Spoken to like a dog!!

[Rodders]

Today on one of my all to rare visits to RAF Coningsby ,an incident happened which both upset and angered me and my companion.We had parked our car near Crash gate No2 about 10 feet away from the crash gate ,making sure that the car did not obstruct the exit ,and at about noon a a blue RAF Fiesta pull to the other side of the fence and a Female RAF person got out and shout to us saying "You`re not supposed to park there ,there is a sign up ,NOW MOVE IT!".She then got back into the car and made a hasty retreat towards the Control caravan.We moved our car several feet away from the gate and had no further bother from anyone.
I have come into contact with RAF personnel on several occasions during spotting visits ,and have always found them to be polite and friendly,this "Lady" is the exception,she did not know the words please and thank you and needs to be taught some manners.In fact my mate ,who is ex RAF has suggested that we both write a letter of complaint to the Station Commander.

Thanks for listening to my Rant.

Phil the mere civilian taxpayer

[jakdaw]

So you were parked where you shouldn't have been were asked to move you moved and it was all sorted. In your opinion she was rude, presumabley she could easily talk on social media about a spotter who was parked too close to an emergency gate, on a day, when if not for the skills of one of her RAF collegues, that gate may have been needed. Maybe the RAF could put double yellows all round the base and corale all the spotters to the "taxpayer provided " spotters area would save any parking disputes elsewhere round the field.

[Vulcanone]

Something to consider when parking near these is what they are designed for.

On more than one occasion at several RAF airshows I have attended. When the time came to let Joe public in they often discovered they had the wrong key, or none were found at all.

And I can't say that they pop over and open them very often either

As for using them, well when the 29 Squadron Phantom FGR.2 XV436 ran off the runway at the, then 26 end. And through the fence into the field opposite the landing lights at night on 5th March 1980..... The fire crews didn't hang around for the gate keys. Even though one of the trucks ended up in the ditch

Just a thought

[Trenchard]

As for using them, well when the 29 Squadron Phantom FGR.2 XV436 ran off the runway at the, then 26 end. And through the fence into the field opposite the landing lights at night on 5th March 1980..... The fire crews didn't hang around for the gate keys.

Correct because the gate we went through didn't have a key

[rh226]

And that's why they are called "crash" gates.

[Vulcanone]

Trenchard

Did you attend poor old 436?

Tim

[Nighthawke]

More out of curiosity, did you note the rank of said female? Without meaning this to appear sexist, some traditionally could be really fiery to say the least. I recall as a young ATC Cadet after working all day at Coltishalls 1980 airshow standing as a squad with our Warrant Officer. He had his back to a WRAF officer and WRAF NCO passing some distance away. Female NCO comes over furiously demanding why no salute was given to the officer. Having "politely" informed her that he didn't have eyes in the back of his bleedin' head, she stormed off at which point we were all brought smartly to attention and he threw a sharp" officer passing..." order and a crisp but probably sarcastic salute! Scary woman to a youngster but later when i got my own W/O rank I realised that you just have to give as good as you get sometimes - providing you're in the right of course, otherwise just take it on the chin. I guess if you not current or ex military then it may seem more harsh.

[PR9]

Last year I got accused of cutting holes in the fence at crash gate 4 by an un-uniformed jobsworth driving on the base in a white Citreon Belingo van.

There were plenty of other spotters who told him where to go but it left me fuming as I would never do such a thing and have been visiting over 20 years with no hassle from base staff before.

[Agent K]

Suspect she probably said ""YOU'RE not supposed to park there...."

[romeo bravo]

Picture the situation, a Typhoon comes in with brake failure, runs off the end of the runway, through the fence, across the road and bursts into flames.

Driver parked near crash gate, previously asked to move by service personnel but hasn't becuase doesn't like the way they have been spoken too.

