Ops-Normal.org

I admit that feeding birds is 'entertainment' for the dozen people that I live with (in sheltered accommodation). In addition to the usual sparrows, tits and starlings (greedy beggars), we have had nuthatches (for the peanuts) - and grey squirrels (for both seeds and nuts). Excess human food (bread...

Many moons ago, in the days of Orion Airways, I was in a house share with one of their f/os at LGW. He told me the story of how one day, they had made two attempts to land at FNC, but as a result of crosswinds and windshear, they had diverted to the nearby island of Porto Santo, with the intention o...

I’m not ready for this :(( https://i.postimg.cc/MpRn1rjG/IMG-1623.png Nor me, Woody. And I suspect tens of thousands of others. I think he would have stayed longer, but he became tired of some of the ridiculous refereeing/VAR decisions and some of the media. I think he will have more to say about t...

There's a channel on YouTube which streams live action from FNC most days. Seldom are the days when there isn't a significant crosswind. I know GIB can be difficult, but the incidences of wind shear seem to be more frequent and serious at FNC.

Rossian wrote: ↑

Fri May 17, 2024 12:27 pm

...... for those of us not dispatching what is HOS please?

The Ancient Mariner

Head of Stand. Normally, there's a large switch on a wall (or an upright support) that is part of the terminal structure.

..and every infantryman's nightmare. Looks like the Ukes do have artillery ammo again. https://mstdn.social/@noelreports/112456255692926070 I think what has happened is: First Russian tank gets stuck in mud. Second Russian tank gets stuck trying to pull the first one out The Russians bell up a civi...

and more drone strike video, from Novorossiysk this time https://mstdn.social/@noelreports/112455782919483383 putin will be doing his nut this morning. Novorossiysk has long been something of a jewel in the naval crown for Russia. Warm water port, meaning that they can ship oil from it all year rou...

Fox3WheresMyBanana wrote: ↑

Fri May 17, 2024 12:55 pm

Welcome to 21st Century warfare.
Ground drones position themselves over Russian bunkers, and blow the roof off.
Air drones then dive inside.
https://mstdn.social/@noelreports/112456259280123063

That's a defence manufacturer's dream video!

Nothing like local knowledge! Did the museum look like it could be put back into use? Condition of quays? Still water-filled, etc? In typical style, everything of value, including the pumps and electrical systems had been removed. However, it was lit by a new system and there was clear water in the...

I've been in the underground submarine pen at Balaklava. It was turned into a museum following glasnost but it sounds as though the ruz have used it for the storage of materiel if the Ukes have attacked it. Or have they refurbished it as a repair facility for their subs - or other vessels? This is a...

Looks very nice, ex-A. Do the thatchers there not put a small symbol on the top, like they do in the UK? A hippo maybe...?

...and there, folks, is the perfect safety training video. The video lasts five minutes, but there's probably an hour's worth of features to pick out from that. The most obvious to me was the air bridge. I was taught that if there is a suspicion of fire on an aircraft using an airbridge, you remove ...

They caught the perp, not that I'm expecting anything much from that in terms of why. What will tell us what's going on is if Orban gets shot soon too. If not, well, everyone in the Balkans has more enemies than they can count. Even if someone's a Saint, their Great(x20)grandfather probably stabbed...

When I worked at Woodford, there were some Buccaneers in for (I think) a mid-life upgrade. One of the engineers was working in the cockpit when the ejector seat went off, propelling him through the roof. To make matters worse, his body became suspended from the support beams in the roof on the way d...

^! :ymdevil: A military equipment manufacturing plant caught fire in the Moscow region. A fire at an electrical substation in Balashikha the night before. That's on the territory of the FSB unit No 35533, part of the mil research and development staff. Massive explosions in the Crimea, the mil airf...

Woody wrote: ↑

Tue May 14, 2024 3:38 pm

k3k3 wrote: ↑

Tue May 14, 2024 2:42 pm

Not even a pub within half an hour?

You could try this place

https://thamessidebrewery.co.uk/about-us/location/

There are a few in Harlington aren't there, Woody? It's many moons since I was last there, but they were OK then. Possibly worth a look?

Hello to the new chapter from the Northamptonshire/Huntingdonshire/Cambridgeshire border. The only wild animal, apart from the roadkill, is this one, which the thick locals think is a cat. From the local FB page:
Time for another Bacardi and Coke, I think...

See Britain did well ^! I haven't watched it for donkey's years, and have no intention of watching it again. It was mildly amusing when Terry Wogan did the background commentary, and he certainly saw it for what it was. It was long-ago hijacked by the gay community, though I have no idea why. Then,...

My abiding memory of Greenland was passing through Narsarsuaq on one occasion with the 748 Coastguarder version. We did all the usual stuff, but were so concentrated on ensuring we had enough fuel and checking the TAFs for Canada, that yours truly forgot to clear the passports. Fearing we would be p...

Having watched a few episodes of Michael Palin's 'Nigeria', currently on UK TV, I can only say that they are welcome to it. The state of the country is appalling and, as might be expected, they faced significant challenges with security, especially when one of the security vehicles broke down just a...