The 727s can function independently, but the use of a spotter aircraft can improve the accuracy of a spray run and enhance situational awareness.
The steady, almost metronomic call outs of “150…150…150…” from Flight Engineer Al Reid forms the soundtrack to another oil spray run for flight ‘Broadsword 6B’. It’s a rather surreal experience, flying at 150ft and 150kts over the North Sea in a Boeing 727 that rolled off the Boeing production line in Seattle a fortnight before
