The Shackleton - 210 Sqn Ballykelly
So there I was after 3 years on 206 Sqn waiting to go on number 2 Nimrod course, when the CO said that a first nav had to go to Ballykelly. I protested in vain that I was due to go to St Mawgan with Carl P and crew 2, but there I was on the boat from Stranraer to Larne. I was most put out until I realised that the Mk 2 Shack was much more reliable than the Mk3 and only flew for about 10 hours. It turned out to be the most enjoyable 2 years of my time on Shacks on the social side, holidays south of the border and of course the flying.
Outbound on patrol just about to fly over Inishtrahul lighthouse for a visual fix and API/GPI update, followed by Crossing Coast Checks Outbound.
On patrol out of Majunga, Malagasy. What a boring and sweaty job checking the tanker lane during the UDI Beira blockade.
210 Sqn forming up for the Coastal Command disbandonment. We were at the back just in front of the shiny new Mk 1 Nimrod.
Formation getting bigger. note the typical nasty BK weather.
Still formating with Donegal (or more likely the Mull of Kintyre) in the background.