Top Guns Inside The RAF

[teeonefixer]

The aircraft will be taxiing to a designated arming/check area. I believe that it is know as Combat Arming? During Libya operations you would regularly see the Typhoons taxiing with the remove before flight pin/tags to the final check area before take-off.

Thanks for that, sounds logical. I can't remember it happening at Valley (19Sqn T'1's) when I was based there

[Phixer74]

Having worked on Lightning and Phantom QRA/Battleflight they were fully armed with all the safety pins out but they had a micro switch that stopped the armament firing we have to be airborne fairly quickly. My memories are faded but that is what I remember, Hawks normally just had guns or practice bombs so they were fully armed on the apron having worked on that too, can't remember what happened with aircraft with live bombs loaded. The Americans used arming areas and when we operated from their bases we used arming areas too, but regulations might have changed now.

Many thanks

Nigel

[T_J]

The aircraft will be taxiing to a designated arming/check area. I believe that it is know as Combat Arming? During Libya operations you would regularly see the Typhoons taxiing with the remove before flight pin/tags to the final check area before take-off.

Thanks for that, sounds logical. I can't remember it happening at Valley (19Sqn T'1's) when I was based there

No problem. I always remember the footage from operations over Libya with the Typhoons taxiing with the pins/tags.

"RAF strike aircraft on operations over Libya"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3yrpT6Joeo

[geoffs]

I suppose its quite good its on at all – Its some planes on the telly but if it is aimed at a very middle of the road interest/engagement level its quite blooming boring. I doubt its a great recruitment tool for the RAF as everything comes across as well, plodding. Its got that tendency to make everything sound like its on the edge of catastrophe, drum rolls, tense build up score and then.... there's a broken slat....mmmm ok. Russians heading for NATO airspace....they just turn a bit, carry on in a strait line and disappear. Clandestine Russian spy ship off UK waters....yeh my observers book could have identified it. The photography is quite tedious – if I see another solitary Typhoon in the circuit from some distance. There's much more innovative great footage, and stills on fighter control.com than at Channel 4. Its not Jerry Bruckheimer is it.
I guess they're a bit limited on what they can really show and Its probably a fair representation of RAF life but being a postman looks more exciting – no offence to posties, or the RAF.

[Blackcat1]

They’re all actors

[ranger one one]

I think its called Television and leave it at that.........

[Blackcat1]

Watching tonight’s episode & pilot Moz says he’s a junior pilot on Typhoon? He looks older than I do

[Blackcat1]

Last episode tonight & quite an interesting series fair play

[Unknown74]

Would love to see this be released on DVD? Really enjoyed it, I don’t get all this actors stuff it’s a documentary.

[22A]

The way it ended suggested more to come, a second series perhaps? If so, perhaps we may see the work of the civilians who work on base.

[Unknown74]

Would love a second series. That would be awesome if it happens .

[tm74sqn]

Third series to cover the aviation enthusiasts just outside the base?

[atech]

Good to see that the most important piece of kit on an MPA is still the galley. Chicken wraps and not meat pies though

Happy days

Atech

[PA200]

Having worked on Lightning and Phantom QRA/Battleflight they were fully armed with all the safety pins out but they had a micro switch that stopped the armament firing we have to be airborne fairly quickly. My memories are faded but that is what I remember, Hawks normally just had guns or practice bombs so they were fully armed on the apron having worked on that too, can't remember what happened with aircraft with live bombs loaded. The Americans used arming areas and when we operated from their bases we used arming areas too, but regulations might have changed now.

Many thanks

Nigel

On Tornado we pulled the ground locks and pins on the CBLS in the HAS, the safety pin on the BOZ pod (Flares) was pulled when the jet had taxied outside as were any pins for 1000lb bombs live or inert. We did this as normal when we went to Red Flag, the USAF got the hump however when they realised the jet was taxying the 2 miles to the runway with live flares and the pin pulled! After that the plumbers had to go down to the EOR and pull the pins there. When they were dropping live stuff the jets went over to the other side and the LOLA and were parked 60m apart.
In the gulf I think the pins were pulled at the EOR, as the jets always flew live armed.

[C24]

Early in the series it commented that the QRA sorties were mixed aircraft, much banter between uk and German aircrew/aircraft.

In the last episode, showing Moz with visor down and the stb wing upper surface with a German cross; a later shot was of the port wing and a much clearer cross. In the background was a non-English voice.

Anyone else pick this up?

As already stated, a PR program/programme worth watching if it’s raining or old and grumpy

[daggerfan]

Third series to cover the aviation enthusiasts just outside the base?

One series is quite enough! I recorded the first episode and found myself hitting the fast-forward button rather a lot. A bit cringeworthy. It obviously appealed to some folk, but not to me, and I know I'm not alone in the Lossie area in having that opinion.

[GVLCN]

It was a pretty decent series, shame it’s over. Although I only picked up on the errors after spotters moaning about it, one thing I didn’t know is that the Germans use a striker helmet? I though theirs was different to ours?

[C24]

Probably the head sizes are different.

[raptor9]

Afraid I agree with Daggerfan. Found it rather boring to be honest. Can't really explain why. There have been better series in the past. Maybe they tried to over dramatize it a bit too much.

[Unknown74]

Everybody to themselves I suppose, different people have their own opinion some like it some don't sort of thing, I thought it was a very informative documentary with real life happenings and I enjoyed it no matter what anyone else thinks.