Fighter Pilots - Episode 8 - "Sport of Kings" 1981 BBC documentary Series complete

BBC documentary Series Fighter Pilots 1981 complete Episode 7 - Sport of Kings

[@kcross43]

It's been great to watch this again after 37 years! When this was aired I was in my 1st year in the RAF - I am about to enter my 39th!

[@SuperMageo]

What is your job in the RAF?

[@Biggles2498]

Were you Pilot or Navigator ?

[@chipfire]

Get some time in! 😂

[@EThree3]

A lot of people hate the theme tune, I love it. Reminds me of watching this with my dad all those years ago when, as an ex-airman, he inspired me to join up! Miss you dad. x

[@robd2184]

Good call, series inspired me into aviation too, watching this as an 8 year old in 1980

[@philohara2521]

Yes I'm partial to that tune as well.😁

[@jumb0j0ck]

Vangelis, I believe. Inspired me no end and I ended up going Hercs like Martin Oxborrow.

[@DrTWG]

The tune is great and so appropriate with it's ethereal intro moving into the anthemic and hymn like phrases . It would have sounded so modern , synthesizer music hadn't been around that long . I wonder if it was done by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop / Ron Grainger (?) .

[@joeldiggle1891]

Don't mind the theme, but the music used in this TWU phase was hardly dynamic for fast jet air combat, certainly not 'Too Gun' Sexy!

[@jackharrison6771]

This series just gets better as it progresses; and all too soon, we enter the final episode. Thanks again. Thanks also to the veterans, for their service and comments. My late brother was RAF during the 1970s,, as Fire & Rescue, His postings included RAF Gan, Kinloss and Odiham.

[@alanmayes851]

I served 30 years in the RAF, for 8 of those years I worked at a Tactical Weapons Unit (TWU). During that time I witnessed many pilots under training, many I met again further on in my career. I had nothing but admiration for these highly skilled aviators who worked very hard to complete this phase of their training.

[@888ssss]

i was a fighter pilot. i started with the hunter and then the lightening, then in 1983 the gr1. it was great.

[@loquayrocks]

This was fascinating for me, my brother joined the Irish Air Corps in 1978 and was a commissioned pilot in 1980, so was going through something similar at the same time that these guys were. He is now a Lt Col. and is in charge of the military flying school in Baldonnell. Very proud of him!

[@mrFalconlem]

What did they fly Piper Cubs?

[@allybally0021]

@@mrFalconlem Not a big fleet....but high quality people.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

Took a little time, but I found out that John McRae fought in the first Gulf War in 1991 as a Flight Lt in Buccaneers. When Tornadoes were being shot down rather regularly on low level sorties against Iraqi airstrips, the Buccaneers were brought in as laser guides so the Tornadoes could fly higher. McRae flew several of those sorties. Rumours are that he was still in the RAF in 2006. I don't know if that's true and can't find any references to his career after that. Well done him!

[@davidhumphreys7035]

If he's still in in 2006 he'll be spec aircrew or reserves.

[@Nucleotide5313]

You could have a look in the London Gazette. Promotions are listed in there.

[@richardvernon317]

He was instructing on a University Air Squadron a few years back so he would have been in the Reserves. Robbie Low retired as a Wing Commander and CO of a Tornado Squadron. My Brother met him at a function at RAF Lossiemouth's Officers Mess a few years ago where he was an Instructor on the Tornado simulator with Colin McGregor, Obi Wan's Brother!! My Brother said Robbie was a really nice bloke.

[@digitalradiohacker]

Imagine being able to visit your old employer: "The tornado chaps were taking a bit of a walloping see, so the brass had them stay nice and safe up at high altitude, and we went in with the lasers, what?" What an absolute boss.

