One wonders what the late Labour prime minister Harold Wilson, who is famously quoted as having said "A week is a long time in politics", would have made of the past seven days. Looking back over the landscape of the past week, it's difficult to conceive of the world that existed before the bombs exploded in London last Thursday, forever changing the way we regard the events that preceded them. When London finally hosts the Olympic Games in 2012, who will remember the euphoria of the announcement that gave us such a sweet victory over the French? Or will we look back and remember the way the celebrations were cut short by the horror that unfolded as the following day began? This time last week, things had such a different hue. Monday saw me arriving at RAF Northolt where I was due to spend a week on assignment covering life at the RAF's oldest base. Having been born and raised in London, RAF Northolt has always held something of an interest for me, being situated as it is in the midst of a quiet residential area and adjacent to the A40 in Ruislip, west London. RAF Northolt has two high profile roles for which it is best known. It is home to 32 (The Royal) Squadron, the division of the RAF tasked with the movement of British and Foreign Royalty, Heads of State and Government Ministers, and military personnel of both the British and Foreign armed forces. It is also the preferred destination for many civilian VIPs and celebrities who enjoy the privacy and first-class passenger handling service available. Celebrities appreciate RAF Northolt for a number of reasons, not least the discretion that flying into an operational RAF base affords them. Heathrow airport, which is just six miles away, may be Europe's busiest international airport, but high profile celebrities departing and arriving from there have to face all the same intrusions and delays as the rest of us - and come face to face with their fans and the attendent media pack, whether they want to or not. Northolt on the other hand, offers them a sterile, private environment, from which the general public and press are excluded. They have access to private lounges where they can relax, far from the madding crowds and air traffic is significantly lighter than at conventional airports so there is none of the hustle and bustle the average passenger experiences. The majority of flights arriving at Northolt each year are private - some 7,000 per annum - against military flights of around 5,000. The airport is discrete and offers a passenger handling service whereby cars can drive straight up to arriving aircraft, allowing the VIP to leave the aircraft cabin and get straight into a waiting limo. What's more, it;'s closer to the centre of London than Heathrow, and more accessible too - the A40 runs alongside the main runway and is a major route into the capital. With Live8 having taken place the day before I arrived, the airport had seen several headlining acts arrive and depart over the weekend - Coldplay, U2 and REM having flown in on private jets. Sir Paul McCartney is a regular and one RAF officer told me he often plays his guitar and sings whilst waiting in the lounge, offering an impromptu private concert to anyone working there. Robbie Williams is another regular face through Northolt's terminal, as are David and Victoria Beckham as they fly between their bases in Madrid and Hertfordshire. Table for Two? One of the highly polished, veneer tables in the VIP cabin of the BAE 146, bearing the Queen's monogram (c) Black Rat The main reason for my visit though, was 32 Squadron, which merged with the Queen's Flight in 1995 to become 32 (The Royal) Squadron. It's principal role is as a 'Communications' squadron, charged with flying 3 and 4-star Generals from all three services on offical business. It is most widely known though for its role in transporting senior Government ministers and the Royal Family throughout the UK and around the world. Since the creation of The King's Flight by King Edward VIII in 1936, there has been a Royal Air Force Unit who are responsible for providing air transport for the Royal Family's official duties. The Ministry of Defence is ultimately responsible for all flights and routes and the squadron is often called into service to provide air transport to senior commanders in an operational theatre. The squadron provides air transport for the Prime Minister, senior ministers and other senior serving officers and it is these duties that account for most of their time. Royal air travel only accounts for around 15% of the squadron's duties. I joined the squadron over several days and accompanied them on a number of flights to get an insight into the their taskings over an average week. I spent most of Monday talking to various of the other units accommodated at Northolt, including the Officer Commanding 621 Squadron of the Army's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, better known as the Bomb Squad. They were to be rather heavily tasked come Thursday, being responsible for an area encompassing London and the South East. On Tuesday though, I joined the crew of one of 32 Squadron's BAE 146 regional airliners for a packed program over the following 48 hours. 