Interview with Air Marshal Cliff Spink on his RAF Career

[@g8082246]

I was on 56 Sqn in Cyprus and Flt Lt Spinks, as he was then, was as much a gentleman and super pilot then as he is now. A pleasure to see and listen to the interview. Well done.

[@robertkettle6801]

I had the absolute privilege of being taken up in a Spitfire by this lovely man.I will never forget that day and the wonderful time I spent in his company.

[@fin3572]

Getting to the rank of Air Marshall whilst keeping current on so many different types and marks is a text book lesson on how to squeeze every drop out of a career. Lovely to see a chap, who defines 'experience', still get the schoolboy grins out of a Merlin start up. From one former military pilot (AAC), this was fascinating stuff. A man, you would never get bored sharing a beer or three with.

[@AVMamfortas]

What a privilege to have this gracious man give us such a lot of his time for this interview.

[@welshparamedic]

Kudos to Air Marshal Cliff Spink "If god gave me one last flight it would have to be the Spitfire!" Well said.

[@nutsackmania]

magnificent

[@GARDENER42]

What an absolute gentleman & what a fantastic career. Thanks to all who put this together.

[@doronron7323]

Being well into my 60's it's rare I'm impressed. Listening to this brief re-cap of this man's experience left me truly green with envy. A pilots pilot. Eric 'Winkle' Brown was another special aviator. Unusually. neither had the normal Brit trait of being snobs. Impressive and refreshing.

[@gazza2933]

Doron I have found through working with RAF aircrew that most are 'down to earth' guys (and gals).

[@bahoonies]

@@gazza2933 That's been my experience too from the highest to the lowest rank. There was only one exception and it has to be said that the other RAF boys who had to work with him didn't like him either.

[@gazza2933]

@@bahoonies 👍🏻

[@roadie3124]

I've found that British snobs tend to be people who feel uncomfortable in their skin. Very successful people tend not to be snobs.

[@gordon7470]

Great interview. Great to see Cliff Spink still flying. 1st met 111 Squadron 1971, then 74 Tigers. Best wishes to A.M. Spink!!👍👍

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Gordon. I think he has now hung up his flying boots.

[@peterjeffery1975]

A true Gent and my old Stn Commander at Raf Coningsby whilst serving on BBMF.

[@Keyswiz71]

Wonderful interview. Cliff is the former Commandant of the Royal Observer Corps, and held in very high regard by all former ROC personnel and loyally attends the ROC Association gathering every year.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Justyn.

[@pauldg837]

For someone to be such an accomplished pilot, how incredibly humble he is.

[@roadie3124]

What a lovely sense of humour he has. Someone who can joke about needing a responsible adult to stop him from doing something wrong gets my vote. The other thing that impressed me was that nearly every assignment he had was a great time of his life. No wonder he did well.

[@theralphster8492]

Another excellent interview, what an illustrious career and yet he comes across as modest man...so jealous of the aircraft he got to fly.

[@davidharrison7875]

I like the registration of the Spitfire that taxied out at the end of the clip, SW-A. Spitfire With Attitude.

[@tkb818]

Really enjoyed learning about Cliff Spinks career, wonderful memories thank you for sharing them

[@andymckee53]

I met Cliff at the 100th anniversary of Bleriot's crossing and he was scheduled to fly a Spitfire. As it turned out there was a fault with it so he had to cancel but I got to speak with him and he was kind enough to let me sit in the Spitfire. Great guy. i remember he kept saying "I'm just a lucky boy". You most certainly are Cliff.

[@malcolm9994]

Such a modest gentleman with a fascinating career. Superb interview.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers! Great to hear you enjoyed it.

[@timwingham8952]

Wonderful, and as the Phantom is discussed an adorable Tiger Moth trundles past in the background. Aviation heaven. Thank you.

[@markelliott6485]

Great Boss was Sir Spink!

[@bahoonies]

Mike, I found this video while happily overdosing on videos about the Lightning. I'm very glad I did. It's a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and relaxed piece of well-spent time in the company of a fascinating and delightful gentleman. Definitely a video for my favourites and many, many thanks for it.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks very much for the kind words, Damien. Really great to hear you enjoyed it.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

27 years flying warbirds and he can’t stop grinning every time one takes off in the background.😁😁

[@thatguyfromcetialphaV]

I saw him flying a Spitfire over the final Waddington air show in 2014. I was really impressed with the piloting. I never met him but what a lovely man.

[@mike.47]

My son and daughter were in 1287sq ATC at Wattisham when 56sq and 74sq were flying Phantoms there. Happy days.

[@kkhan1425]

I graduated from Pakistsn Air Force academy but interesting similarity with AM in which I started in the AF at 15 and as an Apprentice.

[@stevec6232]

Nice sunny day at Biggin Hill! Great interview thanks Mike!

[@davidruddick3346]

What an enthralling man,could listen to him all day,fascinating!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Great to hear you enjoyed it, David.

