13 Sqdn to be re-formed

[ian16th]

RAF drone squadron to be operated from UK - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9627010/RAF-drone-squadron-to-be-operated-from-UK.html)

[Training Risky]

Oh I do hope OC Police at Waddo is ready for the influx of perimeter-fence hopping, chaining themselves to the gates, not-in-our-name, anti-CIA drones, unwashed protesters!

Maybe they will set up a peace camp in the village like the one at Faslane?

[chopper2004]

Guess this eventually mean the end of 'What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas' syndrone :) :D for the inhabitants there once Waddo becomes up and completely running. Only one of the few decent postings overseas.

On another humerous side could the new OC could run his squadron remotely from the beautiful desert, blue sky and stones throw from the wildest strip downtown. Everything can be done by video conferencing (as encourgaed by previous employer whom decided field trips and attebnding exhibitions, visiting other divisions globally could be managed by video conferencing to reduce costs) execpt making the tea :)

Anyone read the viewers comments especially the chap who looks more like Saruman out of Lord of the Rings....looks like hes on a higher morale ground (though I doubt it) I wonder if OC Provo will be interviewing him without coffee at anytime soon? :)

I wonder if half of the gen public are slightly naive :)

[TEEEJ]

There is a peace camp just of the A15. Looks like it will increase in size.

They are planning to demonstrate outside RAF Waddington this Friday.

Drone Wars UK (http://dronewarsuk.wordpress.com/)

Protest camp set up at RAF base - ITV News (http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/story/2012-07-25/protestor-sets-up-camp-at-raf-base/)

Recent protest

BBC News - March over RAF Reaper drones at Waddington (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-19928423)

[Union Jack]

Unlucky for some .....;)

Jack

[xray one]

What a sad end for 13 Sqn....

[A2QFI]

Live 20 miles away, 3 years on the Squadron 61-64, can't blag an invitation to any sort of ceremony or some tea and sarnies after it.

[Tinribs]

Try promising to eat only one sarnie

[Circuit Clear]

Presumably, if someone had enough computer power and reliability they could do this whilst sat on the patio sans glass of wine! Or, sat up in bed at two in the morning etc!!
So, even on holiday in sunny climes, a drone could be controlled from just about anywhere.
They could have chosen a less recent sqn to call this new addition, maybe it was pulled from a list by the char waller such is the importance given to such matters.

[Jumping_Jack]

I hope they aren't relying on any part of Dii or MOSS to undertake this role! :eek:

[Sandy Parts]

if we used Dii, we could use the most excellent SPOC (according to user 'survey') to sort any problems...."Lost link? press 1, enter the answer to the obscure question you picked 3 years ago and have now forgotten the answer to. Now simply press #alt-f7 and shift-space-enter at the same time to restore the link.......sorry, you haven't entered the correct code, please call back in office-hours, thank you."
Hoping the virtual warriors will get a warm welcome from their aircrew brethren at Waddo - maybe even a photo or 2 in the 'E3 Times' station magazine?:E

[Just This Once...]

If they are really good they may even get a married quarter at some point in the next few years and perhaps a school place for their kids.

[AR1]

Get the VPN setup and work from home like a proper civvy. No one will know where to setup camp.

[Corporal Clott]

So this is what a protest march looks like...

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/63465000/jpg/_63465136_drones.jpg

...looks like a small gang of nutjobs on a ramble to me! :ok:

I hear that on the first protest about a year ago, that of the half dozen that turned up one got lost. The RAFP picked her up in the patrol car and took her to the rest of her friends. After an hour they got bored (also there were some really grumpy spotters nearby!) and they all packed up and went back to their B&B - job done, protest noted! :ugh:

CPL Clott

[A2QFI]

There will probably only be one sarnie, and not one each!

[AR1]

It's their right to object and I don't deny them that. I went on a (non related) protest about 3 years after leaving and it's quite interesting the way that otherwise normal members of society get very threatened by it.
Handing out leaflets, a car slowed and the window came down, I bent forward and received the full contents of his throat full in the face. People shouting C**t, nutters etc.
In an odd way it was quite fun, I can see why people who do it get excited by it.

[500N]

"In an odd way it was quite fun, I can see why people who do it get excited by it."

Especially for those who are on the dole who otherwise leave a very boring lifestyle.

And of course those perpetual protestors that get paid to do it !

[MRAF]

Its a jibbering Chilly McWilly day for a parade! Glad i'm not in the rent-a-crowd seats freezing my @ss off. I'll watch from my nice warm office me thinks.
;)

[Scuttled]

X-RAY 1

Why?

