I worked at British Aerospace, Brough, where the Buccaneer’s were made. Everyone at the factory was told that they could go out to watch Buccaneers do a sixteen ship fly by. We were looking North with one of the big sheds behind us & the River Humber & Lincolnshire on the other side of the shed. Two of us were ex RAF & aware that the RAF liked to throw in a little extra to scare the life out of the spectators. Sure enough as the sixteen ship formation went to our left, Harry & I were looking for the scare. It came in the form of two Buccaneers coming from behind us at a hell of a speed. Skimming the shed roof, they caused the whole of the workforce to hit the deck, leaving myself & Harry, standing with big grins on our faces. That was the day that the Buccaneers went out of service.
I was at Mildenhall Air Day in 1986. I went out the day before to recce the back roads and skipped the 14 mile queue to get in. As I was arriving two Buccaneers took off and just departed. Like everyone else I was just eager to get to the static display and expected plenty of warning when the flight display started. "Ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome to Mildenhall...", the usual blather. Then "And to open the air display, in the center of the main runway (what? there's nothing ON the runway) The Buccaneers!" WHAM! 10,000 heads snapped left as the noise hit. Just in time to see two banana bombers at a height of about ten feet with vapor flashing on and off over the wings. And they were gone as fast as they had arrived. It was an amazing way to open the show, and I have never seen anything like it before or since.
Turned up to TLP with 208 Hawks in early 90s, brought them in past the Luftwaffe Phantoms to much amusement. They weren’t laughing by the end of the week as the Hawks cleaned them all up daily with 9’s and guns. Great detachment.
Fantastic interview JP, very informative & hat off to you my old wingman. Looking forward very much to your next installment. God help us if you got behind the yoke of a English Electric! You would have cost blighty a fortune in refuelling. Take care...& never forget who made you the nicest cups of Rosie, TTFN, Big Daddy.
It's great to hear lots of nothing but great stories from a Buccaneer pilot and praise, built and designed very local to me, and my Dad was a fitter on them, a true British pedigree bomber 😊👍👍
Yes. Rather odd how the RAF has nothing like the Sea Eagle, Harpoon or Exocet available for air launch. Sounds like a Buccaneer airframe with Tornado avionics would be the best solution! Great interview as usual.
The galling thing is that such a Beast existed. The Tonka's avionics and nav-attack system were developed in a Buccaneer airframe (XT272). Unfortunately, the results were such that this platform was an embarrassment for the Tornado programme for the reasons outlined in the interview. Consequently, the trials airframe was scrapped (very low hrs on it) with undue haste once the programme was complete.
Really enjoyed this one Mike. The bit about the Hawk being a great fighter but the AlphaJet being better rings so true with me. I’ve seen Alphas beat Hawks in dogfights which had my jaw drop but I’ve also seen Hawks beat F-15’s.
Well a Hawk *should* fly rings around an F15, 'knife fight in a phonebox' style dogfighting ain't an F15's job The interesting question would be the comparisons across Hawks, Alpha Jets, F18s & F16s. Hell, chuck in a Eurofighter Typhoon too. And maybe a Rafael
Jon hats off, you got the career I wanted but was put off by the careers officer who said only toffs get to fly jets, you council house types can come in and fix them if you like, I had the same thoughts as you “I didn’t want to tinker with them I wanted to fly them “
I used to watch the Buccaneer and the Shackelton fly in over the golf course and land at RAF Lossiemouth all the time. As a young boy I always wondered what it would like to fly in one!
Interesting comment (about 5.50+) that the particular fule tanks added extra G. did that mean, they elped the turn , or simply that it took extra G to make a turn with them? At any rate Jon was pleaed that they did! And how did they contrbute to the extra G?
I've got two thoughts: 1) The conformal tanks add to the wing's rigidity, 2) This is a bit of backward thinking - we often think the wings hang on the fuselage, which is true when the aircraft is parked on the hard stand. But when it is flying, the fuselage hangs on the wing. The centre of lift of the individual wings would be the pivot point for the whole lever system each side of the fuselage, and if your center of lift is inboard of the fuel tank, then the weight of the fuselage would be slightly lessened by the weight of the tank on the opposite side of the see-saw teeter totter pivot point. How's that for two theories?
