Page 79 - Demo
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77BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONSI had just arrived at my squadron, after the Central Flying School course, as a newly-fledged Qualified Flying Instructor on the Jet Provost 5A. My squadron checkout at night was carried out by a charismatic ex-Lightning pilot %u2013 a really great guy. Not wise to the ways of such folk, I looked forward to seeing how things were done with fighter flair. The normal procedure of launching all the first wave of some 6 aircraft at the same time was in operation. Things got off to a brisk start; having got airborne we left the circuit, said goodbye to RAF Leeming, a base on the east side of the Pennines, and set off to the West. A few minutes into the flight, my mate turned off everything %u2013 navigation lights, transponder and also stopped talking to Air Traffic Control. This was something new, so I asked what we were up to. %u201cOff to see the Blackpool illuminations!%u201d came the answer.Staying above safety altitude, which meant that we would not bounce off the Pennines on the way over, we arrived to see the colourful display of lights clearly on a pitch-black night and, with Blackpool tower in sight and well below the airways, we let down off the coast. We then had a great time %u2013 rushing up and down the beach, below the level of the searchlight on the tower, as it scanned the skies desperately (and unsuccessfully) trying to find us. Safely over the sea, we weren't in the least bit worried.Eventually it was time for the fun to stop, so we climbed back above safety altitude, and sauntered back towards base. In due course all the electrics were turned back on, we chatted to Leeming again, and did several %u201ctouch and goes%u201d to get the correct number of night landings out of the way, thus completing my night currency.Feeling pretty smug, in that the night check had been completed satisfactorily, we signed the aircraft in, and went to the crew-room for the inevitable coffee before the next flight. The other crews joined us, and very casually we commented on what a smooth night it was, if a