[@jonmcgee9656]

I was at Brawdy 1977 - 1982 and as a Cpl I was part of a small team that was tasked to travel to RAFG for a week to maintain a single Hawk that was fitted with a rear-facing BBC camera (where the Aden gun would normally be fitted). A lot of the aerial footage was taken by the Hawk. RAF Brawdy, happy days! I went back to Brawdy, Eng Ops after a seven year absence due to postings to Valley, Coningsby and BAe Dhahran. During my handover "walkround" I knew more people at the base than the guy I was replacing...…..they'd all managed to stay there! Oh yes, Arc Light, I had a divvy moustache too.

[@as680783]

I spent two weeks at RAF Brawdy in the summer of 1983 or 1984, as an ATC cadet. I remember a USAF F1-11 squadron being based there and flying every day.

[@pinopino1086]

Thank you John McRae for taking us in this 'capsule of time' back in the days! This is the second time I'm watching this. First in 2013 and again in 2020. Fascinating! Hope you are fine and doing well..

[@jmcw9632]

amazing stuff, enjoyed all the episodes, ty for uploading

[@peteg3826]

Thanks for posting.

[@2000Ajjet]

Thanks for posting this series...I remember it as a kid for the fighter jets, now looking at this, understanding the 'human' face of the service. Respect! When this came out, the RAF really did have a defined enemy in the USSR, so different now.

[@24934637]

40 years later, those same Tu-95s are still doing the same incursions into UK airspace, and the RAF is still going up to see them off LOL.

[@JamASharpe]

Cracking series. I remember this from when I was a nipper. Thanks for sharing

[@mmichaeldonavon]

Probably the best flying video I've seen on the web - was very interesting. Thanks, N-6395T

[@SimDeck]

I probably walked past the chap who got posted to RAF Laarbruch many times when I was a kid. I was an RAF brat at that time and lived on that camp for 3 years looking up to the sky watching Buccaneers fly every day. Then later Tornados.

[@jonmcgee9656]

At 13.15. The George pub in Solva where JM shared a house. We used to drink in there and chuckle to ourselves when the student pilots used to try and impress the local girls with their tales of derring-do and their demonstrations of the pilot's "hand -jive" (re-creating the pre-sortie briefings (but without the aircraft training aids), as shown at the start of this episode)

[@wayneschenk5512]

Fantastic stuff remembered watching it as a kid convinced to take up flying as a career.

[@petermitchell6348]

Ah Laarbruch! Had 2.5 wonderful years there.

[@moelfre335]

John McRae was my hero when I was a kid. He was a cool guy. Absolutely loved this Series especially the RAF Brawdy episode. I spent many occasions watching those Hawks fly over our West Wales village. Cheers John. Hope your keeping well Sir. By the way- Chalky White's Hair is awesome. Cheers. 80's RAF tashes- those we're the days.

[@notreallydavid]

Love to know what they're all doing now. Great to see this again - seems so long ago, yet so recent. Thanks, cybermega.

[@wayneschenk5512]

Martin Oxbra is on aircrew interview.

[@musicjuly3415]

The music gives me goosebumps.

[@glenbeavis]

Laarbruch spent 3 years there in the 80's.. great vid remember this from when i was a kid,

[@Relax2437]

Very nice thanx for uploading....now I remember why I became an commercial pilot instead of military:)

[@Biggles2498]

I agree as I also find RAF Air Bases very depressing places !

[@woooster71]

I missed this series first time around.. I’d have been 8 in 1980.. John McRae drives a TVR. Proper pilots car that 😉 I had 7 TVRs in my time.. Blackboards, OHPs.. brilliant 👌🏼😄

[@sirwalterkissmecrack]

Interesting, thanks

[@TarnishUK]

Cor! RAF Brawdy, my first ATC annual camp in 1986. 28lb Practice Bombs going on there too, five years after my camp and into my apprenticeship I was doing the SEM to our CBLS 100s to remove all the 28lb fuzing and wiring after the RAF binned them of in favour of the 14kg.