So many pilots rave about the Hawk that I'm very curious to learn what they think about the British Aerospace Hawk 200 single seater. Can you interview someone who has flown it.
No Sea Eagle was not nuclear capable. The Buccaneer maritime nuclear strike was done by toss-bombing. So you pull up sharply from low level about 5 or 6 miles out from the target and “loft” the nuclear bomb onto a ballistic path towards the target, then do a sharp 180 and get out of Dodge City as fast as you can!
@@Aircrewinterview Many thanks. I've not been to Newark Air Museum for many a year (1996 probably). It was good then but looks like a lot's happened since. I'll certainly have to plan a visit 👍
In an alternate universe the Germans would have purchased the Saunders Roe SR177, the supersonic Blackburn Buccaneer replacement would be flying along with the TSR2 and supersonic Harrier....And Winkle Brown would have broken the sound barrier... And all the rest. BAC 3-11 et al. And don't get me started about the cars... Edit: Not crazy, just a bit sad some of these were lost to the world. We did have the HP Victor which is my favourite crazy aircraft. Nothing looks as wonderful as that thing.
If ever I had the offer to blag a flight in any one aeroplane ...... It would be a Buc at low level over terrain. Bit too fast & complex for me to be the driver 'tho.
@@pauljones8149 At least *try* and keep up at the back. The BBC's stock in trade these days is glorification or the woke & limp-wristed. Which is deadly dull despite the occasional unintended humur of farce. This is appealing to a predominantly male audience and consequently will take viewers away from their politically correct indoctrination. So they ain't gonna like it.
Not the most environmentally friendly thing I could imagine. Even so I would of loved to watch a Super Tanker getting bombed. Flask and butties at the ready.
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I worked at British Aerospace, Brough, where the Buccaneer’s were made. Everyone at the factory was told that they could go out to watch Buccaneers do a sixteen ship fly by. We were looking North with one of the big sheds behind us & the River Humber & Lincolnshire on the other side of the shed. Two of us were ex RAF & aware that the RAF liked to throw in a little extra to scare the life out of the spectators. Sure enough as the sixteen ship formation went to our left, Harry & I were looking for the scare. It came in the form of two Buccaneers coming from behind us at a hell of a speed. Skimming the shed roof, they caused the whole of the workforce to hit the deck, leaving myself & Harry, standing with big grins on our faces. That was the day that the Buccaneers went out of service.
I was at Mildenhall Air Day in 1986. I went out the day before to recce the back roads and skipped the 14 mile queue to get in. As I was arriving two Buccaneers took off and just departed. Like everyone else I was just eager to get to the static display and expected plenty of warning when the flight display started. "Ladies and gentlemen, good morning and welcome to Mildenhall...", the usual blather. Then "And to open the air display, in the center of the main runway (what? there's nothing ON the runway) The Buccaneers!" WHAM! 10,000 heads snapped left as the noise hit. Just in time to see two banana bombers at a height of about ten feet with vapor flashing on and off over the wings. And they were gone as fast as they had arrived. It was an amazing way to open the show, and I have never seen anything like it before or since.
Another cracking interview, I love to hear the “council kids with no degree” do good. It’s the person not the lifestyle that makes a top flyer.
Cheers David
My thoughts exactly
You do get some great people to talk to. Jon Parker is right up there. Thank you!
Thanks Andrew.
I could listen to his stories all the time. Thank you for your service and the fact you got to fly the banana bomber, legend.
The RAF mentality
"If you guys have to eject out at sea, we're not coming for you"
"Oh well"
Turned up to TLP with 208 Hawks in early 90s, brought them in past the Luftwaffe Phantoms to much amusement. They weren’t laughing by the end of the week as the Hawks cleaned them all up daily with 9’s and guns. Great detachment.
Could listen to him all day. Great interview.
Great interview, love how most pilots are fiercely loyal to the first front line aircraft they were posted to.
Thank you.
