Yes, as someone commented - what a great, humble guy. He's accomplished a lot and the RAF has always been wonderful and professional allies for the US. Great channel!
Impressed with his humility. This is actually an inspiration to youth who don’t feel good enough. Self doubt is probably a beneficial instinct when flying low level attack aircraft.
The older jet aircraft required more from the man behind the stick and from the ground crew. Todays cutting edge jets require the pilot to point them where they want to go and tell what it needs to do.
Working with people ahead of you as tactics experts and being intimidated, then ending up being one...yep that's a surreal experience and a lot of pressure. WTI in the U.S. Marines is a great comparative example! This guy is spot on with that journey.
I did the same, applied for uni bursary in '94 when i was 17. Went to Cranwell and failed hard. I had no idea what to expect and it showed (it was my first 'job' interview) However, the experience showed me that you needed a certain type of personality and character for the RAF which i knew I didn't have, so decided against trying again after uni. Now i fly a desk.
Hats off the jag squadron. Hat off the jag, the trainer that became a fighter and flew with B2s. Still my favourite I'm afraid. Thanks for inspiring me.👍
I went to school in Norfolk in the early eighties and saw the Jaguar flying over Cawston College every day. Pretty sure it was a VFR checkpoint. Beautiful jet. Inspired me to fly later in life!
I was at Machrihanish when 17/31 Sqn were working up to Red Flag in '83. On departing, 17F attacked the airfield from the West ( over the sea) I was up in local control and the Jags revealed themselves by climbing over the sand dunes at the edge of the airfield before going past at below tower night with the burners on. Awesome!
Excellent real honest ,humble ,and down to earth interview a must watch really enjoying these in person interviews with the backdrop of the Jaguar .Thank-you Mike and Mike looking forward to part 2 .
We produce fantastic pilots, lots of airforces do, the kit is expensive! But this guy is the typical RAF pilot, the balance between keeping the jet happy and maxing performance, humble and analytically solid.
I was an undergraduate apprentice at Warton when it was being manufactured. It benefited from the cnc machines from the TSR2 programme. The wing skins were machined from solid aluminium slabs , and then shot peened to give the curvature required. It’s a pity it didn’t have an engine upgrade, and a bit more meat to reduce the structural twisting which may have been the cause of the dangerous flick described here. I thought it was a great looking a/c. Another great interview.
Great aircraft to work on. Loved my time on it and then transitioning to Typhoon a few years later. As an engineer it’s a quantum leap, but I don’t remember the aircraft so much, more the people and the great times.
great aeroplane to work on. Very serviceable even as it aged. Was a little underpowered but it was designed as a trainer. Became a great recce and ground attack aircraft.
What a great guy this is! Extremely affable and with natural modesty, but a true professional RAF QWI. And so young! Thank you so very much for sharing! Cheers!🇨🇦🍺🇨🇦
It was designed as a trainer with a secondary ground-attack role, but the single-seaters became ground-attack, night-attack and reconnaissance, with a secondary air-to-air using the Matra Magic missile. The two-seaters remained trainers, but also had all but recce, IIRC.
Could never understand why they had to use the brake chute on landing at Machrihanish one of the longest runways in Scotland, we didnt have any rag packers there we had to stuff them back using a bush handle.Never had a report back that they failed to deployed on landing back at base.
A guy I worked with was out in Oman during the late 70s, early 80s. I remember him showing me a colour photo of a Jaguar, flying so low to the Desert floor that there was this huge dust cloud, following behind it. Amazing stuff.
I think there is a story of a Jag pilot flying so low in Oman to 'bounce' his friend in a Toyota Corolla, that the car became a convertible and the Jag needed a new centreline pylon.
Nice interview. Interesting the bit about the Jaguar being originally concieved as a trainer and the handfull it could have been for new recruits. Similar to how the US T-38 became the F-5 and how the Japanese developed the very Jaguar like T-2 into the F-1. I wonder how tricky Japanese trainees found the T-2 to handle given its Jaguar like lines?
i know is a relative old video but still relevant ....work hard be humble and remember you sit on shoulders of giants ....not like snow flakes z gen who just want and am entitle .. give me
Wasn’t it underpowered aircraft, couldn’t take off with a full load ,unless on reheat ? Unlike the Japanese F1 , which was powered with the same engines.
Saw these Jags take off from Coltishall with eight 1,000lb bombs on just internal fuel. We never did get the upgraded 'Jaguar International' engines, not when I was there (1976-1980).
Topping-off the 'total-plus' fuel carried at take-off, plus weapons, would require tanking at high-speed. This has become the normal method today: take-off, top-off fuel, attack, top-off if needed, attack, fuel if needed and return to base. Refuelling was practised most days as I recall, as the ground-attack role included more than one target, and they could carry 8x1,000lb bombs on internal fuel, or several guided weapons and self-designate.
