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MG MGA - Something faster than an MGA

This is for Steve Giles.

Here's a picture of a much faster beast than an MGA. Guess the location.

Frank

F. Camilleri

Hi Frank

My 68th today so spot on for timing! Brings back memories of Luqa. That photograph would have been taken in early November 1970 when we (11 Sqn) spent 3 weeks in Malta. I flew that aircraft a number of times during the period.

My longlasting memory of that detachment was sitting in the antique Maltese buses. It always amused me how the drivers' compartments were decorated like shrines and the drivers sat at an angle on their seats to allow room for the Lord Almighty. Judging by their driving skills they probably frequently needed divine intervention!

Steve
Steve Gyles

Happy Birthday Steve - you're catching me up - always envied you being ably to fly fast jets!!
Cam Cunningham

Pleased you like the pic Steve. May I also say 'Happy Birthday' I am a little older than you Steve, by 4 years. Are you saying you actually flew that very same aircraft?
If that's the case I would frame the pic and keep it if I were you.

Well the old buses have now disappeared from our roads, and even the drivers have now changed. We have modern buses and the drivers are also better trained these days.

Sorry for jumping into the mga forum, but was unsuccessful
in finding a 'Lightning Forum', lol.

Frank
F. Camilleri

Frank

Just to complete my comments, the photo attached is me in the same 'F' flying out of Luqa on 5 November 1970. The other aircraft were also involved in the detachment and uniquely we were 11, 12 and 13 Sqns. The lead Canberra is 13 Sqn. The 2 Buccaneers were 12 Sqn and the 3 Lightnings were 11 Sqn. The navigator in the nearest Buccaneer ended up being my navigator on the Tornado some 12 years later.

Not a lot to do with the MGA but the same exhilaration and anxiousness from inside the cockpit, listening for the frightening noises and watching the fuel gauge like a hawk. Hey ho.

Have a look at http://www.lightningpilots.com/

Steve

Steve Gyles

Hi Steve you look a bit younger in one of those photos :)


Gordon
G C Pugh

Gordon

You spotted me then!! I am now 3 times the age! Four of the 16 pilots in that photo subsequently ejected from Lightnings, one from a Hunter and myself from an F4; and 2 died in crashes, one in a Lightning and one in a Jaguar. Risky business in those days and that was just in the Cold War with no bullets fired in anger.

Steve
Steve Gyles

This thread was discussed between 27/09/2014 and 28/09/2014

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