[@danwallis4752]

Don't speak shit abut them until you realise what they've been through to get where they are. My uncle was a fighter pilot from this era. He lived on an army base on benefits. He didn't go too a grammar school or private school, but he slogged his guts out and learned and trained to get where he did. And i can see both sides of the picture. My other uncle was a para. I have a huge amount of repsect for the both of them, so think before you speak.

[@stevesayer4045]

Not everyone cut out to fly like these guys very brave men.

[@Sagewitchevensong]

That music......Christ.

[@thunderpussy8956]

I know.....up there with cats shagging, babies screaming and Katy bloody Perry!

[@Scotscan]

Diabolical.

[@forsdykemontague1017]

Of all these guys I only bumped into Rhod Smart who was back coursed at Henlow IOT. He obviously passed and went onto to fail flying training and ended up as Nav!

[@juancarloslopezrodrtiguez4787]

Me encanta el Hawk, es uno de los mejores aviones de entrenamiento básico avanzado del mundo, además de ser muy versátil, se puede usar como caza, y aunque no sea supersónico,, si que es un avión bastante maniobrable y ágil, con lo que puede poner en serios apuros a otros cazas, además de este fenomenal aparato, existe una versión monoplaza, que está equipada con radar, sistema de navegación inercial, la variante monoplaza del Hawk, recibe el nombre de Hawk MK 208.

[@adamw2911]

I've always maintained technical ability is only 40% of what you bring to the table. The rest is guts, determination and the absolute will to succeed through adversity.

[@Biggles2498]

Adam W : As Napoleon once asked his Generals " Are you lucky" also helps Old Boy ! (En Francais)

[@planejunky]

So the code for the door is 541, so the access won't be so restricted then then ha ha ha!!! I bet they changed that soon afterwards!! Seriously, thanks for posting up this series I really enjoyed it. =)

[@sicknote1558]

Funny I noticed that as well 🤣 😄

[@beagle7622]

Wasn’t there another series where they had video inside the cockpits of Jet Provosts & the instructor’s gave the students absolute hell . One of the main Students shown went to Hercule’s I believe.That was a fantastic series of programs, but I found the instructors over the top.

[@grahams7697]

What do you know about military flying training? I assume from your comment, that you have experience in this World??

[@MrSkid1970]

rob lowe,instructor on TWCU at honington during my time.

[@woodchuckandfox]

Mad skills Respect

[@archerry6457]

After 8 episodes, I think the film gets over the fact that McRea is a barrel of laughs and would defo be top of my party invitations.

[@gsmdo8836]

🤣😂🤣

[@toomanywaystofall]

Fighter pilots in fast movers...A cut above!

[@wbcfns]

Great video - thanks for sharing it. Shows you need an aptitude to fly in the air force, more than anything else. You can't buy your way in - if you can't fly there's no disguising it.

[@timgosling6189]

1TWU and Hunter FGA9s, and Paul Field; there're a few memories. How was your first trip in the Lightning Paul? This was of course the episode that had all single officers confined to live in the Mess for their first 18 months rather than living out in this totally un-officer-like manner, hurrumph, hurrumph. Happy days!

[@quickpickle]

14:40 enjoying a smoke during brief time lol

[@James-gf9jl]

Yes, nice to see the tabs on.

[@adrongoddard7479]

I wonder if he noticed that it was harder and harder to fit into the cockpit with the amount of chips he was putting away. Should of gone to fly Hercs straight away, a lot more room in the cockpit for expansion :D. Thanks for posting, this brought back a lot of memories.

[@ericmasaba9823]

Thanks for this Adron.

[@ericmasaba9823]

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04d526s/the-worlds-war-forgotten-soldiers-of-empire-1-martial-races

[@pwareham61]

Should have done Vesta curry now and then.

[@Ingens_Scherz]

You can't be a decent fast jet pilot in the RAF without a really bushy moustache, preferably with little curls at the ends. Something to do with aerodynamics.

