Tombie
What’s this about not being up to the task, I believe the Fleet Air Arm Sea King Mk 4 aircraft get about OK after being sent to mountainous Countries? Ditch the extra weight of the radar and tea urn. As for the equipment not being quite up to the task, well they can be in the same boat as the rest of the ‘under equipped’ forces out there. At least they can ply their trade at last and support the frontline forces, whom no doubt would be grateful of the any extra air support.
EE:
I believe that the RAF/RN/MCA crews managed to fly about at night in the hills pre NVG to save lives or has SAR only been achievable since the RAF got NVG’s? What about the letters to those families of the brave servicemen lost in action because they aren’t getting the extra support when the expertise of the RAF SAR crews could make the difference? Surely they won’t mind volunteering for active service and spending time out doing the job they are trained and paid well to do. Let the poorly prepared fool rot at the foot of some Scottish mountain if it would save one valuable serviceman’s life in Afghanistan. At least by getting out there they can prove one way or another that they can do the task or need new machines to service the Countries needs. IMHO