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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 1677.PDF
918 FLIGHT I Inter-1 national, I 4JunsI '9641 I The ceremonial parking of 36 aircraft—Gannets, Scimitars, Sea Vixens and Buccaneers—before the Royai stand, and the music of the combined ftoya! Marine bands of hi MS "Ganges" and "Tiger," drew the Fleet Air Arm's 50th Anniversary Review to a close NAVAL AVIATION'S FIFTY YEARS The Duke of Edinburgh Reviews the Fleet Air Arm "FLIGHT International" PHOTOGRAPHS FIVE thousand ladies sporting five thousand summer hats, andmany of them obviously using the occasion as a dummy runfor Royal Ascot, brought a wealth of colour to last Thurs- day's Jubilee Review of the Fleet Air Arm at Yeovilton which put the non-attending sun to shame. Low strato-cumulus cloud trapped ground haze and rendered visibility less than that required for the mass flypast for which the Navy had rehearsed. Though a most impressive array of 108 naval aircraft was drawn up along two runways and 79 of them were detailed for the ceremonial flypast, only the helicopters performed in full strength and the flying participation of the fixed-wing types was cut from the intended 12 of each to four. Reviewing the FAA was the Duke of Edinburgh, who arrived in Hawker Siddeley's 748 demonstrator in the uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet but who changed into civvies during the lunch break. The 748 taxied into position before the hushed grandstands— 10,000-full—the stiff ranks of welcoming officers, the Queen's Colour Guard and the Royal Marines Band. Yellow-jerkined Wrens sprang into position by the door: the band was long since hushed. Conversation died; the Navy and its guests waited expec- tantly. After 4min Prince Philip appeared having, we learned later, managed a hurried change from flying gear. Salutes, presentations and seconds later there was a moment of near-farce, cruelly appreciated on the terraces, as the ceremonial Land-Rover jerked into motion and Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Smeeton, Flag Officer Naval Air Command, almost fell out, to be saved by a quick grab from the Duke. Humour later, too, as the stately old Stringbag waddled its way at about 100ft across the airfield, leading a gaggle of helicopters, to open the flypast. Clearly seen as it passed the Royal stand were the erect figures of the observer (Rear Admiral H. R. V. Janvrin) and the telegraphist-air gunner (Lt-Cdr C. Topliss), braving the 80kt airstream as they stood at the salute. Rear Admiral P. D. Gick, Flag Officer Naval Flying Training, was the pilot, completing probably the most exalted ever Swordfish crew. From the flying point of view, it was the helicopters which saved the day. Eight Wessex 5s staged an assault demonstration, first flying in one wave to land men on the ground. Three Whirlwinds then appeared, to demonstrate troop disgorgement by rope, four men abseilling down from each from a low height. Along came a fourth, higher at about 130ft, and spontaneous applause greeted the one un-named Marine who with great elan slid down from that height in 4sec. Four Wessexes appeared again with underslung 251b guns and another three with more men. Troops deployed; guns were ranged; a Hiller 12C noisily showed itself in the spotting role; another Wessex appeared, carrying anti-tank missiles; the gun crews let off one almighty bang; the seven Wessexes appeared yet again, this time with Land-Rovers; while a final stick of men emerged from an eighth. More scurried movement and a moment later the vehicles drove off, in neat parade order, towing the guns and spiriting away the troops. Four anti-sub Wessex HAS.Is staged a mock carrier recovery on the hardstanding immediately before the stands, spreading grit. summer hats and consternation through the crowd as they touched down. Deck parties in varied hues sprang into galvanic action, three men leaped atop each machine, four yellow tractors positioned themselves, rotor blades twisted and sagged, tails swung through 180°, and in a little over 3min the four now very compact Wessexes were towed off in line astern. The Yeovilton air—or that, at least, which was breathed by the spectators—had a rich strain of burned Avtur as the Review drew to its ceremonial end. Nine Gannets parked themselves in nie immediately before the stands and then nine Scimitars. Nine Sea Vixens followed them—six FAW.ls and the other three the new FAW.2s—and finally nine Buccaneers down from Lossiemouth, two of them in overall white, the others in sea-grey. The c!eW
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