Hmm.. refuelling in reheat sounds interesting. Are you squirting it out of the back almost as fast as you are taking it in at the front ? I havn't a clue, but it's a thought. Victors were pretty handy at high level so I'm not that surprised if a fully loaded Jaguar struggled a bit to keep up. I knew they toboganned C130 Hercules to refuel, but I didn't know the Jaguar required it. VC10 was a pretty swift machine as well with four Conways. Why did I think Victor ? 🙄🥴
![Twenty One Pilots - “The Line” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Rj2gQAyPA/mqdefault.jpg)
Yes, as someone commented - what a great, humble guy. He's accomplished a lot and the RAF has always been wonderful and professional allies for the US. Great channel!
Thanks Kevin.
Impressed with his humility. This is actually an inspiration to youth who don’t feel good enough. Self doubt is probably a beneficial instinct when flying low level attack aircraft.
What an incredibly self deprecating guy........must buy his book. The jag was always a favourite of mine.
I always loved the Jaguar, but transitioning to an aircraft like the typhoon must’ve been like going from a biplane to an X-Wing!
The older jet aircraft required more from the man behind the stick and from the ground crew. Todays cutting edge jets require the pilot to point them where they want to go and tell what it needs to do.
Indeed, 40,000 lb thrust compared to about 15,000 lb thrust is quite a jump.
Half the videos I watch, you’ve already commented on, Matt.
I love the Jaguar, and just like Concord, it showed what Britain and France can do together when they aren't bickering!
What a lovely, honest bloke
He is indeed.
Working with people ahead of you as tactics experts and being intimidated, then ending up being one...yep that's a surreal experience and a lot of pressure. WTI in the U.S. Marines is a great comparative example! This guy is spot on with that journey.
I did the same, applied for uni bursary in '94 when i was 17. Went to Cranwell and failed hard. I had no idea what to expect and it showed (it was my first 'job' interview)
However, the experience showed me that you needed a certain type of personality and character for the RAF which i knew I didn't have, so decided against trying again after uni. Now i fly a desk.
Worked this aircraft at Laarbruch great day many respect to them who flew this aircraft
Hats off the jag squadron. Hat off the jag, the trainer that became a fighter and flew with B2s. Still my favourite I'm afraid. Thanks for inspiring me.👍
I went to school in Norfolk in the early eighties and saw the Jaguar flying over Cawston College every day. Pretty sure it was a VFR checkpoint. Beautiful jet. Inspired me to fly later in life!
Great vid, seems a top guy who is really down to earth and says it as it is/was. Looking forward to part 2.
Great series about the good old times... when we had an airforce
I was on 54 (f) Sqn at Coltishall, I never met a condescending pilot, they were all dedicated and skilled.
Very interesting guest and knowledgeable interviewer. Plus some great Ian Black photos, thanks for posting.
Thanks Steve.
I live near (RAF) Abingdon which was the maintenance base for the Jags so we used to see them landing / taking off on a daily basis.
I was at Machrihanish when 17/31 Sqn were working up to Red Flag in '83. On departing, 17F attacked the airfield from the West ( over the sea) I was up in local control and the Jags revealed themselves by climbing over the sand dunes at the edge of the airfield before going past at below tower night with the burners on. Awesome!
Excellent real honest ,humble ,and down to earth interview a must watch really enjoying these in person interviews with the backdrop of the Jaguar .Thank-you Mike and Mike looking forward to part 2 .
Cheers!
Thoroughly absorbing.
Thanks for watching.
We produce fantastic pilots, lots of airforces do, the kit is expensive! But this guy is the typical RAF pilot, the balance between keeping the jet happy and maxing performance, humble and analytically solid.
I was an undergraduate apprentice at Warton when it was being manufactured. It benefited from the cnc machines from the TSR2 programme. The wing skins were machined from solid aluminium slabs , and then shot peened to give the curvature required. It’s a pity it didn’t have an engine upgrade, and a bit more meat to reduce the structural twisting which may have been the cause of the dangerous flick described here. I thought it was a great looking a/c.
Another great interview.
Great info. Cheers
Great aircraft to work on. Loved my time on it and then transitioning to Typhoon a few years later. As an engineer it’s a quantum leap, but I don’t remember the aircraft so much, more the people and the great times.
great aeroplane to work on. Very serviceable even as it aged. Was a little underpowered but it was designed as a trainer. Became a great recce and ground attack aircraft.
Seems like a really genuine fella. I love the Jaguar despite all its shortcomings. I’d have loved to been able to pilot one!
Never had patience when the HYD caption went off on engine start.