Fire engines goes straight through gate taking gate off its hinges, gate flies, smashes into car. Car driver a bit miffed and tries to claim on insurance, only to find out not insured because of refusing to move away from a danger area after being asked by authorised person.

Outcome, driver loses out on insurance and places comments all over social media about their experience, not only of the flying gate, insurance but of attitude of person.

Who is at fault?? The driver for parking in a place where they had been told not to or the service personnel because their attitude was not nice.

[storm1]

Come on troops lest calm down, I don't think it's what was said but how it was said, a bit of politeness wouldn't have gone a miss, blimey we had to be polite to people when we were on ops even if the people we dealt with were not nice people.

[Trenchard]

Did you attend poor old 436?

[sherriff]

Coningsby stops just short of encouraging viewers.....in my experience it is very much one of the friendliest RAF stations, considering it's front-line.
Brize can be a different story.....although mostly friendly, viewers are sometimes asked to move on by security personnel when
they are called to 'check out' people by the perimeter. That said, it's an airport as well as an RAF base, so different rules may apply.
I think it's prudent not to park near crash gates or on the approach lanes, for obvious reasons. If there is an off-base incident and
the Crash-Combine come barreling through the gate in their big red beasts, they ain't going to gently manoeuvre around cars or ask them to move.....nuff said.
It's sad that the young lass had no manners and I sympathise with the chap who's upset.....but it's not the norm. We are lucky that we are tolerated, wth our photography and scanners......other places would give one more than a bad attitude.
Just MHO, chaps. Happy viewing and good light and reception !

[Rodders]

I am complaining about the way the message was delivered ,NOT about the message itself .As for rank of this person,I didn`t have chance to see it ,but my guess is that she was an Obersturmbahnfurhrer !!!

Phil

[Andy_99]

I guess that yesterday they could have been a bit less understanding than normal what with Thumper's issues.

Yes maybe she was in the wrong but, maybe we don't know the full picture, maybe somebody else had parked & obstructed the gate shortly before the OP arrived hence tempers being somewhat frayed.

[Richard B]

Think you was asked politely once by the MOD Plod, via a nice sign asking not to park and worded in a polite way.
so if you cannot take the polite message 1st time, then 2nd time politeness will be ignored as was the sign.

You have been told off, a short sharp shock that as by all accounts worked, guess it will stick with you next time.

[Phoon]

As far as I am aware the MOD /RAF have no legal jurisdiction outside of the 'wire'. They can ask you to move but you are quite within your rights if you refuse (stupidly) to do so. The usual line is they will call the civilian police if they are unhappy with such a situation. I personally have never had a problem at CBY, but then I always try to be considerate where I park and wander to. The Only place I have encountered a problem was Wittering a few years ago where we were asked to move away from the fence despite being on a public footpath and obstructing no one. We politely and firmly refused, The RAF lady informed us the civilian police had been called, however they still hadn't shown up some 6 hours later.............

[Dave1316]

I am complaining about the way the message was delivered ,NOT about the message itself .As for rank of this person,I didn`t have chance to see it ,but my guess is that she was an Obersturmbahnfurhrer !!!

Phil

As an Obersturmbannfurher had the equivalent rank of a Lieutenant Colonel, I doubt she was that

My guess is she was RAF Police and held the Rank of Corporal. However, unless you were scaling the fence she could have handled it a lot better and been polite.

I've never had any problems with any staff at Coningsby, but if she had spoken to me like that, I would probably have replied in kind

[AndrewBarclay]

http://www.inbrief.co.uk/media-law/aggr ... espass.htm

If ever military authorities get fed up with spotters/photographers/enthusiasts.

[fireman12]

Its a pity that this lady isnt on duty at the end of each runway clearing the idiots off the fence and moving the parked cars on the road. The MPGS wont move people from this position as they say its outside the perimeter fence. I cannot tell you how many fools sit,climb even lay down at these areas just to get a photo that will cost one of them their life oneday, all of you just think what your doing before you act or park up.