Stu is down near Taunton, at the last count, doing fine last Christmastime... i think I have his address somewhere if you want to give me a shout.

Hello Stu

Now that you know where we are, isn't it time you joined the Association? Application form on the main web site here.

Merry Christmas

Jan

Dave!!,
Good to hear from you. Yes, 'twas I who went down to Stanley with the Plessey S600 Convoy after ages of waiting to get the system down there. I remember much testing of the system at Wattisham during summer '82, with expectations of getting it into theatre before Christmas, but usual delays occurred and I recall arriving on NY eve on Canopus Hill on Stanley airfield with just a T95 operating and the troops living in tents or 20' ISO containers (twixt some very large holes that the Vulcans had left!!).

As you rightly surmise, I was hijacked by the Sappers to 'advise' on helicopter lift support...... trouble was, that whilst my credentials in that department were still reasonably valid (Helo handling courses with Wessex, Sea King, Puma etc) I'd never encountered the mighty Wokka before, so my 'learning curve' in that respect was near vertical!! Suffice to say that we built Mt Kent with 650 Chinook sorties!!

The 'razzed' motorcycle was a lifeline for me to do my liaison 'bit' twixt Sappers and the FIADGE hierarchy at Canopus!!...... negotiating the potholes and discarded Argie ammo along that road was interesting to say the least!!.

At the end of the day, the boys dun a good job and I was privileged to see the first 'burnings and turnings' of the S600 on Kent. Little did I know then, that I'd be spending another 6 months in the FI helping to establish the 2 western EW sites!!. VERY muddy boots and threadbare combat clothing by June '84. 

I live in RN country down here in Somerset ...... Yeovilton helos clatter over my abode every day on their way towards their 'satellite' training airfield at Merryfield, and I take great pleasure in working out what stage of the course they are at: high approaches mean 'practice engine-off' autorotation landings, and you can almost predict when 'instructor takes over'!! 

As to joining the FCA ...... will do shortly to keep in touch with old friends.

Christmas greetings returned, and good health in '10

Stu

All,

My thanks to everyone who has participatated in this thread.  I am now in touch with Stu Hunter and he has promised to join the association very soon.

Regards

Grant