PLC1966 Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 I think there is a subtle difference between the names though in so much who is using the name, For example when I was on a Phantom Squadron , we never called the aircraft 'tooms, they were generally just referred to as 'Jets', so 'what time are the last jets down' was a constant shout on nights, or anytime from lunchtime on a Friday... However on the rest of the Station they would generally be called 'Tooms or Phantoms. Outside the wire they were obviously known as Phantoms or 'The Phinest jet the Royal Air Force has ever flown' (or was that just me). Similarly at Odiham as far as I am aware from a Squadron/Engineering side of things Chinooks were never Wokka Wokkas, they were usually just called Cabs or very occasionally Chinnys or Wokkas. Across the Station Wokka Wokka or Chinooks was Standard. I guess the point was to shorten names down, so Albert was the usual phrase for Hercules, Fat Albert being no shorter than its real name. Timmy & Tommy standard names across the Mob as sounding better than Tristar. Vickers Fun Bus was another service wide name that was not really used when I worked with 101 Sqn. As for the Tornado, always a Tonka, however I will add that the F2/F3 term use was a standard for the fighters. I was always under the impression 'The Fin' was directed to the ADV versions as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AirfixAndy Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Was the Tristar often referred to as the Bi-Star ?? Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 The only time I have ever heard the term "Fin" used by the groundcrew it was said in an ironic, disparaging manner. "The Mighty Fin...." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The original Kit Builder Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) Ah, the old "Flick Knife Airliner". I was in the mob a good while before the Tornado and first heard it called Tonka before it entered squadron service, though I've never heard it called the Fin. Edited January 29, 2014 by Kit builder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLC1966 Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 (edited) The Fin............. sarcasm is a much underrated form of wit outside the mob... Bi-Star - never heard of it, was that a reflection on the 216 Sqn Air Stewards ? Edited January 27, 2014 by PLC1966 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jabba Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 Similarly at Odiham as far as I am aware from a Squadron/Engineering side of things Chinooks were never Wokka Wokkas, they were usually just called Cabs or very occasionally Chinnys or Wokkas. Across the Station Wokka Wokka or Chinooks was Standard. Whilst I was at Odiham Chinooks were often known as 44 seater contra rotating flying death bananas. Also agree that they were only known as Wokkas or the mighty Wokka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomjw Posted January 27, 2014 Share Posted January 27, 2014 During my time at BAe Warton and Brough (on GR4 avionics), I never heard anyone refer to it as a Tonka ever. Not even aircrew. Then again, we always called the GR4 MLU (Mid Life Upgrade). Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 A night in a certain Sardinian airbase with a jerrycan of Deci Red...... OOOOH Deci Red sold in 20 litre plastic jerrycans..... Also, I think TONKA came from the phrase 'Tonka toys for big boys!!!!!' XVTonker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 OOOOH Deci Red sold in 20 litre plastic jerrycans..... Oh noooooooooooooooooooooo... I had just about managed to purge that sort of thing from my memory banks. Now it's all come flooding back. Well, not all of it, obviously. Just the start, when it all seemed like a jolly good idea, and the hideous aftermath. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plumber Posted January 28, 2014 Share Posted January 28, 2014 Deci Red was drinkable ( just ) if you mixed it 50/50 with asti spumanti. I'd left a few spuwy bottle corks in the roof of the old Nags Head before they pulled it down. After 21 Deci dets I was getting used to it!!!!!! Happy days !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 We used to buy a crate of spuwy just so we could fire the corks across the Nag's Head at whichever other squadron was on det with us! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patjb Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Mix Deci red! What sort of protective clothing did you wear? Just a thought would it be a good undercoat for a Red Arrow model, or would it do unimaginable damage to the plastic? Deci, there's years of therapy down the drain for reminding me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 Really hope some of you gentlemen publish your memoirs of your time in the RAF, onerous British libel laws be damned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seahawk Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 44 seater contra rotating flying death bananas. Isn't "Chinook" much less of a mouthful? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted January 29, 2014 Share Posted January 29, 2014 (edited) Isn't "Chinook" much less of a mouthful? It's called playing to the crowd! Especially those who worked on lesser helicopters (Merlins, Queenies, Pumas and Teeny-Weenies) There's always been an element of slagging off, piddle taking and general derision between those on different fleets. Edited January 29, 2014 by Wez Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Was it aircrew who used the term `Fin'? I just ask because I`ve read a book by a pilot where he used the term and while up in the air in formation the fin is quite a prominent part of the aircraft. I`d thought that it was used more in the F.3 community than the bomber fleet. As an ex squaddie, back in the 80`s the Army referred to the Chinook as the `Wokka Wokka' or just `Wokka' for short, the Hercules was the `Herk' , `Herky Bird'or `C-130', (I hated the latter!), The VC-10 was the `Vicky Ten' and some called the Tristar `Timmy' (but not many!). As far as I can remember (and there are huge blank spaces!) most other aircraft were just referred to using their real names so that people (officers?) didn`t get too confused. During FAC exercises most USAF aircraft were just F-15, F-16, A-10 etc but during a deployment to Turkey I did hear a C-5 Galaxy referred to as an `Aluminium Overcast' however I don`t think that it was common (its a bit complicated for the Army after all!) and `Big F***er' was also used? Its been an interesting thread this one, Cheers Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismac60 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Was the Tristar often referred to as the Bi-Star ?? Andy Only after an engine failure Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismac60 Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 It's called playing to the crowd! Especially those who worked on lesser helicopters (Merlins, Queenies, Pumas and Teeny-Weenies) There's always been an element of slagging off, piddle taking and general derision between those on different fleets. Good accurate stuff Wez and Tonyot. On 33 we called Pumas, Percy's. Tommies are cargo Tristars. Teeny Weenies are any AAC aircraft or Navy Lynxs. Tombs are British Phantoms. Never heard Fin, except when with civvy spotter friends. Frightnings are of course Lightnings.Chris RAF Odiham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murph Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Whilst on the subject, I never met a fighter pilot who uses the terms "joystick" or "bang seat" and that includes our Brit exchange officers. Regards, Murph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) I had a friend in the AAC and he called the Gazelle "The whistling chicken leg", also when the Lynx mk9 came on line it was nicknamed the "Wheely bin!" Edited February 1, 2014 by Shaun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enzo the Magnificent Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 the Hercules was the `Herk' , `Herky Bird'or `C-130', (I hated the latter!), The VC-10 was the `Vicky Ten' and some called the Tristar `Timmy' (but not many!). On detachment, whatever aircraft was due to take you back home was known as a "Gozomie Bird". 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 On detachment, whatever aircraft was due to take you back home was known as a "Gozomie Bird". Oh yes...especially when down MPA!...Then it was "the big f.o Gozomie Bird!" Then you had the "F.O.G"..Falklands Old Guy" when you were nearly at the end of your 4 month tour & then you became the "F.R.O.G" for "Falklands Really Old Guy" for those about to escape... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Good accurate stuff Wez and Tonyot. On 33 we called Pumas, Percy's. Tommies are cargo Tristars. Teeny Weenies are any AAC aircraft or Navy Lynxs. Tombs are British Phantoms. Never heard Fin, except when with civvy spotter friends. Frightnings are of course Lightnings. Chris RAF Odiham And the Argosy were known as the 'Whistling Tit'............ XVTonka (need to spell it right now) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xvtonker Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 On detachment, whatever aircraft was due to take you back home was known as a "Gozomie Bird". yes, we used to sit outside the basha at Two Boats on Ascension Island drinking G&T's waiting to watch the VC-10 gozomie Bird come into land.... XVTonka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techniquest Posted February 4, 2014 Share Posted February 4, 2014 Sorry, but 'Tonka' (and 'Wokka') just makes me cringe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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