Posted on 06/25/2010 3:24:01 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
A RAF navigator gave plane-spotters a chuckle as he held up a sign reading 'I'm with stupid' with an arrow pointing to the pilot. The pair were on a training mission in a £13million Tornado GR4 aircraft, capable of reaching 1,400mph, when the navigator pulled the prank as they jetted through a valley in Wales. Based at RAF Lossiemouth in the Scottish Highlands, the men were flying through Snowdonia, in northern Wales, at the time of the Top Gun stunt.
Knowing there would be spotters in the area, the amused navigator produced the homemade sign and sure enough, it was captured on camera. It recalls the famous moment in Top Gun when Tom Cruise gives the finger to a Russian MiG pilot during an 'impossible' 4-G negative dive, and then claims he was just 'keeping up foreign relations'.
The RAF trains pilots in Snowdonia to be future fast jet combat pilots through the valleys and keen aviation fans often watch the pilots in action.
The Ministry of Defence laughed off the light-hearted moment, saying the navigator was showing some personality. A spokesman told The Sun: 'All RAF aircrew are trained to be consummate profesionals, but - as with all jobs - there are light-hearted moments as well. The phrase 'I'm with Stupid' with an arrow has been used on novelty T-shirts since the 1970s.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Because the guy in the front seat doesn't know how to get to where he's going without him.........
funny!
I don’t care you you are...That’s funny!
ping
ping
with the arrow pointing straight down. *grin*
Apparently you’ve never been in a cab. The guy in the front doesn’t do anything but drive and collect tips.
And arrives at the unintended intersection with terrain last.
Ooooohhhh! That’s pretty indeed.
I don't know, ask the chauffeur
WSO/EWO ping
ping
We used to encounter Whidbey Prowlers transiting the Columbia River near Vantage en route to the Yakima Firing Center and also over the river further south near the old Boardman firing range. One sight I’ll never forget is when one crossed my visual field from left to right when in my Piper Colt over the Horse Heaven Hills (maybe 500 AGL). Yes, it was a military training corridor.
My dad spent much of his USAAF/USAF career in the back seat as a flight instructor. Instead of a sign, he packed a Colt .45. He claimed it was in case he was shot down over enemy territory, but that didn’t explain why he carried it over Texas....
Fantastic!
Thanks for the ping. Years ago (late 80s), we had the squadron called for a meeting. After reviewing the rules on low flight, the Sq/CC said there had been a complaint from the Lakes region...and showed a photo of one of our jets flying below the cameraman.
Then he smiled and said it was all in accordance with the rules...
Also, I once used a well known castle as a “command bunker” for our target on a training run. As we got close, I asked the pilot to roll up a bit as we passed overhead so I could take a picture.
He did. Rolled inverted at 300’ & 540 kts, while I took the picture out of the top of the canopy, with a half dozen cameras staring back! I had it framed.
Unfortunately, someone (one of the movers) stole that picture when I left England... ;>(
Ahh...old retired fart memories. Might as well share them before I forget them!
A couple of pics form the RAF's Low Lebvel Route in Wales
A Eurofighter, aka, Typhoon x 2 the white dots are sheep!!!
FWIW the pics were taken by a chap siiting on a hill side on the LL route. All I can find at the moment as I do not have access to the server list right now:-(
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
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