RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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Pelican wrote: Wed Apr 07, 2021 9:50 pm "Who said the FAA can't do a low pass, this Sea Fire pilot said, oh yes I can!!!"
A coloured version from Gannet Driver.
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HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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My Unoffical FAA History Page

9 April 1945 The Aircraft Handler Branch in the Royal Navy was formed. Broadly, responsible for the safety of aircraft when on deck or on the ground, The men and women in the yellow surcoats and helmets are responsible for the movement (marshalling, towing and parking) of aircraft.

Before 1945 these duties were performed by members of other branches, but WWII had seen much busier flight decks, and many more accidents, called for specialist skills and the Handler, or ‘chock head’ as they were nicknamed, was established. Handlers also made up the fire and rescue teams on the flight deck and at naval air stations; and for many years provided the Air Traffic Control assistants, who worked in Flyco, Control Towers (some of whom were able to progress to actually being a controller) and staff for Flight Planning sections.
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HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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What will the Royal Navy’s new Vixen jets look like? June 15, 2021

Carrier based ‘Vixen’ drones are being considered for a range of missions including combat, aerial refuelling and airborne early warning but what could they look like?
Continues at:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/what-wi ... xBvqKF9Cgs
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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LAUNCH OF FLEET AIR ARM BOYS VOLUME 2:

On July 17th, when “Fleet Air Arm Boys” Vol. 2 is launched at the FAA Museum, not all of us can be there. But it would be great if as many of us as possible could show our thanks that day. Steve Bond and Heather have done, and are still doing, something magnificent for us all.

Through the kindness of Navy Wings, there will be a book there for all present to sign – as per old-fashioned autograph book - with a specially drawn cover. Please, if you can’t be there, would you email or mail a brief message and/or signature to April Bell at Navy Wings? She will ensure it is included in the book. If you are mailing, she says thin card would be ideal, easier to paste in!

April.Bell@navywings.org.uk
or
FAO April Bell (this line is important),
Navy Wings Heritage Centre,
South Dispersal,
RNAS Yeovilton,
Ilchester,
Somerset, BA22 8HT

We are doing our best to ensure Steve and Heather are unaware of this until the day, so please would you be so good as to pass this message, cautiously, to your FAA contacts?
The sooner the better, certainly the easier for Navy Wings! Ideally, by July 9th latest.
The Thank You book cover will be very much like the att. JPEG. Heather is included, she has done considerable work behind the scenes. If any of the supporting branches/trades are missing, my sincere apologies! Not for lack of checking.
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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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SPECIAL DELIVERY

The story is in FAA Boys vol.2 pages 263 & 264.
In 1993 this 800 Sqn Sea Harrier diverted to Bari, Italy with an engine problem. It was airlifted back to HMS Invincible courtesy of the USMC and a CH-53.
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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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Major investment for UK’s military pilot training programme

More student pilots will be able to train for the UK armed forces than ever before, after a £175M contract uplift was signed, providing further capacity in training, including new aircraft and infrastructure upgrades.

This is a significant milestone for the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS), which provides flying training to the military pilots of the future. Upon graduation, these pilots will be qualified to operate the UK’s most advanced combat aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning and Typhoon.

This latest contract was awarded by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), to Ascent Flight Training which currently delivers the service provision for UKMFTS. The contract includes delivery of four new Texan T6 aircraft, which arrived at RAF Valley in November 2020, a new static flight simulator, nine Texan mission planning systems, and additional infrastructure facilities at RAF Valley including briefing rooms, classroom extensions and rooms for the new IT equipment.

The UKMFTS Basic Flying Training (BFT) course, through this upgrade, will increase capacity in the training system, enabling a greater throughput of students from a maximum of 36 per year to 53 per year, from 2024 onwards.

RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales will benefit from this investment as new long-term jobs will be created, including an additional 11 flying instructors and 9 engineering roles.

Continues at:
https://des.mod.uk/major-investment-for ... programme/
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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Flight deck legend Doo honoured with chill-out area in his memory


Crew ensuring the safe operation of jets and helicopters from all the Navy’s flight decks now relax in a lounge dedicated to one of the legends of their branch.
In a career spanning five decades, Warrant Officer Julian ‘Doo’ Facer ensured Harriers, Sea Kings, Merlins, Wessex and Lynx lifted off, landed and were safely marshalled on more than half a dozen major warships and auxiliaries.

Originally from Headingley in Leeds, Doo joined the RN as an aircraft handler in 1978. Over the next 34 years he served at Culdrose, Yeovilton and Portland air stations, in the Falklands, and aboard assault ship HMS Intrepid, all three Invincible-class Harrier carriers, aviation training ship RFA Argus and helicopter carrier HMS Ocean. He passed away in 2019 aged just 57.

His memory lives on courtesy of Doo’s Lounge – where his contemporaries and successors take a break from practising and training fellow handlers in the art of safe flight deck operations (courtesy of a mock flight deck and flightless Harriers), firefighting and other possible emergencies.

The revamped rest area – refurbished with money from the Rebalancing Lives Fund, Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and RNAS Culdrose Welfare Fund - was officially opened at the Royal Naval School of Flight Deck Operations while his family watched from home in Penzance via a live link.

The school’s commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Scott Harding said Doo Facer was sadly missed by all.

“His huge character, passion and pride in the Royal Navy and the Aircraft Handlers’ Branch have been an inspiration to many – he was a true professional, a loyal oppo and friend, a loving husband and a devoted father.

“Those who served with Doo have named this room in his memory. It was done in the knowledge that many will enjoy this space in the presence of good company.

“Doo’s Lounge was a project to enhance our people’s wellbeing and to show willingness to invest in them. To all those who have contributed, they have again made our lives better and we thank them.”

For more photos see - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... his-memory
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HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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Royal Navy

On This Day 118 years ago, the Wright brothers made the first successful powered flight.
This achievement followed years of trials with gliders and kites to improve their design, with the brothers even building their own wind tunnel for experiments. The Wrights were able to fund their aviation endeavours with the bicycle shop that they opened in 1892.
Wilbur Wright died in 1912 after contracting typhoid but Orville lived until 1948, meaning that he witnessed the birth of jet fighters. The likes of which were implemented during World War 2, only 41 years after that historic day in North Carolina.
The Royal Navy entered the world of aviation in 1909 when it ordered its first airship, the Mayfly. In the opening weeks of WW1 in 1914, pilots of the fledgling Royal Naval Air Service – forerunner of today’s Fleet Air Arm – bombed Zeppelin sheds in Germany, first from land, then on Christmas Day, from sea in the world’s first ‘carrier strike’ operation against Cuxhaven.
Read more about their story and naval aviation history here:
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... t-brothers

P.S. See also photos at - https://www.facebook.com/royalnavy/phot ... 1526458205
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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emason
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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Following on from the previous post, I have posted an account of the RNAS Friedrichshafen raid in the "Battles, other Actions and Naval History" forum.

viewtopic.php?t=3612
Best wishes
Bill
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Pelican
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Re: RN Fleet Air Arm: General

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emason wrote: Sun Dec 19, 2021 7:42 pm Following on from the previous post, I have posted an account of the RNAS Friedrichshafen raid in the "Battles, other Actions and Naval History" forum.

viewtopic.php?t=3612
Thank you Bill.
HMS Pelican 1938 - 1958 GGCV L86 U86 F86 What I Have I Hold ~ A wonderful bird is the Pelican its beak can hold more than its belly can.
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