In the back of the Caribou

[Keith Webb]

Those of you who went to Temora last weekend and were there on Thursday may have seen some unusual formations out to the west.
I was lucky to be in the back of the Caribou with a video camera shooting an array of interesting aircraft including a Mustang, 2 Spitfires, Boomerang, Hornets, Sabre and Hudson.
Not sure whether I can attach a Facebook pic but will try. The pic was taken by Rob Fox and you can see my hand and the camera on the left.

[colin jones]

Hi Keith, that would have been a real buzz. Is that a Hudson trying to land in the back. You certainly get all the good rides but when I read the title I thought you had a shot of someone with their head up a Caribou! (Elk/Deer? Moose and so on!)
Colin.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by colin jones

Hi Keith, that would have been a real buzz. Is that a Hudson trying to land in the back. You certainly get all the good rides but when I read the title I thought you had a shot of someone with their head up a Caribou! (Elk/Deer? Moose and so on!)
Colin.

Yes, it could have read that way. At least it would have been quieter.
One of my earplugs fell out and went straight out the back. I wish I'd had a helmet like Gavin in front of me. Gav was over from NZ and is one of the top air to air stills guys. On the right is Jarrod Cotter, editor of Aeroplane Monthly in the UK. Anyone who has seen the beautiful stills of the Mosquito and Anson flying in NZ will know his work.

The loadmaster trod firmly on one of Gavin's hands and I saw him shaking it violently, the language matched it later in the pub when he was telling us about it.

[maple_leaf_eh]

ABSOLUTELY no CMP content!

One of the truisms of the Olympic Games - it is a slow newsday when the reporters start interviewing each other. So, with a beautiful aircraft, a charming landscape and great light, why are people taking pictures of the photographers?

And yes, the Caribou is a great air to air photo platform. Canada has an air demonstration team called the Snowbirds. The CT-114 Tutor aircraft are now almost all older than the aircrew. Every year they have a training camp at Comox on Vancouver Island. When the Search and Rescue tempo permits, they fly formation behind the Buffalos. All the nice shots looking down at pretty airplanes over snow covered mountains, surf scenes, etc are off the Buff'.

http://airforceapp.forces.gc.ca/v2/n...35-IS2008-1042

[Keith Webb]

Yes indeed, it is a slow news day when that happens.

I think there were something like 7,000 plus frames taken by the stills guys. I took a couple of wider video shots at about the same time Rob took this one, as the Hudson was a bit close for good views.

And at least there is some good Candian content in the photo ship!

I was very impressed at the take-off performance and later interviewed a couple of former Caribou aircrew who served on them in Vietnam, some amazing stories including one from our loadmaster on the day. He was sitting up near the step of the cockpit on an esky when there was a bang. A full metal jacket 50 cal round had come through the floor, gone through the esky and its ice, through his flying overalls, nicked his backside and lodged in the radio rack. During the interview he produced this round from his pocket!

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

ABSOLUTELY no CMP content!

One of the truisms of the Olympic Games - it is a slow newsday when the reporters start interviewing each other. So, with a beautiful aircraft, a charming landscape and great light, why are people taking pictures of the photographers?

And yes, the Caribou is a great air to air photo platform. Canada has an air demonstration team called the Snowbirds. The CT-114 Tutor aircraft are now almost all older than the aircrew. Every year they have a training camp at Comox on Vancouver Island. When the Search and Rescue tempo permits, they fly formation behind the Buffalos. All the nice shots looking down at pretty airplanes over snow covered mountains, surf scenes, etc are off the Buff'.

http://airforceapp.forces.gc.ca/v2/n...35-IS2008-1042

[Phil Waterman]

Hi

Doesn't CMP stand for Canadian Military Plane? Sorry I could not resist.

Keith great photo, glad to see you guys were harnessed into the Caribou would hate to see you guys making like a bug on the Hudson's windscreen.

Great photo to show to people as a closeup of the Hudson then pull back to get the impact of the tight formation.

Thanks for sharing

Cheers Phil

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

When the Search and Rescue tempo permits, the Snowbirds fly formation behind the Buffalos.

Another of the "non SAR" uses of the Buffalo is support of the Skyhawk parachute demo team.
Smaller and cheaper than a Hercules but still has a ramp for mass exit out the rear rather than forcing a side exit, big enough to do the job and free the Hercules for other missions.