Future of Military Parachuting?

[snapper41]

In today's Telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=BAO3ZMSPVL5LDQFIQMFSFFWAVCBQ0IV0?xml=/news/2008/01/29/nparas129.xml

[spectre150]

The article talks about a drop (pun) in numbers from 2007. Isn't this the timeframe that the J was introduced? Am I right in thinking that initially the J did not have para drop clearance and as the number of Ks reduced the lack of availability for para was exacerbated by the lack of cleared J-model airframes. Ready to stand corrected by anyone in this line of business..

[StopStart]

spectre150 - no to most if not all of your questions. Consider yourself corrected :)

More to do with op tempo, disastrous cuts to our engineering support and the generally unfeasible expectations of the army as to quite how many Hercs we can magic out of our arses at short notice.

The DT article is a little thin on fact and chokka with meaningless soundbites. Ho hum.

:hmm:

[doubledolphins]

So "Parachute Regiment" will just be a quaint old reference to the past, like "Cavalry". Come to think of it why do ships still "Sail"? :ok:

[MightyGem]

Am I right in thinking that initially the J did not have para drop clearance
That bit was correct.

[airborne_artist]

There was similar problem in 82/3 after the capture of the FI and before MPA was opened. I remember plenty of exercise para jumps being cancelled because of the Falklands Air Bridge. It didn't last too long though, as MPA was opened in 85 I think, and of course the op tempo issue barely arose.

Having the ABTF capability may seem like a luxury now, but you can bank on it being needed soon after all the skills and know-how have been lost forever.

[Grabbers]

One good thing may be the redundancy of RAF PJI's. What Operational Relevance [I]exactly[I] do they have. Far better to have the trained experienced 'maroon machine' (along with other notables)with the broader view on Para teaching. Save the RAF a few bob, that would.

[RAFEmployee]

Surely they can go civvie

http://www.skydivedallas.com/images/Otter.jpg

http://www.skydivedallas.com/images/Otter.jpg
Sure Brown will agree with anything.

[musclemech]

I must admit I never understood why we had the job, just glad that I have never had to do it (touches wood).

MM