I joined FRADU in 1996 as a Airframe & Engines fitter. After completing an in house training program to be come "Compersite Trained" (all trades flight servicing) I joined the team in the second line bays with Ralph Dadge and his lads. There were plenty of old faces from 705 NAS Jim Iball, Ray Frogget, "Fruits" and Bob Tuckwell to name a few, so it took no time to settle in. Life on the unit is very busy, as the engineering team is very small compared with a large RAF squadron, everyone had to muck in and help each other one minute being in the hanger and then out on the line the next doing "See Offs & See Ins" I really enjoyed my time on the unit and it was only to come out to the U.A.E. where I work now, that I left.
While I was there FRADU also ran the V.A.S. (visiting aircraft section) flight as well so all in all for a spotter like me it was great fun.
Any way the unit operate Hawk T1A's, civilians maintain the aircraft under Navy inspections but by R.A.F. servicing shcedules and are flown by civilian pilots.
The unit has been around for a very long time prior to being at Culdrose it was based at R.N.A.S. Yeovilton operating Hunter & Canbarra jets. There are loads of sites on the net covering the units time at Yeovilton and the continuing history of the EX FRADU Hunter aircraft. |
