Is it me? Or is there a distinct “denigrate the RAF at every opportunity” culture in the air? A few recent examples:
The now (in)famous “ the RAF is utterly, utterly useless” quote; did that remark really get released into general circulation by accident? ie was one person’s emotional and personal remark worthy of all the coverage that it got?
No mention of RAF losses in current operations (that I heard) during the annual Remembrance Day coverage or even during the BBC (!) Festival of Remembrance TV coverage – despite the Nimrod and C-130 tragedies.
The first female fatality in a combat zone was RAF (an ATC/Ops O if I am not mistaken) but the recent Army loss was extensively reported as the first female death. (Heartfelt sympathies to all families who have suffered loss – whatever Service or gender)
Every TV shot of helicopter support operations always implies that the Chinooks, Merlins and Pumas are Army operated.
Disproportionate coverage of the ‘Nimrod teapot’ story.
The constant carping about Air Transport Operations.
The constant carping about Typhoon.
Even the abandonment of the RAF Antarctic expedition was covered on Teletext over Christmas and portrayed as an only-to-be-expected failure.
I would be pleased to be corrected on any of the above. But nothing positive currently seems to be reported about the RAF; I just smell a rat.
Not having a pop at the Army at all – they are deserving of all the positive reportage that they get.
Now, the really cynical person may just suspect that a distinct policy is being pursued here, whereby the Media are being manipulated by a manipulative Government (well versed in the art) to condition the populace that the RAF is now redundant and can safely be disbanded as an ‘efficiency measure’. Such preparatory work would result in a much-muted outcry from Joe Public, when it’s announced (following the obligatory leak - to test reaction- of course!).
If I am wrong, and I truly hope I am, then the RAF
PR machine wants sacking in toto and a new Team needs to start actually doing something to redress the balance. Today wouldn’t be too soon.