I recall seeing the whole film at RAF Stafford HQ one day shortly after my arrival there in 1979. I was smitten with the Bucc there and then, and also became a fan of Vangelis music.
Would love to see the low fly part, where the wing tips are that close to the desert floor there are wingtip vortices from the sand. Also, I'll be finished in a minute, hang on... with the commentary added from the US air defence forces claiming to have a lock, then declaring no lock, and then lock, lost again. Nice
@Foldingwings-Thnx for post.There was on YT an WWII RAF training film on low level nav."Nought Feet" I think it has been removed.It generated a lot of respect for the skill of RAF members. Missions flown by squad-617"Dam Busters"would be a challenge if using the same equip.At an airshow I asked Theodore Van Kirk who was nav. on Enola Gay how close his ETA on the I.P. over Hiroshima was?He said his error was 17 seconds.The book"A Wing and a Prayer"(Harry Crosby)written by a navigator is good one.
warbyuser, So did I! I was the OCU Staff navigator instructor who brought our QWI Cse to Nellis and joined 208 for RED FLAG to do the final phase of their course. I seem to recall we were always on the last wave!!!!!
@Tigger137 Sure did! He was an instructor when I went through the OCU (see his book for our RHAG Incident) and then we were on 12 together before we both ended up back on the OCU together as instructors!
Best aircraft I ever worked on. The GR3 was never a credible replacement for the Buccaneer and head to head, the Bucc would have outperformed it every time. Shame they had to go.
BUT until the arrival of smart bombs the Bucc could never be as accurate as the Tornado GR1/4. As for keeping the Bucc in service, emotion says Yes but practicality says No! We had lost 2 aircraft and 2 crews through fatigue failures, many more had been scrapped as unrepairable and it would have been financially non-viable to try to maintain those that remained. It had done its time, served us well and given the guys who flew it (and serviced it) a great adventure and camaraderie that lives on
Quite an expected response from people who love the Bucc, as I do. However, you should always ask them whether they have flown both as often too much emotion colours their view. I, as a navigator, have flown both and can confidently state that other than the avionics system the Bucc does beat the Tornado hands down! It could carry more stores, go further, fly faster with stores on board (in the bomb bay) and the ride at low level was much smoother. to be continued................
Every pilot I know who has flown S2's all say the same thing. 1) that the MOD were stupid to retire them and 2) The gr3 Tornado replacement was not a patch on the S2 in any way, apart from the electronics being more up to date. The S2's should have been re-spared and relifed with any avionic fit.
"It shows just how skilled the pilots ..... were." Don't forget the navigators too who operate the weapon system and provide the rear sector look-out whilst the pilot concentrates on flying at 100 ft! Exercise RED FLAG has been running in Nevada since the early 70s. Research post-Vietnam proved that aircrew were, on average, lost in their first 10 missions of that war. RED FLAG is designed to provide those 10 missions in a war scenario without any bullets actually being fired! Google it!
I didn’t even know footage like this existed! It shows just how skilled the pilots of these aircraft actually were. What was the purpose of the exercise?
Man, what a fine vid of a fine aircraft, takes me back to time before the SDR & suits stuffed full of bugger all. How good is the last minute or so! Much respect for uploading this.
I recall seeing the whole film at RAF Stafford HQ one day shortly after my arrival there in 1979. I was smitten with the Bucc there and then, and also became a fan of Vangelis music.
Would love to see the low fly part, where the wing tips are that close to the desert floor there are wingtip vortices from the sand. Also, I'll be finished in a minute, hang on... with the commentary added from the US air defence forces claiming to have a lock, then declaring no lock, and then lock, lost again. Nice
BobH809 3 months ago
These were fab surface bashers, bit naff in the thin stuff though.
TheWierdFish 5 months ago
i love this video.back from the days of "great britain".wish somebody would ressurect the glory days
scwarzewaffe85 5 months ago
Nice video, imagine if it was in 16:9 HD!!
r1cw 5 months ago
@Foldingwings-Thnx for post.There was on YT an WWII RAF training film on low level nav."Nought Feet" I think it has been removed.It generated a lot of respect for the skill of RAF members. Missions flown by squad-617"Dam Busters"would be a challenge if using the same equip.At an airshow I asked Theodore Van Kirk who was nav. on Enola Gay how close his ETA on the I.P. over Hiroshima was?He said his error was 17 seconds.The book"A Wing and a Prayer"(Harry Crosby)written by a navigator is good one.
Flickchaser 6 months ago
warbyuser, So did I! I was the OCU Staff navigator instructor who brought our QWI Cse to Nellis and joined 208 for RED FLAG to do the final phase of their course. I seem to recall we were always on the last wave!!!!!
