NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009
T
HE prHE proopeller on the Sworpeller on thhe SwSworo dfifi sh sshh
turned furiously.
The frame of the flimsy aircraft jerked and and
wavered, assailed by the wind.
And at this point the torpedo bomber was still
fixed firmly to the rich icing which enveloped
the cake celebrating the centenary of Naval
aviation.
The buffeting the model Swordfish received
was an indication that the Gods did not smile
particularly kindly on the Fleet Air Arm’s 100th
birthday.
It was grey. Sometimes light grey. Sometimes
middling. Sometimes dark. Sometimes there was
a bit of rain too.
And so it was that out of the murk, somewhere
over the four square brick chimneys of Greenwich
Power Station, that a few bright lights appeared,
growing brighter, ever closer.
In Balbo formation – named for the pioneering
Italian aviator (and Fascist, but we prefer to
remember him for the former...) – four indistinct
‘blobs’ of helicopters in the London sky.
Four Merlins of 824 Naval Air Squadron led
the way, guided by Lt Cdr Mike Pamphilon – one
of the Fleet Air Arm’s most experienced aviators
with more than 5,000 flying hours to his credit.
Then a true mixiblob: a 771 NAS Search
and Rescue Sea King, accompanied by two
Culdrose shipmates, airborne surveillance
and reconnaissance Sea King Mk7s with their
trademark radar ‘bags’ lowered.
Behind the trusty Sea Kings, four Lynx from
702 NAS at Yeovilton with Lt Dave Lilly, this
year’s team leader of the Black Cats display
team, guiding the way.
marina Continued on page 24
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