The Nimrod Capability Gap
A quick dit from the dark blue side of aviation that certainly made me ponder the (hopefully) temporary loss of MPA recently.
Maritime RW squadron doing what they do best, flying at least a thousand miles from the nearest point of land from a moving tin box. One of the new Pilot's is nominated to deliver a SAR planning brief. He mentions that our "top cover" is provided by the MR2 as a long range SAR asset .......... "Are there any questions?" .........
Aircrewman: "Hasn't the Nimrod stopped flying?"
Briefing chap: "Oh yes, it has actually"
Aircrewman: "So what's our top cover on a long range SAREX?"
Briefing chap: "Errrmmm, I'm not quite sure."
Exec: "Unless the new Nimrod is quick, or a Herc crew are optimistically minded . . . . . the liferaft".
Slightly tongue in cheek perhaps, but it certainly did make me think a lot about some of the tasks we do, in light of MR2's withdrawal and MRA4's withdrawal.
It should come as no surprise that there is a great deal of support for the MRA4 from the dark blue fraternity.