Rgr that :sunny:

Nor me of yours Jim. :doh: Official reason for what?

There are a couple of reasons for the Crab Fat name. In taildragging aircraft, of which the RAF spent its formative years in, it's difficult to see where you're going on the ground, so they spent a lot of time when taxiing going from side to side to be able to see where to go. That's one.

The other, just as beleivable but not as pleasant, is that the Fish Heads used to put it about in every port and obviously catch unsavioury diseases. They also used to catch crabs, of which the cure was to lather the affected area with a blue/grey ointment - coincidentally the same colour blue/grey as the RAF uniform. Hence Crab Fat.

The final reason, but I don't believe this one, is that the Navy and the Army have a limited number of sideways paces on the parade square before they turn and march proper. The RAF doesn't. But I've always had it in my head that the maximum sideways paces was six, and I've never wrong. :03:

I always thought that was the reason.
I couldn't see anything in AP818 that has anything about limits, but I'm not in the RAF or have I ever been so I may be very wrong.

Happy B'day RAF. :woot:

Section/page 1-2-87 from the Air Cadet AP I found online.

The next stage in foot drill is moving sideways a given number of paces. The reason this movement is taught is to enable an individual or body of personnel to move sideways a maximum number of five paces in a smart, uniform manner.

I was referring to the Vulcan and the reason this is more than likely her last year.

Not to dwell on...the reason I've been given is too easily traceable.

I'm still in denial. :cry:

I'm glad I've got to see a Vulcan flying three times in my life, once at Biggin Hill many years ago, and twice at Lowestoft.

Picture taken by Keab:

http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/7045/picture207z.jpg

That Olympus howl... :yep:

I'll always want one more viewing. And the noise, oh the noise. . .

Lovely isn't it? :rock:

If I remember right, the cadets for all British forces have more "toned down" drill.
I'll have another look though, so good find! :up:

As for the Vulcan, absolutely love it. Saw her at Eastbourne Airshow.

I've not been involved with cadets for twenty years, not held an AP for ten, and not drilled for eight. So I may be wrong. :D

LOL...just two geezers on crossed wires :03:

I thought you'd say I'd never been to Egypt. :D

LOL....a hot place occasionally visited (Port Said) whilst transiting the Suez Canal.

Sharm El Sheikh is on the buna holiday list for the future :03: