT]

Hi all I suppose better late then never
Names Richie I live on the south-east coast of Ireland in co.waterford
mill air monitoring nut.have been on forum since feb 2010
set up I use yaesu ft-840 hf,uniden 785xlt,uniden 3500xlt,airnav radarbox,nasa marine ais
antennas are homemade caroliner windom,and uhf antennas plus homemade di-poles
interests are mill air monitoring ,marine, hf.

BANDIT

[Fantom1971]

Hi I'm Richard,

I have been a member a few weeks but just realised I hadn't introduced myself

I work in IT and live Near Gloucester, I was really interested in aviation as a child but sort of drifted away for a number of years, but re-found my passion via photography which I started doing a couple of years ago. I'm not that good but really keen to learn more.

Ayway I look forward to being a active member


Cheers

Richard

[Flyingmonster]

Welcome!

[upnorth]

Hi, I'm Kevan.

I'm a Canadian expat who's been calling the Czech Republic home since 2004.

I don't get a lot of time to do actual aircraft spotting, but I get out to museums and airshows when I am able to.

The closest military airport to me is Namest nad Oslavou, which is a bit west of Brno. It's home to a unit of L-39Z Albatros aircraft that the Czech air force uses for weapons delivery training. More recently, it has become the target of upgrades and expansion and also become home to the Czech AF's Mil Mi-24/35 "Hind" helicopter fleet.

I really have to find out when the next open day at Namest is, I haven't been out there in a few years.

Anyway, thanks for making me feel welcome here and the kind responses to the photos I've posted this weekend.

Here's a couple of pics taken in the last year so you have a face to go with the name:

[GOOSE]

Welcome all Feel free to ask anything.

[Ben Montgomery]

Hi

I'm a student in Sheffield, with an interesting anything that moves really. I try to get out with camera to places, but rely on public transport up here, and there isn't much up here so to speak. Don't know an awful lot about aircraft, always had an interest in them, but only seriously got going a few years back, so sorry if I ask any stupid questions

Great to have another student on board - up the revolution!

Don't worry about asking seemingly stupid question, we all do it!

[Mayfly]

Hi I'm Pam, I'm ex RAF, and married to an ex-display pilot so one way or another have spent many hours on airfields and at airshows. I have recently got into photography but I'm not very good at it!

[GOOSE]

Welcome to Nathan and to Mayfly. And also a thank you to Mayfly for her kind words to me recently.

[Flyingmonster]

Indeed welcome one and all!!

[Mike]

Welcome to FC Connor.

[Pune]

Hi,
It's just about 12 months since I joined this forum so I should really apologise for not introducing myself earlier.
I was a Firefighter for 25 years, got pensioned off 11 years ago after an injury at an incident, nothing life threatening but I think today I would have been put behind a desk...
I have been interested in military aircraft for many years and like a lot of others photography has played a big part, I'm not too good I don't think but, but I have entered the monthly competition a couple of times, and I did get a second a few months ago, I was unbelievably chuffed.
I started getting interested in military aviation as RAF Gaydon was not far away from my home and we would regularly see aircraft over flying the area and of course they had some cracking airshows, we also had RAF Wellsbourne, Atherstone, Long Marston literally on our doorstep, my dad helped dig up a Lancaster I think with a local aviation archeaology group, many years ago now.
The spotting thing grew after a visit to RAF Fairford with the Fire Service, we got to use the Oshkosh eight wheeled, two engined fire truck in anger on a mock up tanker fire, unbelievable peice of kit (largest fire truck in the world apparently), we also had a look around a KC135 and I was hooked, we had some woderful times there, firemens picnic's, good days; we also had a rather superb trip to Upper Heyford and a day with F.111's, can't beat that American hospitality..
My favourite airshows however have to be the Mildenhall Air Fetes, fantastic events, never be surpassed I don't think even by RIAT.
I think I may be a little unusual as my wife is also a spotter, we have some great times out together, she likes the C5 Galaxy, C17, C130 and C135's; our nearest military field is Brize but that is getting very awkward to view at nowadays, we do go down to Mildenhall for a day or two now and again, we've had some good days there, especially having found John's Field, excellent place, last year we had the privelige of boarding a C5 just back from Iraq, guided tour by the crew, that will take some beating, we also take in Lakenheath.
We also go over to Coningsby, Waddington when we can, but it's a long way, usually worth it though, we are just getting into radio scanning, now that is a confusing place............
Thanks for reading, I seem to have gone on a tad.
Cheers
Pune

[Duane Hewitt]

Just come across this topic and had a full read despite it being a sticky at the top.

I'm Duane, 23 from Carlisle, Cumbria. Currently waiting for 2 more months here at home before I move on to Pirbright for Army basic training in May. After that I'll be off to Middle Wallop for AAC training as a groundcrew specialist, but looking to move up to aircrew as the years pass as I was trying for WSOp with the RAF. Formerly a member of the ATC, I went on camps to Akrotiri, Valley and Aldergrove, with personally arranged visits to Kinloss, Leuchars, Lossie, Boulmer and St Mawgan, getting flights in a Nimrod and Sea King along the way. At present the majority of my limited aviation photography is done at Carlisle Airport or Spadeadam. Seem to have given up on the Lakes with its ever decreasing traffic whenever I appear.

[tracer010]

Hi to All ,
My Name is Mike I finally got round to rejoining and introducing myself to one of the premier avaition forums on the net.
Just a little about myself..... I am a former RAF Regiment gunner with 12 1/2 years under my my belt,Based mainly in Germany at RAF Laarbruch with tours in Northern Ireland /Gulf 1991 And Bosnia for UNPROFOR to round it off.
I currently am a fuel operations control supervisor at Heathrow overseeing the whole input to depot and export of fuel to the aircraft at the airport ....upto and sometimes more than 25km3 perday.

My usual haunt, as those that already have met me know is Salisbury Plain...an area I have extensive Knowlege and experiance (20 years) of locations and restrictions that must be applied when visiting on photo expeditions, so hopefully I can contribute in some small way to the forum (Photos, info, etc).

To round off I'll just say again hello to all those who already know me and i look foward to meeting fellow FC'ers on the ground at avaition hot spots.

Mike.

[pikey01]

BTW I haven't seen Pikey01 there for some time - how are you Graham?

Hi Ian, only just seen this! Im good thanks, but im more of a 08 man these days, less hassle....well for now anyway

[MP2484]

HI Guys,

Just joined, loving this website. Loads of information really interesting. Makes the hobby much more interesting. Started lurking then realised that you got much more if you signed up so here I am. The ATC threads are great.

Brilliant website!!!

Cheers
Mike

[Vorbis]

Hi everyone,
I'm Simon, lurked for a while, so I thought I'd better introduce myself! Nice community you have here and I'm looking forward to being part of it!

Cheers!