Fat Albert’s birthday
Gazette & Herald
2nd August 2007 pg 22
www.gazetteandherald.co.uk
By Hayley Court
More than 2,000 service personnel and their families crammed into RAF Lyneham
yesterday to mark 40 years since the Hercules graced the skies of Wiltshire.
The airfield was covered with military vehicles and planes
with a Spitfire taking to the skies for an aerial display.
The Army dog team also demonstrated the ability of military
police dogs before the Royal
Artillery ' Flying Gunners' motorcycle
display team and the famous RAF
Falcons and Silver
Stars parachute
teams wowed the audience with their skills.
Hawks, VC10s, BAE146, HS125, Tornados, E3 Sentry and the
Wiltshire Air Ambulance were dotted around the airfield for
visitors
to
take a look
between
flypasts
by
Tucanos and
the Spitfire and displays by parachute teams.
For four decades the C130 Hercules, described as the workhorse
of the Royal Air Force and nicknamed Fat Alberts by locals,
has had its home at Lyneham.
First arriving on August 1, 1967 under the control on 36
Squadron the aircraft continues to serve in some of the most
hazardous locations of the world supporting Special Forces
and delivering humanitarian aid.
Flight Lieutenant Tigs Douglas-Sim said: "The event
is a great chance for families to come on to the base and
look around the aircraft and watch demonstrations by various
specialist teams.
"It's also a lot of good fun and a chance for us to
raise money for RAF charities."
Station executives braved a barrage
dunkings in a cold water pool where families queued to have
a turn throwing a ball against a target to trigger the release
mechanism, so the boss got a good soaking.
As well as being an operational military base RAF Lyneham
is also home to 10,000 people including the civilian family
members of service personnel.
Families Day is an annual event giving the families of serving
airmen and women the chance to see what the base does.
Families were invited to take a look inside two Hercules
aircraft kitted out as if used by the Tactical Medical Wing.
Anyone looking for a flight could also sign up to win a ride
in a helicopter and there was equal opportunities to have
a glider flight during the day.
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