Great to hear the story about the Buccaneer at low level vs CF-18s!
Fantastic interview JP, very informative & hat off to you my old wingman. Looking forward very much to your next installment. God help us if you got behind the yoke of a English Electric! You would have cost blighty a fortune in refuelling. Take care...& never forget who made you the nicest cups of Rosie, TTFN, Big Daddy.
Such a great bloke to watch. Thank you. Love hearing how capable the Hawk is. No wonder the US adopted it too. What a success story
The T45 Goshawk is much modified and very different from the Hawk.
Fantastic I could listen to John Parker all day every day not a bit of snobbery in him and so proud of what he’s done a brilliant story teller
Just discovered the channel. Truly wonderful, perfectly pitched with the technical, historical and personal. This is the No.1.
@@martinda7446 thank you! Hope you enjoy what we have to offer.
Fascinating stories and well told I hope Mr Parker writes a book one day
What a down to earth, interesting man, I enjoyed the stories.
I would love to sit down over a beer and just listen to his Bucc stories
Remember Jon well from his time at Lossie,I was his Batty in the Officers Mess
I wonder where they're all at now,Damien D'Lima,Rich Summers Cox,Ned Cullen ,Tommy Mackle to name a few,great bunch of guys
It's great to hear lots of nothing but great stories from a Buccaneer pilot and praise, built and designed very local to me, and my Dad was a fitter on them, a true British pedigree bomber 😊👍👍
Yes. Rather odd how the RAF has nothing like the Sea Eagle, Harpoon or Exocet available for air launch. Sounds like a Buccaneer airframe with Tornado avionics would be the best solution! Great interview as usual.
Cheers mate.
The galling thing is that such a Beast existed. The Tonka's avionics and nav-attack system were developed in a Buccaneer airframe (XT272). Unfortunately, the results were such that this platform was an embarrassment for the Tornado programme for the reasons outlined in the interview. Consequently, the trials airframe was scrapped (very low hrs on it) with undue haste once the programme was complete.
That was interesting, I watched that interview and the issues you had where exactly as described. DCS really needs a Buccaneer model!
I have met some great pilots but the quote I remember is 'they cannot get you in the weedosphere'. That was a Sea Harrier pilot.
What a guy what fantastic planes we have lost a lot of what we can do and make shame but the best pilot's in the world ❤
I am 65 years old, tomorrow. I can relate to all of the ‘history’ here.
Fantastic stories, can’t for the next instalment.
My Father was in the Royal R A F he was a Raeder😅 Good Program.
Excellent as usual. Really enjoy these interviews.
Really enjoyed this one Mike. The bit about the Hawk being a great fighter but the AlphaJet being better rings so true with me. I’ve seen Alphas beat Hawks in dogfights which had my jaw drop but I’ve also seen Hawks beat F-15’s.
Glad you enjoyed it. Yeah I have heard that also.
Well a Hawk *should* fly rings around an F15, 'knife fight in a phonebox' style dogfighting ain't an F15's job
The interesting question would be the comparisons across Hawks, Alpha Jets, F18s & F16s.
Hell, chuck in a Eurofighter Typhoon too.
And maybe a Rafael
@@Farweasel Gnat enters the room !
@@sichere 🙄
To be fair, they worked out well in India
@@Farweasel They most certainly did - The Folland "Sabre Slayer" Gnat was a terrific little plane.
Amazing stories once again
Hats off , top man
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
Great interview, thank you
superb, can't wait for next one
Cheers Paul.
What an amazing, informative and laid back guy to listen to. Wow !!! RNAS all the way ;-)
Jon hats off, you got the career I wanted but was put off by the careers officer who said only toffs get to fly jets, you council house types can come in and fix them if you like, I had the same thoughts as you “I didn’t want to tinker with them I wanted to fly them “
I think both kites at one time were based at Honington
Was there ever an aircraft as good at low level than the Bucc?
Where's the Buccaneer,on the side of your Buccanead,I loved the Bucc.saw them at both,Lossiemouth and Gibraltar.
