Flying In The Falklands | Roy Macintyre

Roy Macintyre shares what it was like to live and fly in the Falklands which includes some great stories - one of my favorites is the flight when Roy got his 3000 hours in the F3!
Enjoy
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[@badgastein2]

I found the interview with Roy fascinating,and I am speaking as a civilian who spent 1984-86 involved in constructing the airport, accommodation and infra-structure. The Falkland Islander’s are the most patriotic people I have met, and returning in 2016 nothing as really changed. The view of the stars in the Southern hemisphere is breathtaking as is the wildlife on some of the many smaller islands.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@mothmagic1]

I agree with your comment about the Islander's patriotism. They are staunchly and adamantly British. Very likeable bunch

[@PeterMenzies-t4r]

Superb, honest and down to earth interview of this Scottish Legend, glad he has not lost his accent after so many years away. I visited Falkland Islands several years ago in reverence to a served family member and although certainly not a glamorous destination I found it quite captivating.

[@level1804]

I did three tours in the Falklands of four months at a time. 90, 97 and 04. A year of my life spent in a place most people will never get the opportunity to be, and looking back I wouldn’t change a thing. It was an experience that I hold dearly in my time in the RAF, and the training I received before being deployed there has ultimately set me up for a successful civilian career. It’s a tour where you can stay in the bar and fester, or go out exploring a unique opportunity. I did both. Great video Roy.

[@mothmagic1]

I did the same tour two years running and ended up with 5 winters and no summer in the space of that time.

[@neilsbs8273]

I was down there early 90s on a Frigate and we had the chance to do Fighter Evasion with the F3s in our Lynx. Its amazing what stopping and hovering at 10ft off the deck does to the radar lock on their missiles at the time, then giving us the chance to lock the Tornado up as they flew over the top. Also was onboard when they came out to beat us up, I was the controller onboard but from what I gather they flew over the flight deck at about 50ft and 400kts.

[@mathewwilliams5470]

Loved my tour in the Falklands in 2003. Flew down on Air Luxor A330. Worked in the JOC. Weather wise I was there for Winter 4 seasons in one day. Lots of flying especially on the VC10 and Herc. And a Visit to Sea Lion Island on a Brintel S61. I remember having a long weekend off hiring a L/rover to visit Stanley with a few mates, going into the Globe to say you had visited and finding out there was a dance in FIDF hall. Locals asking if we were going and then they rang around to find us somewhere to stay. Within 20 minutes we had a bed for the night. Never have I found such a place for welcoming in strangers. After a day and night we finally woke up all be it late for breakfast we did have a great breakfast and after spending time walking around Stanley to clear our heads a leisurely drive back to MPA. Flew back on a Tristar and remember the Mini video players. I would love to go back there.

[@josephnason8770]

My RAF brother in law Dave Hourston (rip) was stationed there. He was a flight officer managing a squadron of anti sub aircraft l believe. He talked a Tornado pilot into a ride, betting a quantity of champaign the pilot could not get him sick. Dave won the bet.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Nice one!

[@thefuzz1172]

I could listen to this guy all day!

[@hmmjedi]

I spent 4 months down there in winter (UK) summer (FI) 97 and it was a strange experience but a good one saw a lot of measles runs... The Army guys we saw once which was the Gurkha's who tabbed over from MPA to Mt Kent. I spent a lot of my free time walking around Kent...

[@Angel_423]

Did they have MPA up yet or were you still in town?

[@hmmjedi]

MPA was complete in 1985 I was based up at Mount Kent one of the 3 radar sites...

[@stevesmith9081]

Was down there twice. Did a FI winter on 1435 Flt May-Aug '97 and then did a FI Summer over Xmas & New Year Oct-Feb 2001-02, again on 1435 Flt

[@Pincer88]

Always a pleasure listening to Mr. Macintyre, he is a natural. Never been to the Falklands, but I imagine that a highlander would find it pretty unremarkable with regards to the climate or the landscape. From what I've seen on TV the islands can be beautiful, though rough and pretty desolate.

[@Aircrewinterview]

He’s a top bloke and great story teller.

[@mothmagic1]

As a Shetlader said to me iit's just like home minus the trees.

[@Jacksh12]

I did two tours 86 & 91. 91 at Mount Alice and Measles was a huge highlight of our time on the mountain sites. F4s at the time as Roy mentioned I have seen some flypasts! Great talk and good memories. Thanks Roy.

