Me at Work

Gareth Windsor
There a few reasons both political and personal. But bottom line, time my family got my full attention.

Christian Ristits
Very impressive, thank you for sharing them with us!

Florian H.
👍

Mike Kryza
Very interesting - thx for sharing!

Ekki
Very good pics.
And good luck for the future.

Gareth Windsor
Thank you Ekki

Helmut Fraundorfer
Hi Gareth. Thanks for sharing these Pictures with the community! I do have a few questions, I hope they are not too personal. What was your Job in the RN? Were you stationed on a carrier all the time? Where was that Picture of the F35 taken? Does the RAF have F35s? Sorry for all These questions but when do you get the Chance to talk to an "insde man" about something like this? 😄
What are you planning on doing after you left the RN?
Anyway, enjoy the time with your Family and all the best for your future!

Gareth Windsor
Hi Helmut, not a problem. I was/am an Aircraft Engineering Mechanic Avionics Supervisor. After my basic training I was stationed at RNAS Culdrose, an Air Station in Cornwall. The Squadrons stay on the base to continue training for the pilots and the mechanics, but fly onto the ships when they set sail. I have been on all three British carriers, HMS Invisible, Illustrious and Ark Royal. I ran the electrical workshop on the Argus for a short time. I was trained to work on all aircraft types in the RN but have worked mainly on Seaking Mk5, MK6 & MK7 ASaC and Merlin Mk1 & 2.
The pictures of the F35 are at Culdrose in Cornwall, UK. It's not a real one, it's made from plywood. The Navy own a couple of F35A which are currently in the States going through trials. Britain was going to have the F35A operating from the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers, but when the decision was made to not use catapults on the carrier's, the Navy had to go with the F35B the Vertical take off and landing version of the aircraft.
I have no idea what I will do when I leave, but my wife says I will not make models for a living 🙁

Doug
Thanks for your service Gareth

Harry Eder
Thanks for sharing! Great pics!

Holger Kranich
Great Pix! You had (or have) a cool job!

Gareth Windsor
Thanks guys. Yes it's been pretty good to me over all and I leave with some great memories, experiences and friend.

Cristian Bordina
Thank you very much for these highly interesting photos!

Robin Hasting
Congrats on your career, and thanks to an ally for your service. Some years back when my niece's husband retired from the U.S. Army as an Apache crew chief I posted some pics of a bird he was chief for during the Gulf War (not a model). Some rivet counting idiot on another board told me the colors and stencils were all wrong. I asked what unit he had been with. His reply was, "Oh, I'm not a vet, but I've seen a lot of pictures on the internet." "Okay, I think Mommy is calling you to supper now."

Gareth Windsor
Had a few moments like that Robin when someone tells you you're wrong about an aircraft even after you point out you work on them. Sometimes you just have to bite your lip and except that some people's tool boxes are missing a spanner.

Robin Hasting
wankers- I had an ex-brother in law telling me how any moron could fly a plane. We got in the car and drove to the airport, untied my Cessna, preflighted it, got in and took us up to about 5000 ft. and let go of the controls. I said, "Let's see what you've got, Art." and began reading a mag. In about 30 seconds we were in an accelerated stall/spin and he was screaming for me to do something. He NEVER said a word to me again, but that was no loss.

Clifford Keesler
Great pictures. I serverd in the U.S. Navy and believe it or not I actually miss the carriers, although when I was in I used to curse them. LOL. Enjoy your retirement.

Ulf Petersen
How could I miss this album?!?😮
Thanks a lot for these wonderful pictures!👍 You must have had an enviable job!

Gareth Windsor
You are welcome Ulf. The job, as with any I suppose, has had it's moments, but I have been quite fortunate. I've stayed safe (except for the time I misjudged jumping through a hatch on HMS Invincible and ended up with three stitches in the middle of my head) and been to some wonderful places. Never thought I would be mountain biking in South Korea then walking though the grounds of the Imperial palace in Tokyo. Oh, and meeting a Canadian woman in a Spanish bar as I returned from the Gulf, who then moved to the UK to become my wife. Your right Clifford, when you get told you are going onboard the first thing that goes through your head is "oh shit". Once you step on board it all comes together. You have a job to do and so do those around you. Going to miss the camaraderie and the excitement of going out to a helicopter on the flight deck as it's "burning and turning", the smell of jet fumes and the sound of the blades beating through the air as the ship slowly rocks and sways beneath you.

Stefan Suessemilch
Wonderful story and great pics Gareth, thanks a lot for sharing 🙂

Gareth Windsor
Walked round a Seafire today and talked to the pilot. Fabulous aircraft.

Günther Debiscop
Nice pics. Where was that Huey pic taken?

Gareth Windsor
Thanks Günther. The Huey was in Oman. A friend and I found 3 of them and an old Airfield fire engine.

Choppa Nutta
Cool collection of pics Gareth and some nice highlights of an interesting career ! 🙂
Did you get to learn to fly anything during time in service ?

Holger Kranich
Yeah, i bet he learned to fly out of pub´s! LOL😉

Choppa Nutta
.... hahha Holly, I reckon it might the other way round, always easier getting to the pub than leaving it 😄

Holger Kranich
True words, Choppy😄

Matthias Weiss
This is a dream job why are you leaving????

Holger Kranich
(Matthias, dass hast Du am 01. März schon gefragt) LOL😉

Choppa Nutta
I wonder what that means 🙂

Holger Kranich
Pssst, dont tell anyone, Choppy! He asked the same question on march 1´st...😢

Matthias Weiss
Oh really....... so that wasn't a deja vu than..... 🙁

Gareth Windsor
Yes guys, I flew in and out of quite a few pubs around the world and some I don't remember leaving, I met my wife in a pub, I also met some nice girls too.
I never learned to fly (officially), but I have taken the controls of a Seaking Mk6 while over the Indian Ocean after firing 200 rounds from the machine gun at the side door. The pilot of a Hawk let me take the controls at 25,000 ft, and during my Merlin Helicopter Supervisors course the instructor took me to the simulator (a complete cockpit on hydraulic rams with an all round computer screen) to show us how the helicopter feels and reacts to certain faults. When he finished it was play time and managed to take off from the airfield and then land on a ship.

Choppa Nutta
That simulator sounds like awesome fun !
I thought the services offered cheap PPL's to those serving though 🙂
Being at the controls of a flying machine is such a different experience to being a passenger etc.
great fun 🙂

And don't worry Holly, I won't say a word 😄

Danumurthi Mahendra
that's like getting paid to do your hobby! LoL

Gareth Windsor
Yes, the real aircraft are just big model kits, except they get broken regularly.

Gareth Windsor
Latest pictures....... my son's goalie helmet. Lost the modeling mojo a little, but not the creativity. Good practice with the airbrush.

Clifford Keesler
That is a beautiful paint job on the Helmet. Hope you get your MOJO back. From the pictures it sure looks like you had an exciting career. I still love it when a Heilo. flies over the house.

Gareth Windsor
Thanks Clifford. I do miss working on the helicopters. I watch them fly over quite regularly with my job on the rooftops in Toronto and remember the smell, the sound and the feeling of being in, under and around operating helicopters.

Clifford Keesler
I miss working on them also.