Foldingwings 9 months ago
I did the 1978 detachment @ Nellis, Best Aircraft in the world, even had one take a telegraph pole out and still got back to base!! 208 Penetrate!!!
warbyuser 9 months ago
Hawker Hunter Aviation have one waiting to fly, the CAA has given permission so its just a matter of time! The sooner the better id say!
Sterlingjob 9 months ago
Did you do much flying with Tom Eeles FW ?
Tigger137 10 months ago
@Tigger137 Sure did! He was an instructor when I went through the OCU (see his book for our RHAG Incident) and then we were on 12 together before we both ended up back on the OCU together as instructors!
Foldingwings
Foldingwings 10 months ago
Best aircraft I ever worked on. The GR3 was never a credible replacement for the Buccaneer and head to head, the Bucc would have outperformed it every time. Shame they had to go.
goldfishrocks 11 months ago
Excellent video. Thanks for sharing. What an awesome aeroplane.
itserpers 11 months ago
BUT until the arrival of smart bombs the Bucc could never be as accurate as the Tornado GR1/4. As for keeping the Bucc in service, emotion says Yes but practicality says No! We had lost 2 aircraft and 2 crews through fatigue failures, many more had been scrapped as unrepairable and it would have been financially non-viable to try to maintain those that remained. It had done its time, served us well and given the guys who flew it (and serviced it) a great adventure and camaraderie that lives on
Foldingwings 1 year ago
Comment removed
gtvdtm 11 months ago
Quite an expected response from people who love the Bucc, as I do. However, you should always ask them whether they have flown both as often too much emotion colours their view. I, as a navigator, have flown both and can confidently state that other than the avionics system the Bucc does beat the Tornado hands down! It could carry more stores, go further, fly faster with stores on board (in the bomb bay) and the ride at low level was much smoother. to be continued................
Foldingwings 1 year ago
Every pilot I know who has flown S2's all say the same thing. 1) that the MOD were stupid to retire them and 2) The gr3 Tornado replacement was not a patch on the S2 in any way, apart from the electronics being more up to date. The S2's should have been re-spared and relifed with any avionic fit.
gtvdtm 1 year ago
Vangelis it is! Many thanks for your comment.
Foldingwings 1 year ago
Great video.I work on an S1 version of the Bucc, its such an awsome beast. Love the music too, is it Van gellis?
gtvdtm 1 year ago
"It shows just how skilled the pilots ..... were." Don't forget the navigators too who operate the weapon system and provide the rear sector look-out whilst the pilot concentrates on flying at 100 ft! Exercise RED FLAG has been running in Nevada since the early 70s. Research post-Vietnam proved that aircrew were, on average, lost in their first 10 missions of that war. RED FLAG is designed to provide those 10 missions in a war scenario without any bullets actually being fired! Google it!
Foldingwings 1 year ago
I didn’t even know footage like this existed! It shows just how skilled the pilots of these aircraft actually were. What was the purpose of the exercise?
7607987600 1 year ago
subs57, "I'd like to know what equipment you used to to convert to DVD as the results you obtained are very good."
I used a professional UK-based company "Digital Copycat" to do the work for me.
Foldingwings 1 year ago
Very nice vid.........probably better fun then not having to avoid the 'farms' etc these days.
fox3shooter 1 year ago
I'd like to know what equipment you used to to convert to DVD as the results you obtained are very good.
subs57 1 year ago
Man, what a fine vid of a fine aircraft, takes me back to time before the SDR & suits stuffed full of bugger all. How good is the last minute or so! Much respect for uploading this.
frankenstang1973 1 year ago
one day someone will finally post the 'other' Red Flag Bucc video.....the one where they are below 100 ft. Nice to see this one though
Tigger137 1 year ago 10
@Tigger137
Sure hope so. Have heard a lot about it, but still waiting :-(
sablatnic 7 months ago
Why thank you for the compliment. A great aircraft and a great job thrashing around at not many feet whilst being paid for it!
Foldingwings 1 year ago
This is the best Buccaneer video i have ever seen!
arolyo 1 year ago
208 Penetrate!
Veest67 1 year ago
@Veest67 12 Sqn fox anything!
mjwamps07 1 year ago
Comment removed
mjwamps07 1 year ago
Those were the days! Absolutely amazing.
adendorff1879 1 year ago
Loved it! - Just what I was looking for. Awesome.
georgaalty 1 year ago
really nice- well filmed...even id have found it hard to get a guns tracking on that one!!! lik the end bit steady shot of what was a bumpy ride nice
027042 1 year ago