[@Biggles2498]

What happens if a Student Pilot doesn't want to fly fighters but wanted to fly say C130 Hercules or in that day VC10 ?

[@Biggles2498]

At 3.35 that Gentleman closest to Cameraman is he Mark Pead I served my Cadetship with at Sea ? He always wanted to be an RAF Pilot ? I got accepted as Navigator but said no.

[@richardallison5414]

Did my Tucano FNT with John McRae - top bloke.

[@pscary1]

Richard Allison He was one of our flying instructors at the Elementary Flying School at Barkston Heath back in 2011/2012! Really nice guy and an absolute pleasure to fly with!😊

[@robslade2571]

What was the code for that door again. 514.

[@xoio]

Clearly also one of the prerequisites to being a RAF fighter pilot, is to have a tash & side parting.

[@VIV292]

Yay for the Milkman flying fast jets(what a legend really the guy has just determination and hard work maybe if he was some type of grad/profession people be like yeah no probs goes to show that will and belief 90% of the battle is in the mind

[@green823jade]

I wonder if the chap at 22:17 is Gary Stapleton the same who flew tornados during the Persian Gulf War with 15sq?

[@snowman374th]

EARN! your wings.. You don't WIN your wings.

[@allybally0021]

Its all down to luck.....just like Bingo. Hence win. Flying is extremely easy.

[@Cous1nJack]

How do you know if there is a pilot at a party? Wait two minutes they’ll tell you.

[@James-gf9jl]

What do pilots use for contraception? Their personality.

[@iphoneupdate]

Just here for the sound track

[@wildone106]

22:21 uhm I now know the code to get into the op room in Germany

[@as680783]

What I thought too!

[@digitalradiohacker]

John left school and had a job as a milkman, much to the amusement of his school masters. John applied to the RAF as a pilot (the cheek), much to the subdued chortles of the selection officers. John gave zero F's, mincing around in his sports car and chinning the mess off. John recieved a decent pass and went on to Buccaneers, and had the world stage been different, would been on its preferred alternative, TSR2. Up yours doubters. Up yours.

[@HollomanUFOLanding]

And a couple of years later was the Falklands war, where the highly trained pilots of the RAF shone through.

[@adiedonoghue1]

HollomanUFOLanding RN pilots you mean....RAF were at Asi other than Blackbuck mission

[@markwilson8299]

That might come as a surprise to the Pilots of No 1(F) Sqn RAF who were providing Harrier Gr3's from HMS Hermes. :-)

[@sabre22b]

Mark Wilson wow. Did not know that. Good point. Well made.

[@garethmitchell8140]

Adie...don’t be a plank. Besides flying the GR3 Harriers, several RAF pilots also flew Sea Harriers attached to naval squadrons. It only takes a little research before making such remarks.

[@revanslacey]

6:42 "I would point out the social advantage because we farmers can be freer particularly at the weekend and in summer we can take a few weeks holiday."

[@as680783]

Totally relevant points.

[@thomasbrowne4115]

I was hoping it wasn't just me who saw this, nice to know I'm not hallucinating!

[@jonmcgee9656]

At 3.01, good old "chalky" White, a top bloke, he was still at Brawdy 10 years later.

[@allybally0021]

Yep he was...with 234Sqn. Sound bloke.

[@MrMungus1]

Wanna bet :) For years most doors in the RAF had this code which was the default out of the box.

[@ronaldtartaglia4459]

Glorious where are the rest?

[@billgates2903]

Everyone knows the code for the door now 😮

[@The_Unintelligent_Speculator]

Not a bump cap on in sight. The days.

[@broadsworddannyboy1148]

OHP slides ....you gotta smile 😂

[@CB-fz3li]

I bet the combination to the door is still 541

[@sicknote1558]

😆 lol

[@1903chrisholden]

are there any fast jet pilots on here willing to talk about their time / experiences on fast jets?

[@allybally0021]

......I think you need to talk about mustache wax...that might start some dialogue.

