Page 115 - Demo

113TWISTERIt was normal practice with the %u201cPosters%u201d that a second tour (for an Equipment Officer) would be unaccompanied, overseas, and usually on Air Movements. Escaping a posting to RAF Gan with some relief, I found myself as a DAMO (Duty Air Movements Officer) at RAF Muharraq in 1971 where, once acclimatised, we worked hard and played hard %u2013 very hard. The Labour Government of the day had recently announced the withdrawal and closure of most of our overseas bases, both to save money and to focus more on European affairs. As there would be a huge amount of equipment and stores to be shipped back home, we used every opportunity to take up any spare payload on all flights westbound to the UK.On this particular day on shift, I was asked by the Transport Operations controller if we could accept three VC10s, which were inbound, empty, to the UK, having delivered relief aid to Dakha in Bangladesh, following another flood disaster. All the aircraft were configured in side-guidance, which enabled the rapid loading and securing of standard NATO pallets, so really quick and easy, thought I; fill your boots, and impress the Boss and the rest of the squadron.Each VC10 was on a 90-minute turn-round time, and at 90 minute intervals, so the loads should be a breeze. %u201cYes,%u201d was my answer, followed by a quick call to the Cargo Shed, to task them with building up to 20 NATO pallets of stores and equipment, all netted up, weighed, manifested and ready to roll. Not too difficult, nothing to leave for the next shift, shower and to the bar %u2013 easy, and bask in the glory of another %u2018D%u2019 Shift triumph.The first VC10 duly arrived on time. It was refuelled, the side freightdoor was opened, and the pallets were rolled into the cabin from the Condec transfer loader and secured. The freight-door was then closed, and it was then just a matter of completing the trim-sheet and the aircraft was ready to roll. As she taxied out, the second VC10 landed right on schedule. Same process, and all was in order. The third VC10 arrived early, and the VASF (Visiting Aircraft Servicing