[@pauledwards3740]

I was there in 91 around September

[@davefost]

Always a pleasure to hear from Mr Macintyre. Thank you!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@WeeRosieOurFrenchie]

Always good to see and listening to “Roymac” his stories are stuff of legends at times 🤣🤣🥳 Ah the Falklands what a miserable desolate place , but Roy can make it sound interesting and fun !!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@georgesheffield1580]

They are a fascinating place except where the Argentinans left alot of antipersonel mines

[@troyledbetter6597]

Excellent interview with Mr. Mac! It would be great to interview Roy on his Middle East deployment on the no fly zone.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks!

[@rudipack1551]

I worked in Flight Operations for ADB (Antonov Design Bureau) and VDA (Volga-Dnepr) in a joint set up company called Ruslan International Ltd. We produced a CFP on an Antonov An-124 Ruslan to carry a Tornado (I believe it was an F-3) from the Falklands to BZZ, the original problem was that the first flight plan took the flight through Argentinian airspace, a new CFP was produced.....happy days (great video as always)

[@Occasion77]

Random question related to the AN-124 flight controls you may or may not know - how is it trimmed? Does it have an all moving stabilizer or some other method of trimming the aircraft for take off? I've seen tons of video of it taking off and it never looks like it is trimmed (although I know it of course is). Thanks!

[@GP-ni1kp]

Always great to listen to Roy on here. Cheers.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@ScottRae]

Weather down there was unique with one of the particularly unique elements being rotor turbulence in northerly winds as the wind came over the top of Pleasant Peak / Mount Pleasant. Pretty sure I've seen METARs showing winds as VRB10G60KT - was insane on a bad day! Always fun trying to launch a weather balloon in that!

[@davidsmith8997]

Man, he's lucky that Mach run didn't do anything worse! Glad it more or less all worked out. Very interesting stories to share!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Indeed.

[@cliverowland5380]

Loved listening, spent 4 months in 1991 on RAF Police Dog Section, often wondered how much the tour has changed, thanks for a great insight.

[@jimtait6261]

What a great guy, wonderful stories!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@andytracy6897]

Took me a while to recall where we had crossed paths in the RAF. 39 Long Course at Brawdy Sep ‘85. Found the course photo but I don’t think you can add images to comments. We were younger back then!

[@roymacintyre6479]

Hi Andy! I also seem to remember a very wet West Freugh in November? Ex Purple Warrior.

[@andytracy6897]

@@roymacintyre6479 indeed! It turned out that being on the boat was a lot drier than dry land, though I did have a small excursion alongside that nearly dumped me in the water. Trust you’re well and congrats on a very long RAF career. I only got to my 12 year point.

[@roymacintyre6479]

@@andytracy6897 Cheers Andy. I am still in contact with a few from our Brawdy Cse - Al K, Archie L and John T - not to mention Ken S, one of the directional consultants!

[@andytracy6897]

@@roymacintyre6479 still in contact with Chris and Archie, never heard John Tait after we left Brawdy, nor the Navs, some of whom appear in my logbook on the course. I know Ade Fahe died with Jules Cooke (my Valley course) a few years later. But I guess we didn’t have email and social media last century!

[@mothmagic1]

The weather changes so quickly down there it's like Dartmoor. Flying time from Stanley to Mount Kent is five minutes. Mount Kent has two heli pads, one at the top and one at the bottom. I've seen a helicopter depart Stanley able to see both top and bottom only to arrive at Mount Kent and not even able to see the one at the bottom. Needless to say that was an aborted sortie. Marvelous to see this video.

[@georgesheffield1580]

The flight to there sounds somewhat like flying to beautiful sunny south east asia ( also know as Viet Nam ) . Looking out the window at the same ocean for a day ,expecting to see the edge of the world .

[@MrWarwick15]

Thank you Guys! Richard.

[@chloehennessey6813]

Mr Rob needed an F-14 with six AIM-54 Pheonix missiles. Two AIM-7 Sparrows and two AiM-9X Sidewinders. From what I’ve seen online the Pheonix was good to hit targets past 215-225 kilometers!

[@adamw2911]

The Phoenix was decent against larger targets. Not great against smaller, nimble aircraft.

[@chrisfox3161]

I was on the second rotation of F3 groundcrew over Christmas 1992. The jets had been there a mere 4 or so months. It was called the Eyrie. Not the eagle's nest then. The Death Star is correct, as is the RIC. The G count of the airframes was ridiculous. They were bent out of shape. So much so that an airframe expected to last 18 months before a strip down and decent service was done after 6 months. As for this sim qual business. it used to be called lack of moral fibre. 😁

[@stuartb9194]

Sounded like a lotta fun!

