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Post by DAG on Sept 6, 2011 12:25:58 GMT
Starting an engine with a rope around the propeller sounds very dangerous indeed! Also, the rope could have wound around the propeller and stayed on it..........would that have been acceptable in the circumstances I wonder? Just goes to show how desperate situations call for desperate actions!
Can you remember how long it took to recover from the heat stroke Robert?
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Post by kedigato on Sept 6, 2011 13:25:22 GMT
At first, I had the same thought as DAG about the rope perhaps staying on the propeller. Then I thought that that scene could have come out of a comedy, like "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines" (do you all remember it?) Anyway, glad that it worked and all turned out well and nobody got hurt. Likewise glad that you got away so lightly with the sunstroke, Robert! Didn't you have a hat on? Looking forward to hearing about the naked man .... ;D ;D ;D Was it you?
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Post by capney on Sept 6, 2011 13:44:11 GMT
Yes indeed and very dangerous way to start and engine. I have a few more I can add to the list. I think those 14 cylinder engines were just short of 2000 house power each, so, as you say if that rope had caught it would have been a bloodbath. Always wore the hat but remember the worst heat was being reflected from below off the wing.. I seem to recall it was not long before I recovered from the heat. We had beds in the section that we could sleep in if we had the chance. It was a constant 1 day on (24 hours) and then two days off. We needed the second day to rest and catch up with sleep with every third day being ours.
And No.. the naked man was not me.
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Post by capney on Sept 6, 2011 13:55:21 GMT
This is where I was during the lightning strike..I lived there for nearly three years.
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Post by DAG on Sept 6, 2011 14:35:35 GMT
Robert, that looks identical to the furniture I had at High Wycombe, including the built in cupboards.
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Post by capney on Sept 6, 2011 15:45:32 GMT
At least I had a built in wardrope !
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Post by capney on Sept 6, 2011 16:19:38 GMT
Watching a guy running down the runway stark naked and shouting for his mother. Labuan is an island off the coast of the state of Sabah. As such it was an ideal base for Army and Air Force personnel for the purpose of protecting the Indonesian Malaysian, Borneo border against incursions from Fred Sarkanos army. The place was very basic but the very nature of why we were there kept us all on our toes and very active. It was from here and Kuching that we would air drop supplies into the jungle to the Army guys in the Border forts. I had several detachments there during my stay. With two of our Valletta aircraft. It was stressful and some guys could not take the continued threats and constant awareness. One day this guy cracked and could not take it any more. He was seen running starkers down the runway. He was collected by the MPs and duly despatched to Singapore for assessment. I have often wondered if he did this of purpose to get out of the place... This picture is Labuan Island.
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Post by capney on Sept 6, 2011 16:23:04 GMT
Next is.... Wondering whilst flying across the shark infested South China Sea, why I did not check the engines gearbox oils during pre flight !
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Post by capney on Nov 6, 2011 11:41:07 GMT
Ah Yes... the South China sea...full of sharks and other nasties of the deep. Also has a scattering of the most beautiful choral islands. The task was to fly some land mines from Changi to Clark field in the Philippines. I was the engineer for this trip. We left Butterworth and headed for Changi for the cargo. Loaded up and headed out the Jesselton Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It was burns night and we had an invite to attend the local flying clubs burns party. What a night that turned out to be. Anyways, back on track. The next morning things were a little fuzzy. After I had done the aircraft pre flight checks we took off heading for the Philippines with our load of land mines. After much coffee and cleaner air at 10,000 feet I seem to recall I had missed something on the pre flight... Yes... It was the oil levels in the engines gear boxes... I probable thought.. well if we go down with the cargo we have we will take out a few sharks when we hit the sea..... We made it of course and after checking the b oxes there was some oil... not a lot...
Moral is.. never sup whiskey the night before you fly.
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Post by capney on Nov 6, 2011 12:14:14 GMT
Coffee at 10,000 feet.
