Russians step up the 'probing' flights

[Boac]

A news article tells me that 2 Tu-160s flew a 13hour air-refuelled flights down into the North Sea, duly intercepted on the way by NATO including the RAF as usual. What is surprising, and a little difficult to believe, is that they were apparently accompanied by 2 ARMED Mig-31s. 13 hours strapped in a single seat?? I flew several 6+hour sorties in the Lightning, and they were all SERIOUSLY uncomfortable! 13 hours!!!**!!

Video here https://www.airlive.net/video-this-week ... ghter-jet/

[llondel]

The MiG pilots probably had powerful connections but had been caught doing something naughty and this was their commander's way of punishing them without being dumped on from upon high.

[AtomKraft]

The MiG-31 is a long range jet, which isn't something that could be claimed for the Lightning.
Maybe it's a bit comfier?
Quite impressive, escorting these jets on such a long flight don't you think?

[ian16th]

I flew several 6+hour sorties in the Lightning, and they were all SERIOUSLY uncomfortable!

Were these ferry flights, where you had to throttle back and stay with the tankers?

[Boac]

No sir, interceptions mostly, so you could sleep safe in your bed

One or two transits, and yes, we normally flew a weave to try and stay with the fat lady if we were 'accompanied' or we just legged to the next petrol station if not.

[Boac]

g5K-F5we.jpg (54.18 KiB) Viewed 416 times

Interesting to see the latest pictures of the Russian 'Bear' taken during a recent flurry of transit flights past Faroes/Iceland. I guess the machine is one of the latest Bear F family - PN? Looks like a MAD gear on the tail (how good that would be.....?)

My 'bread and butter' was the Bear D and (early) F, one of which 'shot' at me with what I think was a flare or sonobuoy (I was getting a bit close )

EDIT: Having re-read the news item, it says the French AF got scrambled too (a rare event!) so I guess the baddies came down the North Sea and not through 'the gap'. Hope they gave them plenty of notice to finish their steaks and wine..............

[Pontius Navigator]

https://theaviationist.com/2020/03/07/e ... air-force/

The MAD was probably OK the problem might be doing a Mad Trap with the Bear. The MAD detection range on the Mk 1 Nimrod wax 1,500ft. It the target was shallow it could sweep about 2,500ft. Later MAD had a range of 2,500ft.

[Boac]

I would have thought there was too much metal 'below' the gear?

Routing is interesting. Maybe they went through the gap and down west of Ireland.

[Pontius Navigator]

BOAC, I have no idea but could it be towed? Probably not as it had to be calibrated so that it knew which way was up.

[k3k3]

The dreaded nine term compensation, breakfast before or after?

[Rossian]

There was one pilot on the Nimrod fleet who was so smooth you barely noticed it happening. - and it rarely had to be redone. But he had learned the trade (( art) on the Argus.
I was fortunate in never having suffered motion sickness * but a lot of other chaps regarded the 9tcc as a precursor to purgatory.

The Ancient Mariner
* but I have been landsick after coming ashore from an extended trip on a yacht and a submarine.

[Boac]

The dreaded nine term compensation, breakfast before or after?

- ?? Any Maritimers to decode? Something to do with fishing?

[Pontius Navigator]

Pilot definition - fun polling aircraft
Nav definition - no coffee bloody uncomfortable
Dry man definition - wet dream fun watching a piece of paper
Wet man - bad dream watching breakfast

You need an AEO for the technicals and a pilot for the practicals.

[Boac]

Hmm! That really helps. I assume this is some sort of nonagon game you use to play?

[Pontius Navigator]

Hmm! That really helps. I assume this is some sort of nonagon game you use to play?

I still remember one where we had done a 9-hour trip somewhere up north. Probably not too demanding when Smiling Jim, our sqn cdr, elected to do it.

Now I did warn you you need a pilot, but something like, pitch up, pitch down, roll left, roll right, yaw left, yaw right, then any combination of any two or three.

[Boac]

Aha! Light is dawning and I think I can solve the puzzle you set. It is calibrating the MAD?

[Pontius Navigator]

that wasn't so difficult was a it

[Boac]

It was for Sunday morning! Should I take the Chump IQ test, do you think?

[Pontius Navigator]

that wasn't so difficult was a it

d

Actually we spent far more time calibrating than using it. But you get one hell of a rush when it all comes together. We were looking around the North Sea, not far from Digger Bank and Devil's Hole, when radar got a contact, a riser which disappeared and became a sinker. This was Possub 2. At the datum there could have been a swirl upgrading it to Possub 4. Moments later BANG followed by MAD MARK, good MAD. We now had PROBSUB. I had the strike camera running and dropped a sonobuoy.

Even though we had 2 or 3 sensors it could have been a wrecked so.

Post flight I looked at the film and dead centre were the forward and aft escape hatches visible under water. They are painted red and white. Our target was now CERTSUB and identified as a Foxtrot on the West of UK Whiskey patrol.

This was a training patrol for new submarines out of the Baltic Fleet and originally using the WHISKEY boat. Similar to the UK perishers course.

[Boac]

Great story - just wish I understood it all. What is "a wrecked so"? Is a ' UK Whiskey patrol' one where they put in and pick up a few bottles?