Wednesday, 8 August 2018

Osprey mystery hatch

I consider myself to have a reasonable grasp of much of the blizzard of acronyms generated by the military but I confess that from time to time I am lost.  While clambering round the V-22 Osprey at RAF Marham recently I spotted this strange round hatch.  While this is, of course, hugely entertaining I wonder what it actually means....


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16 comments:

  1. Martin Rapier8 August 2018 at 13:05

    Given the other signage around it I would hazard a guess at 'Airborne Refuelling Speed Equipment' or similar.

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  2. David Crook8 August 2018 at 13:26

    Hi Tim,

    I can offer no clue but I am sure you will get to the bottom of it....:-)

    All the best,

    DC

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  3. Robert (Bob) Cordery8 August 2018 at 13:28

    I did wonder if it was to give relief to USAF personnel after a particularly hot curry whilst visiting an RAF mess. ;^)

    All the best,

    Bob

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  4. Wg Cdr Luddite8 August 2018 at 14:12

    Is there another panel somewhere marked ELBOW ?

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  5. Tim Gow8 August 2018 at 14:26

    Martin Rapier
    It's a thought - but shoving a refuelling probe through the hatch would give the co-pilot a rude shock!

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  6. Tim Gow8 August 2018 at 14:26

    David Crook
    Once again I am the butt of your jokes...

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  7. Tim Gow8 August 2018 at 14:27

    Bob Cordery
    That might explain the proximity of the fire extinguisher...

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  8. Tim Gow8 August 2018 at 14:28

    Wg Cdr Luddite
    Probably, but I couldn't tell them apart...

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  9. David Crook8 August 2018 at 15:16

    Hi Tim,

    I am sure that after careful anal-ysis you will solve the mystery. Most modern aircraft have piles of labels but I hope you did not touch anything in either of the two pictures as you might have rectum....

    I should be on the stage (the next one out of town methinks...)

    All the best

    DC

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  10. Don M8 August 2018 at 15:49

    I have to agree with Martian on this one it's an anagram for something...god knows what.

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  11. Tim Gow8 August 2018 at 17:02

    StuRat
    I once nearly sold my then employer the renaming of my department to Best Advice Surveying Team And Related Duties. We got rumbled just short of board level....

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  12. Steve88 August 2018 at 22:07

    Is there an elderly, deranged Irish priest nearby painting “ FECK” and “GIRLS” on the other side?

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  13. Archduke Piccolo9 August 2018 at 00:09

    Great responses here - but there may be less behind the 'ARSE' label than meets the eye. I see above it a similar panel and the hint of a similar label. Tou can just enough of it to see that it comprises 4 letters, the first three being probably ARS, and the fourth NOT an 'E'. My guess would be that it is a 'D'.

    And that leads me to believe the the letter "E" in the Arse label stands for the letter "E".
    It would not surprise me if elsewhere on the vessel there were round panels labelled ARSA, ARSB, ARSC and so forth.

    Some possibilities:
    Air Reserve Station
    Automated Reserve System
    Air Refuellibg Station
    Attack Radar Set
    Admiral's Reserve Socks.

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  14. itchy's wargames9 August 2018 at 06:28

    I have been told by one of my US buddies that the signs are :
    ARSD =air refuelling system drain
    ARSE =air refusing system escape

    sounds plausible both sealed areas checked on the ground after flights?

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  15. Brian Carrick9 August 2018 at 07:05

    With so many signs to read it makes you wonder how they find the time to fly the plane.

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  16. Steve-the-Wargamer9 August 2018 at 12:56

    Any idea what the one above it said (hidden behind pipe)..?

    I'm thinking automatic something starboard engine?????

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