More Helos for Afghanistan

[ORAC]

REUTERS, LONDON - U.K. to Announce More Helicopters for Afghanistan

Britain will soon announce that it will send additional helicopters to Afghanistan, Defence Secretary Des Browne said March 20.

"I believe that we do need more helicopters in the forces and I want the option to provide more to operations to increase the flexibility that commanders have," Browne told Parliament’s Defence Committee during hearings on Afghanistan.

"We continue to explore what more could be done to increase the pool of resources ... I will probably have more to say about this in the not-too-distant future," he added.

Asked if Browne’s comment meant that he would soon be making an announcement about additional helicopters, a British Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "It does and you can say that.".........

[London Mil]

Traditionally, to send an asset you have to have one in the first place. Who hid all the helicopters?:eek:

[wokkameister]

Knowing this government, it's probably just a reannouncement of the Jungly Sea King deployment that we already knew about.

[Compressorstall]

Or perhaps the Government has worked out that they could save money by moving Benson and Odiham lock stock and barrel to Afghanistan. If it counts as a home posting, there's no need for LSA and the accommodation is better than some of the SLA I've seen in the military...:uhoh:

[Chugalug2]

I believe we have some available at our Boscombe branch, Sir. Usual terms, buyer collects, and as seen, tried and tested! :)

[samuraimatt]

What are his options?

Leasing aircraft from Euro copter, extend the use of the Pumas and Sea Kings, or maybe he could borrow EH101s from Denmark and Portugal and as a last resort have a contract with a British company for Soviet-era Mi-17s.

[airborne_artist]

or maybe he could borrow EH101s from Denmark and Portugal

We tried that a few months back, but they didn't want to play.

[Compressorstall]

We're obviously dipping into the war reserve of...oops! That's empty too. The fact we need more helicopters in Afghanistan is a no brainer, but where from??
What's next? Hunters coming back into service for CAS? Must dust off my pilot's notes.

[jayteeto]

I will go with wokkameister.... A reannouncement to sound like 2 deployments. They have announced a prison opening up here 3 times!!

[Junglynx]

How many promises does he want to make that will flog people to death in order to attempt to sound good in front of the media?!

When he announced the Junglies were going a few weeks ago, half the squadron were still in Iraq! Even JHC didn't know he intended to send us:confused:

I know what the 'delay' in his announcement is - we know not to make promises we can't keep. I suspect we'll all get b*ggered in order to try to keep his:mad:

[Bearintheair]

How about doing the same as we did in 1982 and digging all the old Wessex out of storage !!!!! There must be some in hiding somewhere and there are still some of us around who remember how to drive them !!!!

[XV277]

Or maybe the Yanks could lend us a squadron or two of Twin Hueys.....

[SaddamsLoveChild]

Bearin theair- unfortunately chap, they all went to Uganda! who are still operating them.If they do come back and you need someone to help you up the side or to shovel col in the back give me a shout.;)

[mole man]

They could send the Eric,s I am sure the Crew's would want the lots and lots of dosh

[airborne_artist]

Not only would Mr B's crews want lots of wedge, but so would the oil cos. whose contracts had just been broken. They'd stop producing North Sea oil, and so stop paying Gordon his tax. Gordon would b*ll*ck the MoD, and threaten to cut off their cash :sad:

[Weezer]

We tried that a few months back, but they didn't want to play.
Surely that should read - 'We tried that a few months back, but we didn't want to pay'

[The Helpful Stacker]

Bearin theair- unfortunately chap, they all went to Uganda! who are still operating them.If they do come back and you need someone to help you up the side or to shovel col in the back give me a shout.
Uruguay (http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0467695&WxsIERv=Jrfgynaq%20Jrffrk%20UP2%20%28JF-58%29&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Hehthnl%20-%20Nve%20Sbepr&QtODMg=Cnaqb%20-%20Trareny%20Negvtnf%20%28FHTN%29&ERDLTkt=Hehthnl&ktODMp=Frcgrzore%2021%2C%202003&BP=0&WNEb25u=Znevnab%20Xhobgn&xsIERvdWdsY=KI721&MgTUQtODMgKE=Fbeel%20sbe%20gur%20pbybef%2C%20ohg%20vg%20jnf% 20n%20irel%20pybhql%20qnl%2C%20naq%20gur%20uryb%20vf%20abg%2 0gung%20fuval%20rvgure.%20%5BFbal%20QFP-S707%5D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=4713&NEb25uZWxs=2003-12-05%2000%3A00%3A00&ODJ9dvCE=080&O89Dcjdg=JN616&static=yes&width=1600&height=1212&sok=JURER%20%20%28nveyvar%20%3D%20%27Hehthnl%20-%20Nve%20Sbepr%27%29%20%20beqre%20ol%20cubgb_vq%20QRFP&photo_nr=35&prev_id=0467696&next_id=0467694) wasn't it?

[engoal]

Nice to see a different kind of Walt on these pages - I haven't seen that since I left EGAA and the mighty Swift.

[ericferret]

Where are the engineers and pilots for more helicopters going to come from? At the moment helicopter engineers are like hens teeth. If I could clone myself I would be a millionaire by year end. I see no rush from civil engineers who are mostly ex military rushing back to the service to get Blairs nuts out of the vice.

There are usable aircraft out their but the MOD hasn't a clue how to make best use of the funding. The example of the £60 million spent to buy 6 second hand S.A.F Pumas being a fine example, the going price on the market for a 330 Puma has been under a million, so how did the MOD spent 60!!!!!!!!!!!!! Even allowing for modifications its nonsense.

[ericferret]

Given that we are ""at war" how about pressing the UK Super Puma fleet?

There are currently 28 332L and 15 332L2 UK registered.

[EnigmAviation]

Well, I suppose we could always ask Lex Defence if they'd like to quote for "white fleet " heli's - or possibly offer a pee**e to Sir Richly de serving Branston to start another successful franchise - the troops may like the sex appeal of flying with a virgin !:rolleyes: