You're quite right, MrB - I'd forgotten the fact that the 'droning skips' can't be put onto a de-tuner! There's
still very little local circuit flying, by the way.
A chap well-connected with CATARA / Future Brize did actually tell me that C-130 ground running would prove a problem - winding the old things up and running them for hours on end seems to be a C-130 maintenance requirement...
As it was when I was a UAS Plt Off on Summer Camp at Abingdon (3 items the RAF can no longer afford, incidentally - UAS Plt Offs, Summer Camps and RAF Abingdon) and they did Belslo ground runs which went on for hour after hour - but by day.
The issue seems to revolve around lack of available airframes and those which
do still work needing frequent fettling. So the locals are made to suffer because the C-130s are totally $hagged....
Perhaps they should write to their MP....