32 Squadron is comprised of three flights - 'A' flight, which operates the two BAE 146s, 'B' Flight which operates three AS 355 Twin Squirrel helicopters, and 'C' Flight, which operates six of the smaller BAE 125 business jets. A standard BAE 146 in civil aviation use can carry up to 90 passnegers, but its typical configuration as used by the RAF is for just 19. There are three cabins; the A cabin which carries the VVIP, or 'principal' and up to 5 others; the 'B' Cabin which can accommodate up to 10 of the principal's entourage, and the 'C' cabin which accommodates the crew. Typical crew on a 32 Squadron sortie consists of two pilots, two cabin attendents, a crew chief (ground engineer) and RAF police officer, responsible for the security of the aircraft. Grounded: A BAE 146 of 32 (The Royal) Squadron on the pan at RAF Northolt. Note the new, low profile 'civillian' paint scheme, designed to replace the more conspicuous red, white and blue scheme.(C) Black Rat Until recently, all of 32 Squadron's aircraft were painted in distinctive red, white and blue livery but concern over the aircraft's vulnerability to terrorist attack has recently seem them emerge with a low profile civillian scheme. The aircraft are not armed, but are fitted with the most up-to-date fully-automated self defence countermeasures available - Northrop Grumman's 'Nemesis' DIRCM (Directional Infrared Countermeasures system). Countermeasures: One of the DIRCM pods fitted to the BAE 146. DIRCM protects the aircraft from attack by heat-seeking missiles, and works automatically by detecting a missile launch, determining if it is a threat and activating a high-intensity infrared countermeasure system to track and defeat it. (C) Black Rat After the Met briefing I walked out to the aircraft on Tuesday morning with the rest of the crew to await the arrival of the principal for our first sortie of the day - HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York. The Prince arrived driving his green Jaguar, accompanied by just his principal protection officer and his Office Controller, former banker Amanda Thirsk. Aircraft of 32 Squadron travelling with a senior member of the Royal Family aboard assume the call sign 'Kittyhawk' followed by a number and an 'R' to signify 'Royal'. This grants the flight priority by air traffic control and other air traffic is routed away from close proximity. Short Finals: The runway at RAF Northolt is visible off the nose as we turn short finals and prepare for landing after the first sortie of the day. (c) Black Rat. Our mission was a short one, carrying Prince Andrew on an offical engagement to Humberside Airport where he was due at the official opening of Humberside Police's new helicopter base. At our crusing speed of 300 knots, the flight time was just 45 minutes - no sooner had we reached cruising altitude and we were beginning our descent for landing! Prince Andrew is a personable chap, coming on to the flight deck upon arrival to engage us in conversation. A keen pilot, he rushed to the cockpit again as soon as we'd landed at our destination, joshing with the pilots about their abilities as aviators and mine as a photographer. TV crews from local media were waiting for the aircraft as we taxied to the stand and Prince Andrew was whisked off in a motorcade straight from the aircraft. By Royal Appointment: HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York shadowed by a local dignitary and his personal protection officer, on the ground in Humberside. (c) Black Rat We were on the ground for just 15 minutes before heading back to RAF Northolt, via a short detour at 1,000 ft over my home town (no matter, it was on our routing, anyway). How different it all looked from height - I did manage to get an image which is of infinitely more use than a map in spotting the local places with which I'm so familiar on the ground. Once at Northolt again, we were joined by Sir Michael Jay, head of the Diplomatic Service and the PM's special adviser for the G8 talks, for a flight to Dundee. We had been due to fly Tony Blair too, but his delayed departure from Singapore where he'd stayed on to promote Brirain's bid for the 2012 Olympics, meant that he would be flying direct. Instead, we flew Sir Michael and Mr Blair's delegation to Scotland for the G8 Summit Talks at Gleneagles which were due to