[@chloehennessey6813]

Thank you for your service, sir. Are you in one of the planes we see zooming about in the videos of Falklands?

[@X737_]

Guys anyone remember the carpet that was in the officers mess only pilots were allowed to stand on?…….😂 until it’s unexpected liberation in 2002 😂

[@john07973]

Good stuff 👍

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks 👍

[@X737_]

OP & Roy! Are you familiar with the rug in the officers mess at MPA bar that only pilots were allowed to stand on and how it was stolen? 😂

[@bleep323]

As ex army although not infantry it would be interesting to know which units were friendly and which were not but then I could probably figure it out.

[@roymacintyre6479]

For example, in one corner 3 Para, in the other corner The Duke of Boots (as was). I'll leave you to pick who you think were the good guys!

[@bleep323]

@@roymacintyre6479 Clearly the Paras isn’t a surprised and would have been my first choice. Also having been based next door to the Duke of Boots in Bulford during the 90’s neither does that.

[@iatsd]

Pah. :) Fly Trans Pacific NZ/Oz/Singapore to Japan or the US and you're looking at 14-17 hours straight up. Try doing that 6 times a year on a 17 inch wide seat with a 31 inch pitch.

[@uingaeoc3905]

There was no Argentina when the UK took over the Falklands.

[@wiesenbefeuchter]

Did you dogfight with the Argies near the isles ?

[@stanleybuchan4610]

That didn't happen.

[@grahamcook9289]

Should this guy being divulging so much detail? One assumes that even today all that has changed is that the F3s have been replaced by Typhoons. If I was in Argentine military intelligence I would be taking notes, although as an Argentine I would have to get him translated into English first, before Spanish. 🤣

[@stanleybuchan4610]

He didn't divulge anything mate, he's not an idiot.

[@grahamcook9289]

He's also revealed it is possible to approach radar stations without being detected till the last moment, and how to do it.

[@roymacintyre6479]

From a range of 3-4 nms. What about the other 400 nms from the mainland?

[@manuwilson4695]

Always good to hear from ex British military pilots. They just seem so much more genuine than American ones.

[@guaporeturns9472]

😂😂

[@manuwilson4695]

@@guaporeturns9472 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@frederickastorgav7991]

Ok. So in theory, the ADV could circunlmnavigate the earth in 4 days. As far i humbly understand.

[@jakhaughton1800]

The US isn’t very impressed with the UK Armed Forces but man for man the UK forces are the best. Planning, logistics and efficiency are exceptional

[@georgesheffield1580]

The yanks often are full of themselves ,but look at their record since WW2 , lots of battle wins but where are the war wins ? I'm a yank too.

[@MaxPlankton]

The procurement is deplorable though, do I need to name types? AFV's, combat aircraft, maritime surveillance, destroyers?? Never mind the wokeness and prosecution of service people involved in Herrick/Telic. We are finished.

[@mstevens113]

It's the lack of numbers the US is critical of. They know how capable individual personnel are.

[@einstienspock]

Falklands is like a hawai state of england yeah makes so much sense lol

[@grahamcook9289]

He's revealed that Port Stanley airfield isn't useable for fast jets.

[@stanleybuchan4610]

Nothing new there mate. Most people know that who've been to the FI's.

[@grahamcook9289]

Surely this guy is still subject to the Official Secrets Act. I wonder if this video has been sanctioned by the authorities prior to going live?

[@grahamthebaronhesketh.]

What a depressing place to fly, mind you the western Islands are nice.

[@Ukonly]

The falklands was settled & being ruled by the brits before Argentina existed ! Ukraine same situation. A Bigger power invaded the falklands . But chose wrong nation to fight . Don’t feel sorry for their soldiers they wanted to fight & we obliged . European 🇪🇺 trying to change the rules as usual . Why European army never happen so hijacked NATO !

[@stretch3281]

150 feet..... ish 🤔

[@grahamcook9289]

If I was currently stationed in the Falklands I would be very unhappy with this interview being on KZbin.

[@Aircrewinterview]

What you on about? It’s all public knowledge. There have been many books about it.

[@grahamcook9289]

@@Aircrewinterview In that someone at the MoD is asleep on the job. Remember, loose lips sink ships!

[@Aircrewinterview]

@@grahamcook9289 Christ.

[@henryvagincourt4502]

@@grahamcook9289 Don't panic just yet cock, the Argies haven't the forces to threaten the Island's. Ex F126 in the war.

[@stanleybuchan4610]

Stop flapping Graham, everything Roy said is already "out there" for all to see.

[@Clapperofcheeks5000]

I been to Shetland much the same minus penguins barren and windy