Sky Watch - RAF in action 1974

vulcan57

Fabulous program giving an insight into the 1970's RAF. Lots of classic aircraft, Phantoms, Jaguars, Buccaneers, Vulcans and Lightnings. I had forgotten how impressive those lightnings were and how they could just stand on their tails and go into orbit as can be seen a few minutes into the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2VflzHApZ28

BeardySi

Fantastic film, reminded me of my bedroom ceiling back in the day!

Nforce

Treadhead wrote: »

Fantastic film, reminded me of my bedroom ceiling back in the day!

Reminded me of my bedroom window! Even got to see the Gnat equipped Reds from it as they were transiting to a nearby airshow.:)

Pat Dunne

I actually remember watching that program live, suddenly I feel old

PapaQuebec

vulcan57 wrote: »

Fabulous program giving an insight into the 1970's RAF. Lots of classic aircraft, Phantoms, Jaguars, Buccaneers, Vulcans and Lightnings. I had forgotten how impressive those lightnings were and how they could just stand on their tails and go into orbit as can be seen a few minutes into the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2VflzHApZ28

I lived in Akrotiri, Cyprus for a year in the mid-60's and remember the Lightnings as if it were yesterday.

We'd be in the school playground kicking a ball around when suddenly there would be a flickering as several large shadows raced across the asphalt....

... then a enormous roar as four Lightnings - at rooftop height but already many 100's of meters past our position - launched themselves skyward over the Mediterranean. In less than 30 seconds they were almost invisible.

Then - joy of joys- the occasional "family Sunday" in the Officers' Mess. A chance to get up close and personal with the Canberras and Lightnings stationed at Akrotiri. While our parents enjoyed a pre-prandial G and T in the mess, we, mostly pre-teenaged boys did battle with a motley crew of aircraftsmen and RAF police who were tasked with keeping us from clambering all over millions of pounds worth of airplanes.

Happy days!

civdef

Very interesting to watch, the BBC commentator seemed very familiar with the subject, so looked it up - his bio explains why:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Baxter

AlekSmart

civdef wrote: »

Very interesting to watch, the BBC commentator seemed very familiar with the subject, so looked it up - his bio explains why:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Baxter

What an incredible life-story.....and then to end up described as a "Dinosaur" by by a man who'se name does'nt merit a wiki entry at all....

However,the best bit by far,for me is this....

He was educated at Ilford County High School, a grammar school for boys, from which he was expelled after being caught smoking. He did not go on to a college or university.

Raymond Baxter,you are the MAN !!

vulcan57

AlekSmart wrote: »

Raymond Baxter,you are the MAN !!

Was the man, unfortunately Raymond Baxter died in 2006. I agree with you though, a great man.

merisi

PapaQuebec wrote: »

In less than 30 seconds they were almost invisible.

And in ten minutes they were out of fuel.

PapaQuebec

merisi wrote: »

And in ten minutes they were out of fuel.

At eight years of age I was a bit young to ponder the logistics

cml387

The Buccaneer with the revolving bomb bay door carrying - in it's latter days- a "bucket of instant sunshine" i.e a WE177 a freefall nuclear bomb.

I think I remember watching this live as well!

BostonB

Raymond Baxter used to be on the TV a fair bit when I was a kid. Brings me right back to hear his commentary.