London baby! (Might be slow for 56kers)

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 03 May 2007, 12:46

The truth to tell Ian

The only bit of England that was still familar was Gloucestershire - well the Cotswolds anyway - Even my alma mater EGGW was totally unrecognisable except for the original tower and some of the old apron,
the new tower - the new exit down through where the old Spittlesea Hospital was were totally alien as was that strange Nissan hut they call a terminal - ah well memories are much better

Leif

jab · Post by **jab** » 03 May 2007, 12:59

Brilliant shots there like the griffin shot, Whats it like flying on a griffin? and I visited the dome three months after it opened it was fantastic :dance: shame they shut it.

James

Post by **Garry Russell** » 03 May 2007, 13:51

The Dome was one of those project the Government insisted was good and the right thing to do despite most people saying it was a waste of money

Pity they built it.....costing millions just to maintain it empty.

Nice shots ...a bit different to when I last went to London in 1994.

In those days Canary Wharf was buiding that stood on it's own

Garry

Pringle · Post by **Pringle** » 03 May 2007, 13:55

jab wrote:Brilliant shots there like the griffin shot, Whats it like flying on a griffin?

Hard on the back and knees. No way you can stand up in the back, hence the crouching down from everyone involved. It's a nice little airframe, good to learn your skills on. As for a comparison to another aircraft, well its going to be hard as i have only worked on the Dominie...which was usually unserviceable :roll:

But overall, a good replacement for the Wessex me thinks.

Chris Trott · Post by **Chris Trott** » 03 May 2007, 15:15

I've flown in the 412 (civilian version of the Griffon) and it's a pretty decent ride as long as you've got decent seats in it. I flew one with canvas seats and it sucked and I flew in an offshore rig that had pseudo-airline seats and it wasn't bad. One big problem with the 412EP that I was flying in (the offshore one) was that it had tall skis for the floats, so it wasn't exactly the easiest aircraft to get into (long first step going out). Although it's definitely better than the Mi-24, so I guess I can't complain too much. And the Crew Chief in the Griffon/412 definitely has a nicer seat. Oh, and once the Griffon/412 gets going, it's a smoother ride than in the Cessna 172 that I fly or the R4D-6, so it's definitely not the worst helicopter out there.

Robin · Post by **Robin** » 03 May 2007, 15:25

Much better shots than I got!

I went in 2003 in a Chinook, for some low low level and a trip down the helilane. Was amazing!

stafflad1976 · Post by **stafflad1976** » 03 May 2007, 20:10

Ah, the griffin, spent many an hour watching my students refuelling them at Shawbury.

jab · Post by **jab** » 03 May 2007, 21:09

Pringle wrote:
jab wrote:Brilliant shots there like the griffin shot, Whats it like flying on a griffin?
Hard on the back and knees. No way you can stand up in the back, hence the crouching down from everyone involved. It's a nice little airframe, good to learn your skills on. As for a comparison to another aircraft, well its going to be hard as i have only worked on the Dominie...which was usually unserviceable :roll:

But overall, a good replacement for the Wessex me thinks.

Thanks for that information very good. Does the griffin do SAR for the RAF in Cyprus and do you think it would be a perfect replacement for the Sea Kings when they get replaced in years to come?(which I dont want to get rid off :huf: )

Regards
James

Robin · Post by **Robin** » 03 May 2007, 21:37

In my opinion, they couldn't be a replacement for the Sea King as they are nowhere near large enough.
And from what I remember I think there are 1 or 2 in Cyprus.

Pringle · Post by **Pringle** » 03 May 2007, 21:49

Agree with Robin. Alot of forces seem to use them for SAR effectively, but I can't see the Griffin replacing the seaking