Flying The Hawker Hunter & Harrier GR1 | John Grogan (In-Person Part 1)

John Grogan shares his early flying career going through flying training, getting posted to Hawker Hunters, and then being one of the first to fly the new Harrier GR1.
Strap in as there are some brilliant stories throughout!
Enjoy
Filmed at yorkshireairmuseum.org/
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[@northernhardcore.7899]

I served under John, when I was an SFO in Air2000 on the B757. He’s a great bloke & a great boss.

[@cameron1975williams]

What a lovely chap and character. Makes you proud to be British. All the F-35B pilots are standing on your shoulders Sir.

[@derekadams2221]

I was on 1 squadron when flight lieutenant Grogan was on the squadron I remember the events he’s taking about I have a picture of the squadron and he’s on it

[@Medge2sc]

What a guy, real man’s man … making light of such an incredible career

[@galingale5440]

Did the Harrier PAI Course with Groglepig in 1973. Great chap and as self-deprecating as ever.

[@shavian208]

Thanks John for bringing back so many memories, mostly happy, some more exciting than we would have wished! And so many great people no longer with us, our two great bosses Ken Hayr on 1 Squadron and Phil Champniss on 3, Porky Munro and Louis Distelzweig USAF. What epic days they were! And that great picture (20:14) of our 3 Squadron team for Farnborough ‘72, Jack Rust, Tim Smith, Vaughan Dow, you and me - what poseurs!

[@matthayward7889]

17:14 The look in John’s face when he says “…and no Rad Alt” 😂😂

[@Aircrewinterview]

😂

[@nigelheathcote6084]

Wow, when he talks about the days at wittering and the harrier it brought back so many good memories I was only eight but my uncle was based there and lived in eastern on the hill, I was absolutely fascinated by the harrier , I can remember watching them training for the Paris air show as my uncle informed us that was what they were doing, thanks for sharing

[@petervharris]

I didn't know anyone could have that many problems with the Harrier without resorting to Martin Baker! You clearly had your fair share - and I thought you were calm, chilled, skilled and in complete control. Good stuff John - look forward to your Part 2.

[@TonyAbbeyFETraining]

1:36 The pre-selection in my case: 1968, age 15, 3 days at Biggin Hill. Passed everything, then on the last day told my eyesight was defective. I had to sign a form to say I was permanently unfit to serve as aircrew in Her Majesty's Armed Forces!!! Pretty depressing at that age - it also meant I was ineligible for the ATC flying scholarship. Oh well, went the civilian route when I could afford it much later in life. I'm just jealous - what a wonderful video, great to see. Please keep them coming!

[@MrOhdead]

I first went into an RAF recruiting station at the age of 4 apparently. Joined ATC at 13, went to recruitment office to finally apply at 17 iirc (went to college to get an extra O level) for a ground role, top of aptitude tests, hearing fine, passed all medical, apart from last tes, eyesight, failed as too long sighted. Was devastated.

[@TonyAbbeyFETraining]

@@MrOhdead , yep so true! I wonder why eyesight was measured last. I remember only 5 or 6 left of the group in the billet on the last night...

[@martinbayliss3868]

F35b take note. All the thrust on the Harrier is available all the time with NO dead weight with flaps, louvres and gearboxes to carry around. Plus they have automated the VSTOL transition on the Harrier since the VAAC harrier thirty years ago. Imagine the Sea Harrier with the most powerful Pegasus engine and FBW plus wing tip rials, laser designator pod and possibly Meteor missiles and you would have one hell of a beast.

[@toucheturtle3840]

The Hunter for me is one of those aircraft that looks just right. I’ll never forget whilst high up in the Swiss Alps on holiday in 1986 seeing one well below me, gracefully flying through the valley.

[@josephgunnett7715]

Nice to see you well John.Keep it up.

[@jbuckley2546]

Great stuff. We could listen for hours.

[@brettar1]

Great interview. Another incredibly humble, top notch pilot. Only the best made it to harriers and from some of those stories, you needed to be!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Rainer-tn8cw]

In 1988 a Belgian Mirage crashed during the Sanicole airshow. I remember just after the crash a Harrier came in and started it's display. We packed up and left and so did a lot of people because we thought he was going in also😅. It felt as if it was always on the limit. Always enjoyed the Harrier and the noise when hovering. That greating manoeuvre at the end, nice! Wonderful interview!

[@LD-gy7uq]

One of the good guys.

[@hythesailor]

What a super bloke! Absolutely loved hearing his tales.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidsmith8997]

Some of those take-offs and landings sound quite mental!

[@hendongooner7383]

Top m,an John. Great interview.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers

[@N_Wheeler]

35:29 Marston Mat, or pierced (or perforated) steel planking (PSP)

[@davidmuir6849]

Fantastic,thanks for sharing. Regards Dave from Scotland

[@Aircrewinterview]

Many thanks!

[@flyinghedgehog3833]

Chris Marshall ex Harrier was my instructor... Pippa.Pippa !

[@thefrecklepuny]

Great interview as usual. Very humorous too. What was the chopper making the fantastic noise around five minutes in?

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers. I’m not sure, a little private Helo.

[@christopherfinn7986]

Is that Tim Aaron on the right of the BFTS photo ?

[@Johnbg81327.]

Sorry, no.

[@christopherfinn7986]

Thanks John. He just looks the spitting image of a pilot I was on 809 NAS with. @@Johnbg81327.

[@mikeF111]

Harriers are not fast nor pretty but are very cool 😎

[@anglonig1]

The harrier was very fast.

[@CAPEjkg]

Not saying anything bad about the current pilots but back in the day they seemed to be better stick and rudder pilot's, without all the electronics that do thing's for you today. No gps, good ole instrument navigation too.

[@jonathanbeattie3410]

That’s just technology moving forward. Modern fly by wire jets look after the aircraft’s limits a lot better so the pilot can focus on the battlefield management. It’s a completely different skill set.

[@r.hagenau3541]

Interesting aircraft, but no sensors, no countermeasures, and hardly any weapons. Waste of resources, sorry.

[@grahambuckerfield4640]

Harrier? Had radar warning, the RAF ones had avionics for low level attacks in NW Europe, the latter might not have been on USMC AV-8A’s. Countermeasures were fitted for the Falklands including chaff/flare dispensers and the conversion of one of the 30mm cannon pods into EW by using equipment from the Tornados Sky Shadow pods fitted to that aircraft in outer wing pods.

[@AA-xo9uw]

Another member of the barcalounger cabal has chosen to publicly demonstrate to the world what little knowledge they actually possess.

[@daveh1081]

Oh do put a sock in it old thing.

[@shaunbainbridge1584]

Tell that to the Falkland Islanders. Tertius primus erit