begin the following day. From Dundee, we flew back to Northolt via Humberside where we collected Prince Andrew. Royal Escort: A female RAF Officer waits patiently in the rain to greet the Duke of York upon our arrival back at RAF Northolt. Close by her is his Jaguar, engine running - the prince prefers to drive himself. (c) Black Rat Britain was under a thick carpet of impenetrable cloud with heavy rain as we landed back on the ground at RAF Northolt but I was already looking ahead to our next sortie which would take us across to Europe on an overnight stop. The weather at our destination was significantly better there, too! The pilots who'd flown the day's sorties bid me farewell, and a new crew joined the aircraft as it was valeted prior to the arrival of our next VIPs - a brace of senior cabinet ministers due in Strasbourg. Shortly thereafter, they arrived - Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and Secretary of State for International Development, The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn, accompanied by the members of their delegation and weighed down by the red boxes of ministerial office. Foreign Secretary: The Right Honourable Jack Straw walks out to the waiting aircraft, accompanied by an officer from RAF Northolt. The cloud base which gripped Britain slipped away as we crossed the English Channel and gave way to glorious clear skies and the golden sunlight of late evening over France. As we dropped down towards Strasbourg, I was introduced to Jack Straw and I took the opportunity to shoot some images of him in relaxed mood - jacket and tie off, sleeves up and collar open, deep in conversation with Hilary Benn. He's an affable fellow, Straw, popular with the crews on the squadron - and come to think of it, everyone I know who'e ever dealt with him. His character must have a large part to play in his having occupied the post of Foreign Secretary for as long as he has - he certainly seems popular with those who work with him. In Relaxed Mood: Beginning our descent into Strasbourg, Jack Straw unwinds, deep in conversation with Hilary Benn. Benn is a fourth generation MP, the son of former Labour cabinet minister Tony Benn. When campaigning for election, he used the slogan 'A Benn but not a Bennite' because of his father's reputation as a hero of the left. (c) Black Rat The red carpet was rolled out for our arrival and as our passengers were whisked away, we secured the aircraft in the setting sun. Our ground agents had made all the arrangements for our transfer and we were driven out through the airport to two SUVs which transferred us to our accommodation, the Novotel in Strasbourg. It was 22:30 local when we arrived, so just time for a few beers before bed. Setting Son: Our BAE 146 takes on fuel ready for departure the following day. On the ground in Strasbourg, shortly before being locked down for the evening. (c) Black Rat Our planned departure at 14:30 local the following morning meant a leisurely morning for us, marred only by the stress of awaiting the IOC's decision on where to host the 2012 games. Our transport was booked for 12:30 local which meant we had to leave the hotel - and televised coverage of the voting - before the decision was made. There's something magical for me about 'owning' an aircraft - having it sat there on the pan, cold, inert, waiting. Crewing in at the airport though, the walk out to it, opening it up, bringing it to life; I love it. The whine as the APU is engaged, the aircon starts to flow and the screens and instruments in the flight deck light up heralds the promise of travel. Making Plans for Nigel: The co-pilot thumbs through approach plates prior to our departure from Strasbourg en-route for London. (c) Black Rat. We were all of us anxious now to find out the result, our collective will focused across the miles to Singapore where London's fate hang in the balance. The crew chief tuned the HF radio and made contact...just as the verdict was announced. A cheer went up on board the jet, as we erupted into celebration. How sweet a victory - to find out in France, snatching the trophy from the jaws of Paris and hearing the result on your opponent's turf. The last time I felt this joyous was when Arsenal won the Championship at White Hart Lane! Jack Straw and the Foreign Office delegation were ecstatic as they boarded the aircraft. They'd heard the result whilst at the European Parliament, where he'd addressed a debate on the future of Iraq. Sat directly opposite the French delegation, the FCO contingent had been able to see the disappointment writ large across the faces of the delegates, even as smiles were breaking out across their own. Farewell, Adieu, Bon Chance: Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, in bouyant mood, bids