William and the Sea King

[ehbuddy]

Maybe Gray Tape would have looked better.

What was the purpose of it anyways? I thought this machine was supposed to operate in water/wet conditions.

[. ._]

LOL! Yellow speed tape!

[Rem]

Apparently landing on water is only done in an emergency and the things would fill up with water pretty quick. So when they practice it they plug the holes so the thing doesn't sink. Reason the tape's yellow is it's pretty important they get it all off afterward and if it stands out they're less likely to miss any when they remove it.

I'm not one to participate in all the hype like that but man I have to hand it to him for going out and learning a tough new skill like that on live national (world wide?) tv. Talk about pressure!

[. ._]

OH! OK, that makes sense. I take my LOL back.

[photofly]

I laughed when the tv voice-over person announced the tape was to stop fluids leaking *out* of the helicopter and polluting the environment.

[shitdisturber]

Back in the day when the Hornet was new and I was young, we used to put that everywhere water isn't supposed to go when we were washing the jets. It took longer to prep the jet than it did to actually wash it. Whoever it was who gave the reason for the bright yellow colouring hit the nail on the head; when it stands out like that you're not likely to miss it. The other advantage to the tape is that it doesn't leave a sticky residue when you pull it off the airplane afterwards.

[Beefitarian]

I'm not one to participate in all the hype like that but man I have to hand it to him for going out and learning a tough new skill like that on live national (world wide?) tv. Talk about pressure!

Free flight training but there will be gawkers critiquing me? Where do I sign?

[Brewguy]

"Free flight training"? Really, that's what you think this should be considered? The CF just got more positive, public exposure, then all their recruiting & PR ads over the past 10 years have given them, and for a fraction of the cost.

For the cost of one hour of flying on the Sea Thing (which is what, somewhere in the $8K range) - hundreds of thousands of Canadians, not to mention the larger world-wide audience, learned something new about the CF. That our pilots train to do something that no other air force or navy in the world teaches their pilots.

RAF Flight Lieutenant Wales just told Canadians, the citizens of other NATO countries, and the rest of the world, that the quality of training in the CF is second to none. Thanks F/L Wales, that was very nice of you. I'm sure CF Public Affairs really appreciates you giving them a hand at doing their job.

They could send a demo team to every air show in Canada and not get as much exposure.

As for the yellow tape, ever see that episode of Mayday! where a maintenance crew left a piece of silver foil tape over a static port? Covering things with tape (for a specific reason) is fine, as long as its obvious to everyone that its there, and it all gets removed. Bright yellow may not make for great TV, but its a good idea!

[Beefitarian]

How much did the prince pay?

[Brewguy]

The Flight Lieutenant probably paid the same as any other member of the CF, or member of an allied armed forces on exchange with the CF. He's not the first RAF officer to fly a CF aircraft. We do also send CF members over there you know.

[Beefitarian]

Yeah, I guess he's just another enlisted guy. Oh wait all that other stuff you wrote (excellent post by the way) indicates he's different.

Obviously those guys become pilots because it's fun and they can then pretend to have served in the military. I'll try that rating on international television right now if they will let me and I doubt I'd do nearly as well because I seem to be lacking rotary time.

He might be as good as the rest of his class but he didn't have the same pressure to perform or wash out during primary training. Way after anyone else would have been told, "Sorry, you just don't have what it takes." I bet there were instructors saying, "Better, let's try that again now shall we."

[winds_in_flight_wtf]

I hope he payed nothing and charged the CF for his services.

[Beefitarian]

God save the king?

[niss]

. That our pilots train to do something that no other air force or navy in the world teaches their pilots.

Canada has always been pretty hardcore with the Sea King:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beartrap_% ... _device%29

Anything to get back before last call eh?

[Beefitarian]

Now you're talking. Send Willy out to train that in some weather and maybe I'll give him a little more credit.

[AOW]

Yeah, I guess he's just another enlisted guy. Oh wait all that other stuff you wrote (excellent post by the way) indicates he's different.

Obviously those guys become pilots because it's fun and they can then pretend to have served in the military. I'll try that rating on international television right now if they will let me and I doubt I'd do nearly as well because I seem to be lacking rotary time.

He might be as good as the rest of his class but he didn't have the same pressure to perform or wash out during primary training. Way after anyone else would have been told, "Sorry, you just don't have what it takes." I bet there were instructors saying, "Better, let's try that again now shall we."

While you are probably correct about them being un-failable, I believe that most of the royals who have served in the military have taken their jobs very seriously. They are part of a unit, and as such the lives of the others in their unit may rely on them doing more than just "joining to have fun". As "high value targets", their presence in a war zone adds an extra level of risk for the rest of their unit, and with the modern connected world, it is getting harder and harder to keep their participation secret. I am not sure how much longer it will be before they stop allowing royals to participate in an active theatre.

[Beefitarian]

I don't doubt they take the role seriously. I believe some of them will be good pilots.

Regardless of how much they try there's no way they will be "one of the boys." can't happen.

[Brewguy]

There are far easier ways for the privileged, rich & famous to make a living than flying SAR missions over the Irish Sea; or his brother serving in the front lines in a war zone, or his uncle playing chicken with anti-ship missiles during the Falklands.

Obviously some here have a very big anti-monarchy chip on their shoulder. That's fine. But many a royal has voluntarily put themselves in harms way in the service of their country - and are due the respect of any other serving member of the armed forces. They are not required to serve, and certainly don't have to serve operationally in the combat arms - they do so by choice.

I know someone who served with Harry, and they certainly are considered just "one of the boys". They insist on it.

[Beefitarian]

I'm not anti monarchy however I refuse to worship them. Charles has shown his colours, granted the media is most likely rough on him. Bummer, if you're going to pretend you're better than everyone else and should be king you also better act like it.

So far his boys are toeing the line, as even under the scrutiny they are under (which is the part of the conversation where I entered) they have not been exposed.

Would being filmed and critiqued while doing that rating increase the pressure? Absolutely. Would that bother me? Nope. Willy has been living with that kind of thing. He probably doesn't notice anymore.

Good for him he got the rating. Only the instructor knows how well he flew the mission.

[Beefitarian]

Just to show there's no hard feelings I will carry a new signature for a while.

[. ._]

I know someone who served with Harry, and they certainly are considered just "one of the boys". They insist on it.

Or it's OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!!!!

And I insist if I ever meet the Queen or King that they can kiss my democratic butt!

[Brewguy]

Just to show there's no hard feelings I will carry a new signature for a while.

Well that's nice.

[TeePeeCreeper]

Now you're talking. Send Willy out to train that in some weather and maybe I'll give him a little more credit.

Piss, don't tell anyone but the prince has been flying rescue missions in a land that sees more bad wx days than you could ever imagine... Ever been in Cumbria also know as the lake distric? It's got some pretty hard core weather and a high ratio of packpackers who like to have heartattacks while the place is fogged in....

[Blakey]

I hope he payed nothing and charged the CF for his services.

Good news then!

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/07/05/hi ... adian-tour

[thirdtimecharm]

How many months was his bond pro-rated for?