[@xoio]

4:22 - Hawker Hunter!

[@Biggles2498]

I flew one(under supervision) as a PPL and they are easier to fly than a Beech 33 !

[@elizabetharmada5335]

their jobs are big responsibility for them,very serious jobs,specially if they assign at war,probably all of them are not smiling

[@Mavermick1]

The milkman's a bit of a moaner. First not enough holidays and now he works harder than everyone else. Wish he'd have driven his milk float to the greener field.

[@SKYLANDBAK]

LiveSteamLMS - From milk float to high tech fighter jets, you've got to give him some credit for the huge leap of self belief...From delivering gold top milk to bombs & missiles is a huge career turn around...I think he successfully found the greener field...

[@welshparamedic]

he is nearly 60 now!! lol

[@adamw2911]

Unless you have done ten weeks of basic military training then you've no right to judge any of these guys.

[@stewartw.9151]

Jobsworth!

[@davidhumphreys7035]

@@adamw2911 10 weeks? They were Officers and undergo significantly longer basic training and then there's almost 2 years flying training. 10 weeks is the modern RAF Basic training for the Other Ranks, back then it was 6 weeks.

[@eatthisvr6]

the milkman done good! i wonder if he ever went on to tornados?

[@sabre22b]

I don't think his personality would fit in the cockpit.

[@Biggles2498]

A Milkman who had 11 "0" Levels ! I scraped 8 !

[@homoKaliptus]

what did they become now ?

[@737Adventures]

more lika a comb-over!

[@phmwu7368]

11:18 sportscar TVR Griffith 400

[@xoio]

LOL :-D

[@digitalradiohacker]

I would point out the social advantage because we farmers can be freer particularly at the weekend and in summer we can take a few weeks holiday. Aparrently...

[@MrMungus1]

No. Some are but most join as Navs

[@HuasoPodrido]

so the door code is 541!

[@phill633vgs]

I used to just pick the three shiniest buttons...

[@epowellrob]

And we keep all the keys for the planes in the kitchen drawer (the one under the kettle)

[@Biggles2498]

In high terrain would it not help to set QFE to zero at highest point within 20miles for safer terrain clearance ? Forgive my naivety but it was just a thought !

[@archerry6457]

Yeah and then flare about 700m above the runway. Genius.

[@Biggles2498]

@@archerry6457 I think that is somewhat unfair as a Fighter Pilot would reset his terrain clearance by QFE as informed by Controller at Military Airfield being landed at ! For Civil Pilots like me (retired) this is essential at Airfields for example Bogota which is a staggering 2640 metres above sea level made worse by high terrain just behind them or in the negative sense landing at Rotterdam or in that vicinity thereof -4.6 metres with a negative Sea Level correction. However you sound like a very experienced Fighter Pilot or Navigator so I will withdraw my comment soon.

[@archerry6457]

@@Biggles2498 so you're naive in your first post but a retired civil pilot in your second. Make your mind up, sir. 😉 Edit: why would my not being a pilot necessarily preclude me from understanding this? Your messiah complex doesn't wash. Pilots don't have the monopoly on atmospheric pressure.

[@Biggles2498]

@@archerry6457 I did both Navigator Military and Pilot Civil plus was a I Ship's Navigator prior to both so I do have a thorough working knowledge of atmospheric pressure. I was taught in the first place by a top Meteorologist so can you draw on paper a picture of how a Precision Aneroid Barometer to show how it works too ?

[@Biggles2498]

@@archerry6457 THEN Reset QFE before joining Circuit is what I thought would have been common sense.

[@geoac]

Wow. A Hawk becomes a Jet Provost! I was stationed there 75/79 and NEVER saw that! What I DID see was a "Hero" namely Douglas Bader fly in as a Civilian and become an arsehole!

