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Pegasus – The Heart of the Harrier

There’s a new book just published about the Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine that powers the Harrier. I haven’t read it yet but I’m putting it on my Christmas list!

Pegasus - The Heart of the Harrier

It’s called “Pegasus – The Heart of the Harrier” and you can buy it on Amazon now.

If anyone’s read it, perhaps they could write a short review for FourFax?

Al Pinner Leaves on a High Note

Al Pinner spent two tours on IV(AC) Sqn before taking over as OC BBMF at Coningsby where he’s been for the last seven years. Yesterday was his last flight in the BBMF – here he is leading a Typhoon over Trafalgar Square celebrating the unveiling of the statue of Sir Keith Park.

Al Pinner's last flight as OC BBMF - photo courtesy of Jarod Cotter

Best of luck as a civilian, Al!

Photos from Rygge 1973

Pete Mears has forwarded some more of his photo collection, this time from the Rygge deployment in May 1973. Go to the Harrier Gallery to see them all!
394839563974

G-Limits

From “Palace Cobra”, by Ed Rasimus, a great book about flying fighters in Vietnam:

“The aircraft G-limits are only there in case there is another flight by that particular airplane. If subsequent flights do not appear likely, there are no G-limits.”
Frank Chubba, fighter pilot

Harrier Photos, 1973-74

Jim Martin has kindly taken the trouble to pass on some of his Harrier GR1 photos of field deployments in 1973 and 1974. They’ve been uploaded to the Harrier GR1/GR3 Gallery.

: All Hands Free XW763 B From the Ahden Mud

: Unique 10 Ship Airborne Bad Lippspringe Oct 73

: Harrier Vertical Landing

: XV783 D and Hoverers

: XV783 D Taxy

: XV784 E Bogged In

Pete Mears has helped add the captions and descriptions. Can anyone add any more details?

Website Woes

Up, down, up down, our hosting provider did some updates two weeks’ ago and since then, every time I’ve tweaked something the website has broken.

It’s up again now (or you wouldn’t be reading this!) and I hope the problems have all been fixed once and for all.

New Forums

I think the new forums are working properly now. They’re being run under bbPress which integrates well with WordPress, the web software that runs this website.

The main difference, and the reason I changed it over, is that once you are logged into Fourfax you should be automatically logged into the Forums as well. If it doesn’t work, try logging out and in again and send me an email so I can research the snag.

Chris

News from the Chings

An email from Cherie Ching (Larry and Cherie were on the Sqn at Gutersloh and Laarbruch from 1990 to 1993):

Larry is still flying – since 2001 – for IV Squadron East (CX) due to the RAF influence. He is now officially out of SFO, but we live in Alaska (welcome mat out for RAF). We shall return to the Hong Kong basing shortly, but the Alaska home is permanent as we move about the globe. Come see us, Y’all.

Now I have broken the stem off a prized IV Squadron BRANDY GLASS (blame the overly enthusiastic dishwasher). Is it possible to order these beautiful etched glasses? I would like to have a back up set, or two. If anyone has an idea ref the brandy snifters please have them get in touch. We were given them as a farewell gift when we left Gutersloh. They have the IV Squadron emblem, crown and all, etched onto very nice crystal. I can probably find a crystal worker somewhere in the world to duplicate them, but it wouldn’t be the same! [Chris: these were made after my time – does anybody have a source for these brandy glasses?]

To anyone wishing to experience The Great Land (Alaska) tell them “come on up.” We’ll have an open door in Hong Kong, as well, once we settle in after December. I’ll try to do better to keep you informed. I’m working on a lasso to catch time and stick it back in that proverbial bottle!

Brief 40th Report

From Spider Webb:

Every one was there (except Godber). Three Air Chief Marshals (Dick Johns, Clive Loader (both “Sirs”) & Boggy. Other than Dick Johns, I taught them all I knew (took 10 secs). Bas, Mike Allen, Rob Webb, Huttings, Kit Adams, Pat King (he tripped/fell over after the meal & was ambulanced off), Doddy, Jeremy Saye, Mike Young, Charlie Davis, Chuck De Flamming (with cannon – he fired it but there was so much noise nobody noticed), Gerry Humphries, Jeff Glover, Dudley Carvell, Richie Thomas, Fitto, Pete Squire, Bernie Scott, Jim Arkel, Mekon, Syd, John Hickie, etc etc etc. Over 350 in total.
OCU (20R Sqn) was open on Thursday – I had a go in the sim which confirmed my decision to retire as a good one!
Dinner Thurs night included Har display & Fireworks & lots of boooooze. Can’t actually remember getting home.
Fri was Families Day at Cott. Usual stuff – air display, static, diaries etc. Kenny McCan had a large tent with tea & stickies which we all invaded (it rained a lot). A good day – I failed to make the evening do.

Yet More Photos from Pete Mears!

Pete’s on a roll!

Here’s some more photos with brief captions, so perhaps it’ll stir up a few memories from those times and as you say, generate some feedback. I find it hard to believe it was so long ago, but that said, the images, sounds and smells – just a whiff of a military tent takes me straight back to field deployment days -are still strong in my mind. Mainly because it was a great Sqn with great guys and a let’s-get-the-job-done attitude!

Anyone else with photos, send them in and I’ll add them to the Gallery.

: Pete Mears (on the right!) at the Flensburg border, May 1972 – photo by Pete Mears

: Site Prep at Ahden Autumn 1972 – photo by Pete Mears

: Bob Kendall checks a recce pod Wildenrath 1973 – photo by Pete Mears

More Photos from Pete Mears

Pete has sent me some sixteen [update: 23!] more photos from field deployments in 1972 and 1973. As usual, they are all in the Harrier GR1 & Harrier GR3 Gallery. Here are three of them. Can we identify all the people in the middle shot?

: Laurie Garrett marshals Harrier GR1 XV809 at Mandalay, 1973 – photo by Pete Mears

: Line Tent Ahden, 1973 – photo by Pete Mears

: Pete Mears, Sqn Line, Dec 1972 – photo by Pete Mears

Harrier Field Deployment, 1973

Pete Mears has kindly sent me some photos from 1973 for the website. I’ve uploaded them to the Gallery (Harrier > Harrier GR1 & Harrier GR3), small selection below.

: Andy Bloxham Taxy Ahden Site 1973 – photo by Pete Mears

: Bert Loveday, Alice Cooper, Jim Marshall & Co, Meal Time Geseke 1973 – photo by Pete Mears

: Steve Wakely Ahden 1973 – photo by Pete Mears

Harrier 40th Photos

As far as I know, there were only three members of the IV(AC) Sqn Association at the 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner and Families’ Day – Geoff Hulley, Arthur Hancock and Pete Mears, although there were certainly many serving members present. I’m sure we’ll get a huge turn-out for the Sqn 100th in 2012.

My opinion is that many people were discouraged from attending the Dinner because of the “no spouse” rule.

Anyway, Pete Mears was kind enough to take some photographs and pass them onto me. They’re now in the Gallery – here’s a selection:

: Geoff Hulley Lost in Thought

: Gnat T1 XR538

: High Hover

: Spitfire F21

: The Band

: The Bow

We Were There

[from Arthur Hancock] A shame that only three of us were there at the Cottesmore Families Day. Let’s hope more can make it in 2012.

Gala Dinner & Families’ Day Reports

I’m not going to be able to make either of the events this week. I’m on standby all July and I’ve already been called out for the simulator on Friday and Saturday.

Can anybody attending these events please send me a few lines on how it went, who was there, and some photos. I’ll edit it altogether into an Event Report for this site.

Many thanks, and have a great time!

Chris

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