What a nice bloke, great recollections 👍
Glad you enjoyed it, Richard.
Yuma, yep that place is pretty strict. 2507 range is prefect for low level tactics. Hope he had a chance to visit the O-Club! Marines love the Brits!
My o.c.was the education officer at r.a.f.valley 69/70 on the jaguar happy days I used to travel over to bae warton for updates on the aircraft
Love the jag!
What a great guy this is! Extremely affable and with natural modesty, but a true professional RAF QWI. And so young!
Thank you so very much for sharing!
Cheers!🇨🇦🍺🇨🇦
Such an honest interview.
What a brilliant video - thank you
Mike seems such a nice guy!
Had these aircraft ripping over my head when trying to erect HF antenna on LIONHEART IN 84 got bollocked for plane spotting thoroughly enjoyable
I have kind of observed that better the pilot more humble he is. Extemely humbke chap.
Great interview very humble.
Glad you enjoyed it Wayne.
Wete tre the hi-lo-hi missions effective?. I mean, did they have to dive attack and pan?
I flew in the RF-4 with an exchange Jaguar pilot, Pat McCaferty. Not sure I spelled that right.
Top bloke respect 😊😊👍👍
No wonder the Jag struggled to get airborne, it had an airbrake for a nose door panel.
Great interview!
Cheers!
If theJaguar has some higher thrust engines and a couple more cannons it would have been perfect
It was designed as a trainer with a secondary ground-attack role, but the single-seaters became ground-attack, night-attack and reconnaissance, with a secondary air-to-air using the Matra Magic missile.
The two-seaters remained trainers, but also had all but recce, IIRC.
I wonder if he flew with Pat cafferky old friend from my cricket years.
I was on 16 sqn with this jokey Lossiemouth I’m sure of it
Could never understand why they had to use the brake chute on landing at Machrihanish one of the longest runways in Scotland, we didnt have any rag packers there we had to stuff them back using a bush handle.Never had a report back that they failed to deployed on landing back at base.
A guy I worked with was out in Oman during the late 70s, early 80s. I remember him showing me a colour photo of a Jaguar, flying so low to the Desert floor that there was this huge dust cloud, following behind it. Amazing stuff.
Ah yes I have seen a few of those. Incredible.
I think there is a story of a Jag pilot flying so low in Oman to 'bounce' his friend in a Toyota Corolla, that the car became a convertible and the Jag needed a new centreline pylon.
Couldn’t keep up with a VC-10 tanker 🙀
Nice interview. Interesting the bit about the Jaguar being originally concieved as a trainer and the handfull it could have been for new recruits. Similar to how the US T-38 became the F-5 and how the Japanese developed the very Jaguar like T-2 into the F-1. I wonder how tricky Japanese trainees found the T-2 to handle given its Jaguar like lines?
Thanks matey.
Where is the flying?
i know is a relative old video but still relevant ....work hard be humble and remember you sit on shoulders of giants ....not like snow flakes z gen who just want and am entitle .. give me
Wasn’t it underpowered aircraft, couldn’t take off with a full load ,unless on reheat ?
Unlike the Japanese F1 , which was powered with the same engines.
Perhaps they had better aerodynamics?
Saw these Jags take off from Coltishall with eight 1,000lb bombs on just internal fuel.
We never did get the upgraded 'Jaguar International' engines, not when I was there (1976-1980).
Hello Mike, can you please get in touch with me reference the Sepcat Jaguar for the new Sim. You might be interested Cheers Garry.
Indian jaguar is the best fighter jet... 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳.... 💪💪💪💪
Tanking from a VC-10 in descent on burners? Ha ha, underpowered much?
Topping-off the 'total-plus' fuel carried at take-off, plus weapons, would require tanking at high-speed.
This has become the normal method today: take-off, top-off fuel, attack, top-off if needed, attack, fuel if needed and return to base.
Refuelling was practised most days as I recall, as the ground-attack role included more than one target, and they could carry 8x1,000lb bombs on internal fuel, or several guided weapons and self-designate.
Hmm.. refuelling in reheat sounds interesting. Are you squirting it out of the back almost as fast as you are taking it in at the front ? I havn't a clue, but it's a thought. Victors were pretty handy at high level so I'm not that surprised if a fully loaded Jaguar struggled a bit to keep up. I knew they toboganned C130 Hercules to refuel, but I didn't know the Jaguar required it. VC10 was a pretty swift machine as well with four Conways. Why did I think Victor ? 🙄🥴
I tell you mate, this is really fartin sparks!
A rather tiny aeroplane
Underpowered. An engine upgrade would have been useful.
Whos here after reading the book?
Is this jey still viable in modern conflicts?
I have kind of observed that better the pilot more humble he is. Extemely humbke chap.