Originally Posted by
Arfur Dent
The pilot of the JP started the roll with the nose too low which is typical of someone either not very good or not very current. I suspect it was a bit of both. Was there extra training after the 'red card'? I'll wager the 'good old boys network' came into play and off he goes in the Hunter.
My qualifications so to speak? 3 FJ tours inc Harrier and courses on both JP, Hunter, Gnat etc etc.
He should've hung up his goggles and gone back to his A320 day job.
Finally, as I've said before, current RAF display pilots fly vastly more hours on type than these dangerous 'part timers'. Let's have a core of them to fly displays in vintage aircraft. A bit like an upgraded BBMF but with fast jets too. Properly organised and financed AND SUPERVISED AND TRAINED AND CHECKED.
A great idea... I am completely for a "RAF Historic Flight" with full time FJ pilots with regular display training/experience, perhaps who do a two year tour alongside their primary posting, before going back to their full time posting.
If they made it appealing enough they could probably offset some of the cost involved from demand to display at many airshows around UK and Europe.
Unfortunately as soon as money and bureaucracy and politics get involved then that shuts the idea right down.
I reckon it'd be much much safer than out-of-practice former FJ pilots who think their skills are still as sharp as they were back in the day, who may or may not have had any display practice in the recent weeks/months in that aircraft.