TSM's remarks may have come through frustration. I know I have had to switch off my computer on a couple of occasions to prevent me from from posting something that I know I would regret at a later date.
However TSM has apologized and as others have said lets move on.
I for my part have been busying myself with applications under the FOI. For each new piece of evidence I have received I am becoming more convinced that the terrible accident in Sept could have been avoided.
XV230 was bought down due to a fire raging in the bomb bay.
A fire needs 3 elements Oxygen-Ignition-Fuel. Take away any one and the result is no fire.
Oxygen...As it has been pointed out the bomb bay is not air tight so the Oxygen can not be removed Fire extinguishers have been discussed throughly and although someone in the future may come up with a method would the RAF embrace it's use, I doubt it.
Ignition -I am not going to speculate on the cause of ignition I we await the BOI to tell us what the ignition
Fuel..Fuel can be wiring covering or any combustable material. In the case of XV230 the fuel for the fire was aviation fuel in the bomb bay. So if no aviation fuel had leaked, there would not have been a fire.
Conclusion ..To prevent further loss of life the Nimrods fuel leakage problem needs to be addressed.
In the Panorama programme Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, the Chief of Air Staff said the following :
JOFRE: Twenty-five fuel leaks in five months. Is that a lot?
Sir GlennTORPY: It's a lot. I would always like to see the figure reduced to the absolutely lowest minimum.
JOFRE: It sounds like a lot.
Sir GlennTORPY: If you look over the last ten years, the level of fuel leaks that we've had has remained pretty constant over those ten years.
JOFRE: But let's look at the five months up to March, there were 25 fuel leaks, some of them really quite serious. Are you concerned about that?
Sir GlennTORPY: I am very concerned about it, and that's why we have made sure that we analysed every single incidence. There are no underlying themes.
So over the last 10 years Nimrods have been leaking fuel at a constant rate. WHY, what is the problem this is 2007 why can't the fuel leaks be stopped or at the least there should be less fuel leaks .
Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy says there are no underlying themes????
I thought they were talking about Nimrods that had fuel leaks surely this is the main underlying theme THEY ALL LEAK !!!
There I have had my little rant and I have written only facts.So before I say more.
TAXI FOR TAPPERS DAD PLEASE.