farewell to his French hosts after a day of talks at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. (c) Black Rat. The flight back to England was joyous, the mood predictably bouyant. I wandered back to talk with Jack Straw in the cabin hoping to get some quotes from him regarding the squadron. After what happened next, I'm lucky I wasn't arrested for assault though - as I entered his cabin, a piece of architraving fell from the door frame against me, forcing me forwards off balance and into the Foriegn Secretary where I bumped my head against his and knocked him off balance! "Hello again" he said, grinning. Assorted members of his entourage were scattered about us so I had a huge audience to watch as my face reddened with embarrassment. Still, he was gracious enough to offer me an impromtu interview, even if I had almost knocked him somewhat awkwardly,to the floor - and he was effusive in his praise of the officers, men and women of the squadron. "Flying isn't my favourite pastime" he told me, "but these guys do a fantastic job and I feel completely at ease when I'm in their hands. The cabin on here is a great place to get work done, one of the few places where I'm able to relax and work uninterrupted if need be". Inconspicuous Ingenuity: Flanked the motorcycle outriders of the Met Police's Special Escort Group, Jack Straw's Ministerial car whisks him off to the FCO in Whitehall. (c) Black Rat. His ministerial Jaguar was waiting at the aircraft's steps as we stopped on the pan at RAF Northolt and within 3 minutes of us opening the aircraft doors, he was on his way back to the Foreign Office, speeding into London flanked by motorcycle outriders from The Special Escort Group of the Metropolitan Police. I spent that night in the Officers' Mess again as I was due to join one of 'B' flight's helicopter sorties on Thursday. As it transpired, that was the day none of us could have forseen. I found out about the morning's events from my wife, who called my mobile as I was leaving the mess for the squadron crew room with the news that she was ok and that a series of bombs had exploded across London. She was at Kings Cross station when the bomb exploded on the underground train there and that was my introduction to the news, just minutes after it happened. Transitioning: A Squirrel helicopter of 'B' Flight, 32 Squadron transitions to the hover (c) Black Rat As the morning wore on, I saw things unfold from the RAF's perspective as first the threat level escalated, and various sorties were changed, cancelled, or introduced. We'd planned to fly over the affected areas, but helicopter incursions over central London had been suspended by the CAA in the aftermath of the explosion, even for military flights, so that plan was aborted. The General: Air Vice Marshall Ian McNicholl, RAF - AOC 2 Group, RAF Strike Command. Instead, we flew to RAF Strike Command where we collected a two-star General, Air Vice Marshall Iain McNicholl. As the AOC 2 Group, he was due at RAF Lyneham for a meeting and as we flew in, the base was a hive of activity. I watched Tony Blair on TV there as he departed Gleneagles, cutting short the G8 summit to return to London, and ten minutes after landing myself at Northolt, watched him emerge with my own eyes from a BAE 146. He walked across the pan, right past me to another Chinook which was waiting, rotors turning, for his arrival, after which it would transfer him to Chelsea Barracks. The rest of that day passed in something of a blur, as I watched the frentic activity unfold around me and began the long fight to get myself home. Yes, Prime Minister: Tony Blair hosts a press conference in London after cutting short the G8 summit. He returned to Gleneagles later that same evening. As with 99 Squadron, who I flew with last month, the pilots of 32 Squadron occupy a unique position in the Royal Air Force. They are unique in the RAF in that they fly in 'blues' - uniform shirt sleeves and trousers, as opposed to the 'growbags', or green flying suits that are the preserve of every other military pilot. They fly more 'cycles' - take offs and landings - than probably any of their peers and fly into airports more commonly seen on around the world luxury tours. Later this year, for example, HM the Queen and HRH Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edingburgh will fly to the Far East for a tour. Although the Royal Family will travel there by chartered BA jet, a BAE 146 of 32 Squadron will be fly on ahead and be used by the Royals once in theatre. Wherever they go, the crew go. They brush shoulders with heads of state, Royalty and Government. They stay in the best hotels, they travel widely, and the flying is some of the most exacting and technically complex that any pilot in the Air Force can expect