Arguably the greatest unsolved mystery in aviation history.
For decades I, and many others, have been tormented by not being able to determine the meaning of an unapproved by ICAO, RT phrase. Out here in the Colony, we have recently been fortunate to have had screened on TV, that superb British aviation training series which, I believe, all budding pilots should both view and be examined on, "THUNDERBIRDS". However, despite exhaustive investigation, I have been quite unable to determine what the brave British lads mean when they acknowledge an order from their Dad, or that charming very rich titled lady, with the expression "FAB". For a while I thought it might be a code word for Roger or perhaps Wilco. And the International Rescue aircraft do not appear to carry any ICAO approved registration markings? How are they cleared to operate throughout the various sovereign airspace domains? There are many questionable aspects to their entire modus operandi. The boys are somewhat cavalier about completing check-lists and often engage in extreme risk-taking. Who carries out the audits on their flight operations? They frequently bust flight and duty time standards. Never-the-less, despite these minor infractions, I believe the stalwart lads are an example to our young airpersons in that they exhibit sound decision-making characteristics and are not afraid of authority. It is quite obvious that they play Cricket. But I, and many of my South and Southwest Pacific compatriots are really desperate to know, before we depart on that last Great Take-off to the Big Hangar in the Sky; WHAT DOES "FAB" signify????????