 The bomber’s moon had set by the time our gallant team arrived on the station for the briefing. Two missions today chaps; a flight in a Tornado for the A Team: Lugs, Hero and Emma, and a flight in a simulator for Dozy and Bryn - Very much the B Team - tee hee!Bryn whined on about it not being fair, that he should go in the Tornado, that Emma and I might not like it and so on. I told him to ‘man up’ and get on with it. We don’t whinge in the RAF, lad.  Actually, despite not being allowed to join the real jocks, Bryn had a pretty good time being simulated and said it was amazing, fantastic, wonderful, totally realistic... Yeah right, of course it was! He even claimed that he actually flew the kite, ho hum. Anyway, back to me.... Chocks away. The fearless threesome kitted up and climbed up into the cockpit. Our eyes swept distant horizons, our jaws jutted and we were ready for the task. Lugs in the front seat with Maverick (as they liked to call me) and Ginge in the navigator’s seat.  Lugs pushed open the throttles, lit the afterburners and whhhheeeeeeeeeohmygawwwwwd that’s fast, we were at 2000 feet and banking. I sat up front just next to the HUD, the Head Up Display, and believe me, my head was up. This thing can move... Arrrrrgh... And turn upside down...... Arrrrrrghhhhhhh and go straight up and straight down... And straight up again and ... I don’t feel very well and quick... Pass me the sick bag.... Aaaaarrrrgghhhh. Maverick was as cool as ice, he was Ice Man, he was Top Gun, he was only just a little sick as well but whoooohhaaahhh was that fun! Eat your heart out Brynny boy. You just ain’t done nothing like this in your simulator! We soared across Scotland, we were eagles, we ruled the air, just me and Lugs... oh yes and Ginge in the back. We landed and taxied back to our ground crew and the waiting press. Bryn was there trying to look all pleased that we had enjoyed ourselves but did I detect just the merest touch of green envy in those little eyes... oh yes I think so! Woof!! It’s hard to come down from that but I just take life as it comes, so when the Station Commander turned up in his Staff Car to sweep me off to the Mess I was happy to get the log book signed and crack on for a pint and medals.  The afternoon went in a flash as I met the Lossiemouth H4H team, all the people who have raised so much for all the other heroes and after a couple of hours of pressing the flesh and working the room - not to mention listening to Bryn drone on about H4H - I was ready for a couple of pints. Tallyho! So there we go, another mundane couple of days in the life of your everyday bear, friend of the stars and now reach for the stars.... Flying Officer Hero... Tornado Bear! |
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