I used to watch the Buccaneer and the Shackelton fly in over the golf course and land at RAF Lossiemouth all the time. As a young boy I always wondered what it would like to fly in one!
Great interview
Thanks Matt.
Great interview, enjoyed that one!
Cheers
JP, top guy on 27/12 in the early 90's
Interesting comment (about 5.50+) that the particular fule tanks added extra G. did that mean, they elped the turn , or simply that it took extra G to make a turn with them? At any rate Jon was pleaed that they did! And how did they contrbute to the extra G?
I've got two thoughts:
1) The conformal tanks add to the wing's rigidity,
2) This is a bit of backward thinking - we often think the wings hang on the fuselage, which is true when the aircraft is parked on the hard stand. But when it is flying, the fuselage hangs on the wing. The centre of lift of the individual wings would be the pivot point for the whole lever system each side of the fuselage, and if your center of lift is inboard of the fuel tank, then the weight of the fuselage would be slightly lessened by the weight of the tank on the opposite side of the see-saw teeter totter pivot point.
How's that for two theories?
So many pilots rave about the Hawk that I'm very curious to learn what they think about the British Aerospace Hawk 200 single seater. Can you interview someone who has flown it.
Brilliant, thanks for sharing 👍
Great interview! Love the Buccaneer and Tornado 😀 Were Sea Eagles nuclear capable? I thought by the late 80s, the RAF only had WE177 nukes?
No Sea Eagle was not nuclear capable. The Buccaneer maritime nuclear strike was done by toss-bombing. So you pull up sharply from low level about 5 or 6 miles out from the target and “loft” the nuclear bomb onto a ballistic path towards the target, then do a sharp 180 and get out of Dodge City as fast as you can!
Read years ago about Buccaneers flying over in the us and them being Gob smacked at what our guys did in that aircraft 😊
Where was this video filmed (it looks like an aviation museum), as I'd probably like to visit? Any info please, thanks.
It was filmed at Newark Air Museum. Well worth a visit.
@@Aircrewinterview Many thanks. I've not been to Newark Air Museum for many a year (1996 probably). It was good then but looks like a lot's happened since. I'll certainly have to plan a visit 👍
Ver interesting
What an interesting chat and once again pollies making decisions on weapons that u need to do the job like the missiles needed to attack a ship
In an alternate universe the Germans would have purchased the Saunders Roe SR177, the supersonic Blackburn Buccaneer replacement would be flying along with the TSR2 and supersonic Harrier....And Winkle Brown would have broken the sound barrier... And all the rest. BAC 3-11 et al. And don't get me started about the cars...
Edit: Not crazy, just a bit sad some of these were lost to the world. We did have the HP Victor which is my favourite crazy aircraft. Nothing looks as wonderful as that thing.
JP you need to get fat boy and do a joint interview 😉 Smiffy x
If ever I had the offer to blag a flight in any one aeroplane ......
It would be a Buc at low level over terrain.
Bit too fast & complex for me to be the driver 'tho.
No way, he started on JP!
The policy to introduce pilots straight in to the JP 3 was relatively short
Why stand in front of Harrier ?
He flew the harrier too. Watch Pt. 2
If he stood *behind* the Harrier we wouldn't have been able to see him. Duh.
@@Farweasel haha
Why would you click unlike ??
Because you work for the BBC and this is far better than a lecture on why we should all be crossderessing?
@@Farweasel you’ve lost me on that one .
@@pauljones8149 At least *try* and keep up at the back.
The BBC's stock in trade these days is glorification or the woke & limp-wristed.
Which is deadly dull despite the occasional unintended humur of farce.
This is appealing to a predominantly male audience and consequently will take viewers away from their politically correct indoctrination.
So they ain't gonna like it.
@@Farweasel I will do my utmost to keep up 👍
@@Farweasel 😂😂😂😂😂 priceless and so very true !!
Not the most environmentally friendly thing I could imagine. Even so I would of loved to watch a Super Tanker getting bombed.
Flask and butties at the ready.
Not a trustworthy interviewee. Comes off too conceited. Too defensive.
Your judgment is right off. JP is a top man.
Don’t be such a twat.