We learn by making mistakes. It was during the flight above. It was time for more coffee above the South China Sea. The hot urn, coffee and stuff was stowed at the rear of the aircraft. It was my turn to brew. The aircraft was not pressurised and at 10,000 it was a delight to have a window open in the cockpit to input some cool, fresh air. Not sure why but the air movement within the aircraft was from the rear to the front. This is very relevant to what I am about the tell you. Do you remember the dry powered coffee in the large jars? You may still use it. You know there is a foil seal across the top to preserve the freshness? These are installed at sea level. Well, the pressure at 10,000 feet is considerable less then at sea level. On punching a spoon through this foil a good quantity of the contents burst from the jar and travelled towards the front of the cockpit. It was just as well the autopilot was on as with the pilot and co pilot chocking on fine coffee powder we could have had a situation if there was an emergency. The air soon cleared and we continued on our way. What a trip this is turning out to be. Your tip for today is always unseal your coffee jar before you take off.
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Post by capney on Nov 6, 2011 12:25:30 GMT
This picture shows Mount Kinabalu in the distance. Also shows the trusty short of engine oil engine ! Taken on the Phiipines trip.
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Post by capney on Nov 6, 2011 18:26:48 GMT
Fuel Please
Clark Field was a US Air Base in Philippines. A forward base used extensively during the Vietnam war. A believe it was abandoned many years ago after a Cyclone had its way with the area and did some major damage. Clark field was huge. Like an American City. I can remember flying about halfway down the runway before we touched down. Because of the explosive nature of the cargo we had they parked us miles from anywhere... I continued with the post flight checks, not forgetting to check those engine oil levels, while the rest of the crew bussed off to wherever leaving me waiting for the refuelling tanker. In time this monster of a fueller turns up and this guy starts to draw out a huge hose with and quick coupling on it. The type you see connected to the underwing of some aircraft. “Not one of those I says” You see the Valletta was fuelled over wing through a filler cap a little larger then a car and the nozzle was the same but larger. With the fuel tanks not venting other then through the filler cap one had to careful to let the air out as you put the fuel in. The guy says “Not used one of them in years bud” He manages to pull out a hose from a large reel located behind his cab with a sensible looking nozzle on it. “Take it real slow with the pump” I shouts. Squeezes the trigger and before I know it dozens of gallons of fuel went into the tank with a fair quantity of it coming back out the filler hole. Guess who got the worst of it? I was drenched and stinking of aviation fuel. Finally the tanks were filled and our cargo off loaded. One of the guys said something like. “ I'll radio a taxi for you” and off they went and left me alone stinking and now getting sore from the fuel dose. Finally a vehicle did arrive and I caught up with the rest of the crew and headed for barracks to clean up.. What a state to be in. The day came good in the end in the base entertainment putting on a Beatles show and with plenty of beer and food on offer I forgave the over zealous tanker driver and his haste to get me refuelled. One other memory I have from Clark Field is standing at the end of the runway just before our turn to take off and watching a B52 fully loaded taking off and heading for Vietnam. It took ages and nearly disappeared from site in a cloud of black smoke before lifting off and heading away.
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Post by DAG on Nov 7, 2011 8:40:48 GMT
Robert, I suppose at normal cruising speed the engine would be rotating at about 3,000 rpm but the propellers were probably only rotating at about half that speed, so the gearbox was for a reduction of about 2:1, or am I miles out ? I always imagined that the old Spitfires for instance had the propeller fixed directly to the engine crankshaft? Must have been a worrying journey thinking about that gearbox oil in the circumstances but what a bummer to get that fuel all over you and I am surprised that the taxi driver was willing to let you in his vehicle, I bet some of them wouldn't! Thanks for the memories Robert, I can just imagine it all.
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Post by nazimundo on Nov 7, 2011 9:02:50 GMT
Thanks for sharing your memories Robert I'm really enjoying reading about your adventures Alfie
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Post by arney on Nov 7, 2011 12:02:04 GMT
Robert It's very good that you are continuing your yarns, we all look forward to them, sure sounds like there have been some 'near misses' though. Arney
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