[@versatec1]

You can tell these pilots are so content as they ard so accomodating....facinating❤

[@stephenupton6705]

Thanks for another great interview Mike, what a fantastic flying career Cliff’S had 👍

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Stephen.

[@benters3509]

Seems like a lovely man. I've seen him on other videos, and he always seems to have a smile for people. His opinion of the Lightning was refreshing - at odds with other armchair warriors (usually from the USA) who love to state how useless it was. Personally, I prefer to listen to his opinion!

[@johnscott1013]

M

[@samrodian919]

Especially one who had 1300 hours on them!

[@andrewlavey6992]

My "big boss" when I was at 11/18 Group Headquarters at RAF Bentley Priory.

[@mkmdexplorationparanormal5610]

Awesome interview, loved his stories and in detail, a true gentleman and Airman, I could listen to Cliff all day ☺ brilliant interview Mike ! Well done

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Mike!

[@alancollard8939]

wonderful interview, what a career ,and what fun he is having now

[@samrodian919]

What a brilliant interview, such a stellar career Cliff has had, and an ex Halton "brat" to boot! After all his flights in so many types he give the Spitfire the ultimate accolade of his favourite aircraft, just wonderful.................... watch this space..............I am sure there will be more!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@michaeljohnson4975]

Went Halton 1965/6. Aircraft elec

[@samrodian919]

I've just watched this again after five years and it's still as interesting as it was the first time. If I had the money, I'd love to get a flight in the two seater Spitfire, with Sir Cliff on the stick and rudder pedals. That for me would be the ultimate air experience.

[@brianlloyd4796]

“I only went to mid 60’s.” Fantastic!!!

[@acballen2613]

Mike, this is perhaps the best interview yet!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks very much :)

[@Oktafly]

Great interview! Pleasure to watch!! Great job and bring us more!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers. Plenty more to come!

[@henryh3800]

Great to see PT462 in the background or "Indy" as she is known. I was privileged to go up in her with Dave "Rats" Ratcliff in 2018 before her belly landing. One of the highlights of my life.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Wow lucky man!

[@tectorama]

What a fantastic career he's had.

[@JaySmurkzTV]

forreal

[@jackplugg4529]

I worked on the Lightning Mk6's on 56 Squadron at Wattisham, and Cliff was one of our pilots. Funny thing is Cliff is now a mature gentleman, but I am still 21!

[@charlottemace7510]

Would you have been at Wattisham in '79?

[@caractacus22]

Al Deere, who I knew, was a loveable man. Oh! What a leader.

[@davidphilips5543]

Great stuff - could listen to him all day!

[@bensmith7536]

What a fantastic backdrop for yet another stellar interview ! !

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Ben

[@davidwebber8636]

What a lovely bloke...

[@barryhumphries4514]

Cliff Spink, what a great man! He commanded 74 Sqn while I served at RAF Wattisham. I never met him, but he was well respected by everyone. I was a Runway Controller in the Runway Caravan and could see the difference between the F-4M and F-4J visually. The Spey reheat was amazing! The J79 not so much so. Somehow though, our J79 powered F-4s were not so Smokey as the US and German versions that I saw. 🤔👀

[@chewiepeanut]

Awesome stuff as always. Also major props for dealing with the wonderful audio interruptions (though that Fire Engine....)

[@phillipneal9289]

Great interview. Very knowledgeable chap &what a catalogue of aircraft flown. "What's your favourite aircraft " always a difficult one for pilots to answer,but for this man? Probably the most difficult thing you could ask. Insanely jealous

[@thefrecklepuny]

Looking good once again! Certainly has flown varied RAF types!

[@Aircrewinterview]

He was a great guest to chat to.

[@MattThornton87]

Superb interview

[@davidferrier5982]

Although I was a Pongo, I met Him on many occasions when I was at RAF Bruggen on the Ground Liaison Ect I was piggy backed onto 20 Sq, (Jags) and he came to the Sqn many times. even made him coffee, and then met him again in 89 when he was Mount Pleasant Station Commander and bugger he remembered me. Great Guy, signed off on my auth sheets and had two trips in the Jag, not bad then for a Army LCpl.

[@mickleem]

Wonderful interview, just wonderful, thank you

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Michael!

[@joeblogs5163]

He's my cousin, lots of great stories on the Internet about him, I was in 310 ATC Widnes, used to go flying at RAF Sealand. They had a Spitfire by the gate, it got removed some years ago, and renovated, and put his initials on it CRS, often flown in celebritions. He's on Wikipedia, had a few famially get togethers over the years, weres he's attended, real nice guy.

[@udowish]

brilliant interview!

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks.

[@bjjace1]

another amazing interview

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Matty!

[@malcolmhales8181]

Yet another brilliant interesting interview. Keep up the good work.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Malcolm.

[@adrianandkatrinadove203]

Wonderful interview...Such a gentleman and such flying achievement....Great to view....Thank you...

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers!

