SpazSinbad/PhillipG
Is the lack of a STOVL aircraft in UK service causing problems in developing future landing aids, in addition to causing problems with training both pilots and others? I am assuming that the RVL approach speed is below the stall speed of non STOVL aircraft.
How
do you trial aircraft landing aids without aircraft? Sharkey Ward's book, and his internet writings, have flagged up the whole ship aspects, as have the following Gentlemen of PPRuNe: Bismark (
here and
here), Not_a_bofin (
here), Whiteovies (
here), and orca (
here).
The risks of Pilots not being able to land is small, particularly since many will have done exchanges and landed Hornets/Super Hornets (at a much higher speed) aboard a CVN. Regardless of possible delays, F-35B will do the business, but what about everyone else if they have not practised? That risk is harder to quantify, but is probably more significant.
Is sending a handful of aircraft handlers (as
discussed here) Stateside really enough to prepare?
At least Sharkey Ward considers the whole ship aspects in his writings.