3 June 2012
I used to be an aircraft mechanic in the army. One day I had to fly (as observer/tech) in a Westland Scout helicopter from Germany to England but halfway across the Channel we encountered heavy snow and had to turn back. The pilot noticed clear weather to the east and decided to try and go round the snow so we headed for the North Sea. After being forced quite wide we found a clear path and headed for Kent, but suddenly flashing red lights appeared on the instrument panel. Uh-oh, 11 minutes fuel left and no land in sight. Fortunately we managed to limp home and landed safely at an army airfield where the lad who marshalled us in told us to get a cuppa while he did the 'turn-a-round' ( a quickish servicing if the aircraft is going to fly again that day ). After a few minutes he poked his head around the canteen door and asked me to join him outside.
" I've just refuelled it " he said, " Do you know how much fuel it takes? "
" 1140 lbs." I answered.
He pointed at the counter on the re-fuelling bowser. It read exactly 1140. We must have been travelling on fumes!
Lucky or what!
A Wing And A Prayer • Opuss № I