I'll always remember my first day at Cranwell. June 1986 i was fresh out of traing at St Athan. I was a ground electrician LAC. The smell of aviation fuel and the noise of the engines as i walked along the road on camp next to the airfield to my hangar was intoxicating! I'd actually arrived so to speak in the RAF! It felt amazing.
What a great time to be alive, watching this was like time travelling to the 60s. Culturally I don't think we weren't much different back then to the WW2 generation, still very civil and sort of wooden in a nice way. The tech felt quite WW2-ish, a time before all the computerization and digital screens came into aircraft and ground control.
yes I joined the RAAF in 1968 as a direct entry pilot flew the Winjeel and the MK 35 Vampire trainer . Everything was analogue no computers at all except the Dalton MK4 nav computer or "prayer wheel "as we called it. Still had Spitfire type crystal radios in the aircraft and instruments the same. Yes great days they were!!
It's like a lost world. The sheer enthusiasm and air mindedness. An RAF equipped with new and exciting aircraft. New technology arrives regularly. Even proper roundels for goodness sake. No diversity quotas or woke commissars, just the howl of jet engines, comradeship, and the honour of belonging to the Royal Air Force. God bless you all.
That peal to port towards the end the middle ac twitches just after the lead starts his peal off and number 3 starts his peal whilst number 2 is paused nearly colliding.
That guy @1:49 is Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
That scene with the pilot and his tutor in the library was utterly priceless - straight out of Enfield and Whitehouse!😂 Happy days, when we actually knew how to train our pilots without all the bullshit of today.
I agree. Its the RAF I joined just 3 years later as an Apprentice at Halton. Eventually in 1974, Commissioned at Henlow, I flew Jaguars for 16 years, but the beginning was the most rewarding time. I dont come near to recognizing the RAF of today. Tim Davies on his U Tube channel says it all.
I was based at cranwell from 1985-1990.....ground electrician,. I had a great time..boozing, footy, girls! Brilliant time. It was like the boys brigade with 'wings' ! haha.
"Navigators got a crack at it to!" I absolutely love that! Can you imagine these days them letting the intelligence officers or whatever learn how to fly the training aircraft as well. "Go on lad, you can have a go to!"
I'll always remember my first day at Cranwell. June 1986 i was fresh out of traing at St Athan. I was a ground electrician LAC. The smell of aviation fuel and the noise of the engines as i walked along the road on camp next to the airfield to my hangar was intoxicating! I'd actually arrived so to speak in the RAF! It felt amazing.
Great video.
All those young lads will be in their 70's now!
What a great time to be alive, watching this was like time travelling to the 60s. Culturally I don't think we weren't much different back then to the WW2 generation, still very civil and sort of wooden in a nice way. The tech felt quite WW2-ish, a time before all the computerization and digital screens came into aircraft and ground control.
yes I joined the RAAF in 1968 as a direct entry pilot flew the Winjeel and the MK 35 Vampire trainer . Everything was analogue no computers at all except the Dalton MK4 nav computer or "prayer wheel "as we called it.
Still had Spitfire type crystal radios in the aircraft and instruments the same. Yes great days they were!!
What did you think of the Hunters we had at TWU RAF Brawdy?
It's like a lost world. The sheer enthusiasm and air mindedness. An RAF equipped with new and exciting aircraft. New technology arrives regularly. Even proper roundels for goodness sake. No diversity quotas or woke commissars, just the howl of jet engines, comradeship, and the honour of belonging to the Royal Air Force. God bless you all.
Excellent! Thanks for sharing this :)
Fascinating footage.
My older brother was a former SAC and when to RAF College Cranwell as a officer, he was born in RAF Hospital in RAF Halton.
That peal to port towards the end the middle ac twitches just after the lead starts his peal off and number 3 starts his peal whilst number 2 is paused nearly colliding.
Jolly good show !
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this :o)
That guy @1:49 is Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
..beat me to it!!
A golden era.
Great film. Thank you.
Greetings from Finland.
That scene with the pilot and his tutor in the library was utterly priceless - straight out of Enfield and Whitehouse!😂 Happy days, when we actually knew how to train our pilots without all the bullshit of today.
The golden era of the RAF
I agree. Its the RAF I joined just 3 years later as an Apprentice at Halton. Eventually in 1974, Commissioned at Henlow, I flew Jaguars for 16 years, but the beginning was the most rewarding time. I dont come near to recognizing the RAF of today. Tim Davies on his U Tube channel says it all.
Lol I remember visiting Cranwell 1985 1024 Sqaudron I.O.W anyone else? Even the kids got to fly the
Chipmunks!
I was based at cranwell from 1985-1990.....ground electrician,. I had a great time..boozing, footy, girls! Brilliant time. It was like the boys brigade with 'wings' ! haha.
That's why your F6442s were always poor !!!
Love this raf movie. Hope will join soon
That piece of railway line footage. Nottingham to Lincoln line at Bottesford. Know it well.
8.30! A trolley-ac! Battery powered start up sytem for the jets. I probably built that!
RAF Cranwell is a former Royal Navy Air Station in WW1. The Royal Air) Force trying to basic Training of enlisted.
"Navigators got a crack at it to!" I absolutely love that! Can you imagine these days them letting the intelligence officers or whatever learn how to fly the training aircraft as well. "Go on lad, you can have a go to!"
15:38, it’s Rick Astley! 😂
Never gonna give you up...give you up....never gonna give, never gonna.....(etc etc) 😂
I was thinking that too. Well spotted. Singing Together Forever as he sits next to his ever more nervous instructor in the JP3.
What is the name of the last music in the video?
16:09 (left) Squadron Leader Rupert Winco-Smythe. Damn fine airman, don't make 'em like that no more, and....(etc etc).
That’s Air Cdre Spottiswood.
20:15 Omega 53 thin arrow 6b/542 I have the same watch and it’s a rare one too, so nice to see what it was intended for, a tool watch.
the name of the soundtrack?
What happend to England
Sailed or flew away.
Honour and Traditions... and Queen Elizabeth II had been the head of the Commonwealth since 1952
Look at that 20:30 you could even play Roulette! :)
"Airforce" should be Air Force !
We all knew what it meant though!!
The Royal Airforce .....
Hey
Ok we’re is the women ❤
Fajny film