It seems to me that the FAA has one critical shortcoming that it has consistently failed to address over many many decades.
It doesn't blow its own trumpet well, or loudly.
It damn well should. It always damn well should have.
How many times have we heard troops say, "Then the Navy arrived, and we knew it was going to be OK" or "We asked for helos but none came. Then someone asked the Junglies and we got the job done. They didn't have to come, they were busy elsewhere too"
Squaddies often talk to me of their days groundpounding in Ulster and elsewhere (cos I wear my Vets badge) - but equally Iraq and the Balkans, and remember the Navy helos as the one to have when things got hot. (perhaps cos they didn't have to rely on air-conditioning or hire cars...)
Versatility and practicality are the words most often heard. Sounds as if that hasn't changed. So what's new?
Bravo Zulu the FAA!
Last edited by Agaricus bisporus; 22nd Sep 2009 at 22:49.