[@Cubcariboo]

"Fundamental Physiological Problems" haha. Outstanding turn of phrase!

[@samrodian919]

Yes! The world falling out of your fundament! lol

[@67tomcat]

Wonderful- my favorite YT channel! Keep them coming please.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thank you :)

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

Fantastic interview and fantastic interviewer.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks you!

[@cg7025]

Great interview. What a career Sir.

[@francisalanbeattie4458]

Congratulations Sir

[@juancastilla6001]

Wonderful interview. Amazing stories.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers Juan.

[@crazybrit-nasafan]

Thank you for your service Sir. I honestly do hope you get your hands on an FW190.

[@roypowell3450]

What a man!

[@rogerpattube]

Great interview by excellent interviewer

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Roger.

[@nigeh5326]

Great interview really enjoyed it thanks

[@alzyerpal-TV]

Really interesting career and stories about the various types flown. I too enjoyed the reference to the Tucano being like a Hurricane Mk1, I've often wondered how modern prop trainers might compare to WW2 era fighters, performance wise ?

[@allin4395]

Great commentary on flying fighters

[@albaviator]

Nice job on the interview. Greetings General

[@hohocc1349]

What a class act. Most impressive.

[@Ceusky]

Awesome guy. Awesome stories❤.

[@xfire7]

74 , I was posted to Binbrook in 1980 to form the third Lightning Sqn. We didn`t have enough airframes , It went to the Phantoms , gutted .

[@davidl7888]

Nice job on the sound Mike.

[@simonrichardson5077]

Superb work chaps,thanks

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Simon.

[@finchleyflyer]

Excellent interview. What a career, what a life flying so many varied types.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Peter.

Very nice interview. I have to say the Lightning doesnt look very manouverable. So I learned someting today

[@kenjackson5685]

1st class...thanks for sharing

[@patriciabracken7546]

I have a real interest in aviation. Would love to visit a R.A.F. Base I enquired about visiting Scampton. They were all booked up. So I'm hoping to make it for next year. Sounds like he is a lovely gentleman. My favourites are the spitfire and the Lancaster bomber. 💖💕💞💓💗💝 👍👍👍👍👍

[@samrodian919]

Patricia Bracken , if you ask maybe Air Marshal Spink could pull one strings for you..... Come on Cliff get her a tour somewhere ,preferably one of your old stations and guide her yourself

[@GSP21]

A True Gentleman.......

[@tobysmith2564]

Great videos I would love to see a video on John Beattie the Royal Navy legend 😎

[@alancollard8939]

yes i agree i knew john when he was commander of the historic flight at yoevilton, heard all the a,mazin accidents he survived none his fault

[@trespire]

An amazing flying career & service to ones country.

[@DNModels]

Good video. Thanx!

[@markboyle]

He taught me to fly aerobatics in a Blanik glider 1973 in Cyprus. Ironically Blaniks were built in the Soviet Block

[@stewartw.9151]

Interesting comment he makes about the noise that the pilot hears in a Hurricane or Spitfire. it is true, the smooth growl heard from outside is a cacophony of rough-sounding mechanical racket when inside the aircraft.

[@Farweasel]

And now I discover I, well, not wasted my life but allowed myself to be deflected from what I always wanted to do as a kid & a youth. But, youngest in the year, not the swiftest to pick up maths (I was in bloody hospital when the rest of the class were taught how to use log-tables) I was told repeatedly 'No, the RAF won't consider you for pilot training without Maths'. 50 years later Cliff Spink's says ~ 'Bit of a disaster at school really but ..............'

[@chewyfoks1840]

The 50's and 60's seemed to be a time of "Name a job and it's yours"!

[@scotozz]

his comments re the Lightning intercepting U2's were very interesting

[@flyingphobiahelp]

Brilliant!

[@brianbridle951]

Think He was Flying Officer when he arrived at Wattisham.

[@88SPIKE]

I was at Wattisham too - good to see an ex-Brat at the top

[@victornalin]

This fine gentleman might as well be the luckiest man that ever lived! 😄

[@SteeleyGTi]

Legend! 🙂

[@ianwiggans9186]

The golden years of the Royal Air Force.

[@tommyblackwell3760]

So basically the Lightning was the impetus (along with Gary Powers' being shot down) for the development of the SR71. Learn something new every day....

[@ottohonkala6861]

Top. Class.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Cheers.

[@IanYorston]

74(F) Sqn, F4J remarks from 25'00"

[@raywhitehead730]

A class act

[@annagibson3413]

brilliant Stuff :-)

[@Aircrewinterview]

Thanks Anna.

[@Aircrewinterview]

Haynes McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom Manual - amzn.to/2DM35jI

[@marknorville9827]

I worked on 56 and 74 back in 90. However, to become station commander of the Falklands he must have pissed someone off lol

[@rhomboid62]

Cliff Spink seems to forget his aircraft have landing gear sometimes...

[@aaronseet2738]

Seems like if given more years, he'd end up flying a Fokker Dr.I as well.