Military AircrewA forum for the professionals who fly the non-civilian hardware, and the backroom boys and girls without whom nothing would leave the ground. Army, Navy and Airforces of the World, all equally welcome here.
Q. What do you do if your lagacy F18s are running out of life? A. Buy a heap of recently modified jets from an ally whose politicians say they no longer need them, at a cut down price as spares for your existng fleet of the same type. Q,What do you do when you have the ally's jets? A. Forget the idea of using them as spares but stand up two squadrons of the Harrier 2's to complement your existing fleet of Harrier AV8B's.
Yes that is what is happening on the other side of the pond. The USMC have had an amazing bargain as a result of "Call me Dave" 's decision 18 months ago.
Are the UK Media aware of this amazing c*ck up?
Do you think that our cousins are going to offer us a sweetheart deal on the F35 as a thank you for this friendly way of replacing the ancent F18s?
Well, did we really expect anything different? We knew we were giving them away and what our 'cousins' use their new toys for is pretty much up to them. That doesn't make it all any better, but I don't suppose Mr C will have anything to say. The only important thing to him was to get another type off the books to shed all the expensive support, etc.
Imagine how much more embarassing it will be for HMG, MOD and the senior command echalon when Uncle Sam's Misguided Children use the same number of aircraft to generate a significantly higher FE@R than JFH did; when they have them MAU-MEU capable / deployable in greater numbers; when they assimilate more ordnance onto them than they had as RAF owned machines (gun pack, JDAM, AMRAAM?) and also when they are deployed on Ops.
It would be even crueler if they upgrade some to a 2+ type spec.
Would we ever send a British service member on an exchange with them to fly? After all, it was only July last year when the last RN pilot flew one and it mght be useful seedcorn experience for maritime ops even if we don't go for the B model after Call Me Dave's independent review (pun intended).
I suppose the Corps have supported the Harrier from very early in the game, so no suprise that they would want more. Semper Fidelis? I somehow think that they are.
Echoing the comment above, I would love to see the 'exiles' flying again and not just stripped for parts.
Location: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
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Quote:
Would we ever send a British service member on an exchange with them to fly?
An RAF chap was once on an exchange tour with the USMC in the mid-'80s. One day he was asked if he wanted to participate in one of those oo-rah formation running things they do (whilst chanting "One...Two...Three...Four...I love...the Mreenkaw")....
With a look of pained incredulity on his face he replied "Run? Did you say 'run'? My dear chap, British officers don't run - it would simply panic the troops!".
But that was long before the jockstappers with their Kraft durch Freude mentality pervaded the RAF.
Totally off topic, but on a similar vein, I remember the one of the USMC General visiting the range to see new recruits, stopping as he went along he would ask " you have a hoard of Vietcong coming over the hill at you and you have a jam, what would you do?" each replied "Belt off, clear stoppage.. Belt on...carry on." eventually he reached a seasoned veteran with more medals than John Wayne, asking again the vet replied " Belt off... Pack off and **** off."
We didn't scrap them because they were incapable (they are anything but). We scrapped them because we couldn't afford to upkeep two different aircraft types (GR4 + GR9).
Since USMC already have the same aircraft type in service why shouldn't they use them as "real" aircraft? Perfectly sensible decision.
finnpog wrote
<<I suppose the Corps have supported the Harrier from very early in the game ...>> Pity they didn't buy them instead of making them themselves - would have helped our industry and piggy bank
Pity they didn't buy them instead of making them themselves
We did make significant components of the AV8B's (inc 2+) right up to Dunsfolds closure,here is a centre/rear fuselage data plate rescued from Dunsfold - it is complete but with some numbers covered over.
Every Harrier I (defined as having a 201 sq ft metal wing) was made and test flown in the UK. None were made elswhere.
When it comes to the Harrier II (230 sq ft plastic wing) every wing and cockpit was made in the US. Every rear fuse, tailplane, engine and reaction controls was made in the UK.
Final assembly for Harrier II was in the UK for UK customers and in the US for US customers. Neither country was able to make the whole aircraft.