to face in his career. Small wonder then that places within the squadron - numbering just over 50 personnel in total - are so sought after. It's a common misconception amongst republicans that 32 Squadron receives extra funding from the public purse to finance its role as VIP/Royal transport facility; it doesn't. It receives funding as an operational squadron, just as any other, and along exactly the same lines as it did before its merger with the Queen's Flight in 1995. It's primary role is military, flying senior officers on official business, but where it has the spare capacity, it will accept taskings from the Government and Palaces provided the cost is competitive. The cost of royal travel by air is met by the Royal Travel Grant-in-aid and detailed breakdowns of costs and expenses are available in the accounts published annually by the Royal Household
SHOOTING ROYALTY: THE PRINCE, THE MINISTER, THE GENERAL AND ME
13.7.05 16:30
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(13.7.05 16:34) You and fast planes eh.. |
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(13.7.05 16:41) Luda: Nothing fast about these aircraft hon, but...er...yeah - I take your point ;-) x |
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Matt / Website (13.7.05 18:28) Fascinating! I was particularly interested because I was at the RAF Waddington Air Show a couple of weeks ago and one of this squadron's 146s came in between two displays with some unidentified dignitaries on board. The commentator gave us a brief overview of the squadron, but I missed some of it due to crowd chatter and my friends speculating who they were flying (we never did find out). So it was very interesting to read your entry, and also interesting to hear about what you witnessed on Thursday. Quite a unique perspective that, and I thank you for sharing it with us. |
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(13.7.05 18:51) Matt: Thank you. Have to admit, I wasn't expecting the week to unfold the way it did, but then that's one of the things I enjoy about features writing; it's always unexpected. I knew I'd accompany the squadron on at least one mission, but as it turned out, I got to see each facet of what they do - to the background of some of the world's highest profile events. Equally, I could have ended up tagging along on three sorties carrying people I'd never heard of - not the best of material for a feature! |
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Graham Tanner (13.7.05 20:38) Just thought that I'd point out a correction to one of the photo captions ... the photo through the windshield of the aircraft landing at 'Humberside' is actually landing at RAF Northolt. |
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(13.7.05 20:50) As you know Northolt is, and always has been, my home airfield. It's always good to read a feature that gets beneath the skin, so to speak. Thanks for another fascinating insight on RAF operations. There'll be a mention on my blog (again) about this entry at the weekend. Cheers. |
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(13.7.05 21:44) THANK YOU, a wonderful piece and stunning photos you lead such an interesting life, well done, reading your blog helps to keep my brain cells moving |
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(13.7.05 22:48) Graham: I'm impressed, sir. IS that more than an amateur eye you've got there. That aside, thanks for the heads up, a most elementary mistake on my part. I blame the damn sub-editors here...*What's that? I haven't got any? Blast! FlightBuff: I do indeed. Thank you...and thank you again. I should have added you to my favourites list a long time ago but it's sorted now. PrincessFairyToes: No, thank you - it might appear interesting, but it's not really my life - it's 'work'. My life consists of doing the school run, shopping and generally being a suburban House Husband. Arse. Thanks for such kind comments, though, much appreciated. And well done yourself, for a blog that constantly makes me laugh. For some reason, I thought I'd added you to my faves list a long time ago too, but I hadn't. I have now. x |
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American Girl / Website (14.7.05 01:39) What an experience this must have been, hanging out with all of these people. I'm envious of your journey with all of them. Got any recorded interviews you can share? |
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(15.7.05 17:00) American Girl: Sadly not; conversations with Prince Andrew were off the record, and those with Jack Straw were either private, or off the cuff. No digital media involved, just me, my camera, and mk1 ear, allied to some deft shorthand when required. |
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