And why is it the end? Surely it's a re-start or a new start.

Doesn't this potentially put 13 back in the vanguard of an exciting new era of flying?

Grow up.

[Lima Juliet]

I hear that the 'protest' on the day of the stand up was the 'old girl' and a random bloke - :ok:

LJ

[Lima Juliet]

Here is the 'old girl' - looks like she needs a lesson in spelling...

...Nice CND sign, but MQ-9 doesn't carry nukes :ugh:
http://dronewarsuk.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/helen2.jpg

...'BRAVERY' :ugh:
http://dronewarsuk.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/helen3.jpg

Also, she needs a lesson in history - trebuchets, longbows, crossbows, lances, spears, javelin, missiles, bombs, cannons and bullets all conduct warfare 'at range'! :ugh:

Some people...

LJ

[A2QFI]

What they are doing isn't flying - it is operating.

[Lima Juliet]

A2QFI

You are wrong. The Ground Control Station has a rudder, throttle, pitch lever and stick and you fly the MQ-9 in a similar way to a manned aircraft - think of it as 'fly by wire' only the wire is 6,000miles between the control and flight surfaces instead of about 25feet!

The 1-1.5 second delay when flying via satellite makes it harder to fly - it introduces lag in the system just like the 'drum and thumbtack' test at OASC at Biggin Hill all those years ago. One pilot did a magnificent job completing a forced landing in the desert when the turbo-prop engine quit and tried to re-light several times before dead-sticking it in - 'operate', I think not!

LJ

[Archimedes]

Here is the 'old girl' - looks like she needs a lesson in spelling...


...'BRAVERY' :ugh:
http://dronewarsuk.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/helen3.jpg

Also, she needs a lesson in history - trebuchets, longbows, crossbows, lances, spears, javelin, missiles, bombs, cannons and bullets all conduct warfare 'at range'! :ugh:

Some people...

LJ

She also needs a lesson in the meaning of Roger Waters' lyrics...

[A2QFI]

Skilled Yes - Piloting no. The job title is UAV Operator!

[Whenurhappy]

Well, at least we are keeping a kindly eye on these protestors...a sort of 'care in the community' project, n'est pas?


Oh, and she forgot the 'Morality of Altitude' statement...no doubt the kind old biddy would have written it as 'the Mortality of Attitude'

[MAD Boom]

If they are really good they may even get a married quarter at some point in the next few years and perhaps a school place for their kids.

Do our lords and masters ever think before they pour assets into a station which cannot provide housing for those already stationed there?

I for one can't wait for the laughter down the phone when I call to ask for a quarter next spring.

Is there some sort of new housing development taking place that I don't know about or has there been a massive amount of rental properties flood the market suitable for SSFA........?

[recce_FAC]

''Geek and computer freak'' Never been called that before, Ive only just figured our what ''CapS lOcK'' means. It's still the dude in danger that says ''Cleared hot'', well most of the time, had plenty whilst drinking a coffee.

[Lima Juliet]

A2QFI

Oh, do keep up 007!

The job title is UAV Operator

The job title is RPAS Pilot (RPAS - Remotely Piloted Air System). You see what we did there? ;)

You are thinking of the likes of Desert Hawk 3, where the operator points to where it should fly with a mouse and operates the sensor package with an X-Box controller. The MQ-1 and MQ-9 is totally different and requires people trained as pilots...

If you want to check out as a MQ-1 or MQ-9 Launch Recovery Element Pilot to do take offs and landings, you need to be an experienced Mission Control Element Pilot first. Even then you are trained and checked out by a Flying Instructor, who is also a Pilot. Do you see the common thread here? ;)

LJ

[BEagle]

Do you see the common thread here?

Yes, just more drone operators in denial whining that they are 'real' pilots. Which, of course, they assuredly are not. Operators, yes. Skilled operators, perhaps. But 'pilots', no.

How many drone operators die when they prang the wretched things?

[Wensleydale]

Which, of course, they assuredly are not. Operators, yes. Skilled operators,
perhaps. But 'pilots', no.

Time for the acid test perhaps.....are they awarded the "Pilots' Brevet" that can be worn on uniform?

[LateArmLive]

Time for the acid test perhaps.....are they awarded the "Pilots' Brevet" that can be worn on uniform?

No, they already have their wings. But then, Id expect you ex-military aircrew who inhabit the military aircrew forum to know that.

[recce_FAC]

The guys I have spoken too were all pilots and they were very good as well.

