The Whole World Knows Now

We were doing a training flight today for some new pilots. A show them the countryside flight mostly, going from our big base to the biggest base in the country to a medium size base then back home again. The medium size base requires that you have prior permission to land. This is common at US military bases here and in the States. We phoned from the biggest base in the country, got our permission and launched.

We had just finished checking in with medium size base approach control when we heard a high pitched upper class English voice come on the radio:

"Medium size base this is Civil flight Somesuch number"

"Go ahead Somesuch number."

"I am going to give you a number. Are you ready to copy?"

"Go ahead."

"This is the personal cell phone number of the United States Ambassador to (this country). This is the cell phone number of Mr. Grand Mufti, the Ambassador of the United States to (this country). It is concerning the matter of COL. Pongo Twistleton. the number is 1223113311331. Please use that number to contact Mr. Grand Mufti."

The approach controller replied, with no change in vocal expression:

"Good copy somesuch number."

This exchange occasioned very considerable comment in our cockpit which was interrupted by another transmission from
Somesuch number:

"Medium size base this is Somesuch number. I have another number for you. Are you ready to copy?"

"Go ahead Somesuch number."

"This is the personal cell phone number of the British Ambassador to (this country), Mr. Rue Britannia. The number is..."

And he went through the whole routine again. All having to do with the person of COL. Pongo Twistleton. The only thing we could figure was COL. Twistleton was aboard Civil flight Somesuch number, and Somesuch number didn't have prior permission to land at medium size base. This must have vexed the COL. so he decided to call out the big guns, on a radio frequency anybody in the world can listen to. He made sure to drop the names because he thought it would terrify the Sgt. running the approach control.

We didn't have the presence of mind to copy down the first phone number, but if any of you has a really really good reason to call the British Ambassador to (this country) on his personal cell phone, I might be able to help you...Naw, forget it. You'll have to get ahold of COL. Twistleton.