FlyPast – August 2018

32 FLYPAST August 2018

CORRECT ATTITUDE

The Master Pilot instructor –

Jimmy – walked with me to the

apron where Vampire India-Romeo

was parked. We said hello to the two

airmen comprising the starting crew

and, on completing the external

checks, Jimmy saw me safely and

comfortably settle into the cockpit.

He acquainted me with various

controls, including flap and

undercarriage levers, and turned to

the more important of the gauges

with which he knew I would not be

familiar: such as the JPT (jet pipe

temperature gauge).

Requesting that I pay particular

attention to the two yellow knobs

just below the canopy rails on the

starboard side, his manner became

very emphatic as he described their

function: “Pulling the front yellow

knob seals the canopy for cockpit

pressurisation and the one to the

rear jettisons the canopy.” He asked

me to repeat back these items and

seemed quite satisfied that

I understood.

Leaving me for a moment to talk

to the airmen, Jimmy reappeared on

the port side of the cockpit; I felt a

sudden lurch as the nose came up,

the nosewheel coming clear of

the ground.

He had instructed the airmen to

push down on the tail-booms to

raise the nose to a predetermined

position, which I was soon to learn

represented the aircraft’s correct

landing attitude. Laughing at my

surprise, he handed me a large

chinagraph pencil and instructed me

1918 2018

“Understandably, Bill was looking a little chagrined, saying: ‘Archie,

I’m not too keen on these bloody jets, are you?’”

to draw a line on the front Perspex

where the immediate horizon

crossed the windscreen.

I said to myself: “What would air

forces do without a copious supply

of chinagraph pencils?”

FIRST TIME

After an initial ‘wet’ start, which

to me looked terrifyingly like a

fire, Jimmy coached me through a

successful engine start. I was ready

to go – canopy closed, taxi and take-

off clearance obtained.

After an excruciatingly slow

acceleration I was in the air. From

thereon in everything became very

straightforward. The aeroplane

handled so beautifully. I climbed to

10,000ft (3,050m) and completed a

few aerobatics. But you’ve guessed it:

my hands never went near either of

Above

Sgt Archie Kinch at

ease while abroad

with 205 Squadron.

Above right

A fully kitted-up pilot

boarding a Vampire

FB.5. KEY COLLECTION