Guy Slocum leads a busy life. He is involved with Investment Consulting, Sales Training, Management Consulting, natural therapies. Auckland Airport Rotary and even a new political party formed just days ago. But Guy was able to take time out to tell members on Monday evening of his time as a Cold War fighter pilot flying Lightning and Phantom aircraft with the RAF.
The MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) doctrine has essentially kept the peace between the nuclear superpowers for 70 years. The task of the RAF was to let the USSR know that their fighter aircraft could get to the Soviet aircraft before the enemy aircraft were in range of a missile strike on the UK. But the logistics involved in meeting the Soviet aircraft 500 miles from the UK were surprising. Because the RAF Lightning had such a limited range, it had to be refuelled by flying tankers up to 32 times on an 8 hour mission.
Although on a full tank the Lightning had 50 minutes of fuel, it was necessary to keep the tank topped up constantly.
Although relating events from another era, with the Cold War ending just as global warming was heating up, Guy’s close up photos of the enemy aircraft they were stalking and recollections of dicey landings, complemented by amusing anecdotes of his time in the cockpit made for a well-received address.
Although relating events from another era, with the Cold War ending just as global warming was heating up, Guy’s close up photos of the enemy aircraft they were stalking and recollections of dicey landings, complemented by amusing anecdotes of his time in the cockpit made for a well-received address.