[5 Forward 6 Back]

Beagle,

If 39 and XIII's pilots stop being pilots because they've moved from Typhoon/Tornado/Herc/VC10 to Reaper, by the same logic did you stop being a pilot when you did your oft-mentioned "PVR porridge" ground job prior to retirement?

Considering plenty of ex-39 guys have gone back to manned flying, and all of them bar none wear wings awarded at Linton/Valley/Cranwell/Shawbury, I think it's doing them a bit of a disservice to randomly stop referring to them as pilots. Especially when you look at the number of equally-qualified pilots who struggle to adapt to the Reaper!

Maybe, in the future, we'll have enough of an RPAS fleet to train people from scratch to fly RPAS only; and then there'll be some interesting discussions about whether they're pilots or operators, as they won't have had the same level of training or ability as someone who's graduated from Valley and spent a tour or 2 on the front line. I personally don't think they'll wear wings.

But until then, every single person sat in the left hand seat of a Reaper GCS has a pair of wings on his or her chest that were earned in the traditional way. Removing an element of the risk from them doesn't suddenly mean they're not pilots.

[recce_FAC]

A good post, all I can add is that they provide a lot more CAS to the guy's on the deck than just about all FJ pilots from all nations over Afghan. Thats purely based on the aircraft they fly and the role it's in. Wish we had more.

[Sandy Parts]

Interesting argument raised by Beags:
"How many drone operators die when they prang the wretched things?"

Does this mean pilots who have the temerity to eject/survive their aircraft crash are therefore no longer pilots?

As the RAF is paying them pilot's flying pay (not WSO or Rearcrew flying pay), I think the case is closed m'lud.:p

[FFP]

because they've moved from Typhoon/Tornado/Herc/VC10 to Reaper

They have ex VC-10 pilots flying those things ?!?!?!?!:eek:

[TEEEJ]

Six arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after RAF Waddington protest

Six anti-drone protestors have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at RAF Waddington.

Lincolnshire Police were called to the base at 8.48am this morning after reports that a number of people had damaged a perimeter fence.

An eyewitness said six protestors were at the site this morning and two in high visibility jackets managed to gain entry to the taxiing area and displayed a banner emblazoned with the word 'PEACE'.

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson confirmed they were aware of an incident at RAF Waddington.

The six people arrested are currently helping police with their enquiries.

Six arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after RAF Waddington protest | This is Lincolnshire (http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/arrested-suspicion-criminal-damage-RAF-Waddington/story-19170965-detail/story.html#axzz2V9jPWncC)

[Courtney Mil]

Frankly, who cares? Protest all they like, it's not going to change anything. Waddo, as an ex nuke base has seen all this before. If the unwashed want to live outside in the cold, wet Lincolnshire weather, fine by me. Fill yer boots.

[Canadian Break]

Shouldn't the RAF "Drone Sqn" bee 213 Sqn?
Royal Air Force Heraldry Trust, the Squadron Badges List (http://home.clara.net/griffon/rafh/sqns200.htm)

Hat, Coat etc!

[HAS59]

now that we're all done arguing about what the driver is called...

What are we going to use these for when we leave Afghanistan?

[Frostchamber]

As with any military asset in peacetime, train for when it's next needed in anger?

[SRENNAPS]

I wonder if the 13 Sqn Pilots will be able to take their aircraft on weekend overseas training sorties to places such as Naples or Palermo.

They could fly the aircraft to such places from the comfort of their home base and then have a webcam beer session with Tornado or Typhoon aircrew that are actually there in the hotel bars :E:E

[Courtney Mil]

I was actually imagining them being sent to Red Flag without the operators ever having to leave Waddo. Of course the engineers will have a great time on the Strip. :E

[Willard Whyte]

Another squadron?

I guess there just aren't enough Wing Commanders.

[smujsmith]

Courtney,

What a great suggestion. I can just see the hard working ground crew coming off a long 12 hour shift and racing to get to the casino, in that hot climate. Struggling out of their denims and racing to the complimentary suite for a shower, whilst, the Pilot, sits in his air conditioned luxury room at Waddo. Aircraft Engineering has always been a damned hard task, but somebody has to do it :ok: :D
Smudge

[Lima Juliet]

I believe that the majority of engineers are contractors on UK MQ-9? So the contractors can got to the strip with the 2 launch recovery crews and the odd attached RAF engineer!

:cool:

[smujsmith]

Blimey Leon, I didn't know that :ugh: Still it's nice to dream. Of course, at my age, it's way past any chance I would get for such sublime treatment. :rolleyes:

Smudge