[@mjspice100]

That’s not the first time I’ve heard that particular individual referred to in that way…

[@Biggles2498]

@@mjspice100 He treated Ladies like shit ! The War Films with Kenneth Moore portraying him as a Gentleman is BS !

[@ryandewar7440]

Met Bader when I was very young. Complete tosspot. Absolute shit to the majority of people around him. Arrogant twat.

[@simonhellier7281]

Based on this doc it seems McCrae can fly but his negativity makes me surprised that he made it.

[@cooking23]

so all navigators are failed pilots.....

[@allybally0021]

Not true......some Navs retrain as pilots too.

[@Biggles2498]

They most certainly are NOT ! It's suitability that's all ,many Navigators DO become Pilots ! Some Pilots are not allowed to fly without a Navigator as they can't cope. The highest ranking Navigator in The RAF is an Air Chief Marshall assuming he is still alive.

[@petercallaghan9851]

Yes, free the farmers!

[@supergeek0177]

I did a google search and first link to come up was "John Macrae was a pilot in the RAF until depression forced him to give up flying and eventually his 19-year RAF career altogether." first hit on the list if u type in "john mcrae raf". Very sad if thats actually him thu but i suppose you could see traces of it in the doco in terms of his pessimistic attitude =(

[@markp5737]

He's a real estate agent now days

[@tonkerdog1243]

markp5737 where

[@pinopino1086]

Linked in says Colchester! It's him because on his CV is mentioned RAF pilot until 1997. John if you read this.....I hope your doing well! I enjoyed the series back in the eighties.

[@paulmaggs3212]

I reckon smarter people do get to be a bit cynical as they see through a lot of the bullshit.. I can see why that could lead to depression…

[@Ian8971]

@SpitfireSir

[@Wilfire1961]

Ah, but for Hitchhiker's Guide, really, really cheesy synth music was just right!

[@Biggles2498]

4.24 Some of these Pilots need a bloody haircut !

[@TarnishUK]

1980 enough said.

[@Michaelmbz]

That's exactly what I thought too! It should be rock & roll - not a church organ! :-/

[@38mariner]

24.31 caught me

[@andrewlofthouse7121]

'We're in the quality versus quantity game'. Wow. Fast forward to 2023 and the numbers we mow have in our armed forces. More true than ever!

[@HollomanUFOLanding]

Btw, the statement near then end of the film about a pilot knowing one word of Russian - his target in Russia - was, of course, a joke. The pilots would be the last to know the destination of their weapon, for obvious reasons.

[@davidhumphreys7035]

Utter bollocks, they would take their planning pack into a locked room and regularly study the strike package.

[@ProfessorPesca]

My old man was on Buccaneers in Germany in the 70s and absolutely knew his target.

[@oliverwilson7903]

plotting a bombing raid on 'Welsh Extremists' Plaid Cymru lol! Do you think the RAF have updated their mission sets since then??

[@rabbamonkey]

Chip pan

[@Ingens_Scherz]

BBc Radiophonic Workshop at its worst!! It did incidental music for virtually everything in those days - and it all sounded the same (awful!). The best example of its work is The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981).

[@SKYLANDBAK]

ludocrat - The music was atrocious & had no correlation to fast moving jet aircraft whatsoever, which would have been the best approach....I think the composer was trying to capture the spirit of the RAF, but failed miserably...They should have expanded their budget & hired Jean-Michel Jarre...The music would have been memorable...

[@cpoppeli]

They all have mustaches.

[@rabbamonkey]

Ha ha Welsh extremists!

[@yesitsvish]

we farmers?

[@UncleSpunken]

You've got a massive chip on your shoulder mate.

[@anthonyhamlin1078]

Sigmas don't care if you think they have a personality or not

[@bishopdante]

Hehehe welsh extremists. The fashion back then was bad!

[@w1nchester32]

i don't think that theme tune is going to win many prizes

[@notmenotme614]

The sanity of the English is at stake!

[@smudger746]

Ugh viewfoils.... the bane of every lesson 🤣