Parliamentary Questions concerning Hercules Safety
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4963746.stm
Lions led by lying cowardly mendacious deceitful neglectful swine.
RAF pilots 'asked for tank foam'
The deaths were the single biggest loss of life in Iraq
The deaths of 10 UK personnel in Iraq in January 2005 could have been avoided if a safety device was fitted to their Hercules plane, the BBC has learned.
RAF pilots requested that explosive- suppressant foam devices be fitted to fuel tanks two years before the attack in which the men died, RAF papers show.
The Ministry of Defence said none of its planes in Iraq or Afghanistan have the foam, but some will be fitted soon.
The foam has been in use in US Hercules aircraft since the Vietnam war.
The attack happened on 30 January, 2005, when the Hercules was hit by ground-to-air fire which caused an explosion in the right hand wing fuel tank.
A board of inquiry said the crash was not survivable but did admit that the lack of a fuel tank safety system could have contributed to the crash.
The crash was the single largest loss of British life in Iraq since military action began in 2003.
With the continued lack of foam on Hercules planes, campaigners say they will sue ministers for corporate manslaughter if any more lives are lost because of a lack of protective equipment.
The deaths were the single biggest loss of life in Iraq
The deaths of 10 UK personnel in Iraq in January 2005 could have been avoided if a safety device was fitted to their Hercules plane, the BBC has learned.
RAF pilots requested that explosive- suppressant foam devices be fitted to fuel tanks two years before the attack in which the men died, RAF papers show.
The Ministry of Defence said none of its planes in Iraq or Afghanistan have the foam, but some will be fitted soon.
The foam has been in use in US Hercules aircraft since the Vietnam war.
The attack happened on 30 January, 2005, when the Hercules was hit by ground-to-air fire which caused an explosion in the right hand wing fuel tank.
A board of inquiry said the crash was not survivable but did admit that the lack of a fuel tank safety system could have contributed to the crash.
The crash was the single largest loss of British life in Iraq since military action began in 2003.
With the continued lack of foam on Hercules planes, campaigners say they will sue ministers for corporate manslaughter if any more lives are lost because of a lack of protective equipment.
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JTO - Absolutely!
Nige, Chappie I salute you both and pray for those still 'out there'!
Flipster
ps I wonder how long it will be before another journo adds this to the growing list of
c0cks-up by 'nu laber'?
The best thing the gov't can do is to sort it out PDQ - ie foam/DAS for all ac, compensation for the families and an apology. If they did this, they could actually use it as a example of quick, efffective gov't action to sort out previous mistakes.
Nige, Chappie I salute you both and pray for those still 'out there'!
Flipster
ps I wonder how long it will be before another journo adds this to the growing list of
c0cks-up by 'nu laber'?
The best thing the gov't can do is to sort it out PDQ - ie foam/DAS for all ac, compensation for the families and an apology. If they did this, they could actually use it as a example of quick, efffective gov't action to sort out previous mistakes.
Last edited by flipster; 2nd May 2006 at 07:09.
Radio 4 'Today' 0735
'Today' has just broadcast Angus Stickler's report at 0735. It was very hard hitting - Nige hit all the right spots technically - and Chappie was tear-jerkingly brilliant. If you missed it you can hear it on the Today web page - scroll down to 'listen again'. It's not there yet (0750), but it will be soon. The MoD would not comment except by statement, but the LibDems came on to excoriate them
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/li...in/index.shtml
Also, the story is now appearing in the BBC News webpage - which should mean that BBC tv will pick it up, and probably the papers will want to follow up as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4963746.stm
A VG result all round.
airsound
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/li...in/index.shtml
Also, the story is now appearing in the BBC News webpage - which should mean that BBC tv will pick it up, and probably the papers will want to follow up as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4963746.stm
A VG result all round.
airsound
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A very big thank you to Airsound!! Two invitations to go on air in 6 days and the MoD are still hiding. It does speak volumes for an organisation that is not prepared to engage in public debate and defend its record on safety.
NG
NG
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thankyou for the messages of support.i knew it would be hard hitting and make the point that this is peoples lives that are being fought for.
i'm a little disappointed that there was so little of me as i had alot to say and views i wanted the world to know. the point ,however, is that this is not about me. it's about getting the protection for everyone.
do the muppets in MoD not grasp that the suppressant technology makes financial sense against having fingers crossed and heads in the sand as an option. the costs involved in the aftermath of the crash which i outlined earlier in the thread are phenomonal and surely next time they might not be looking at only ten families to face. the ac that is next might be packed out with the troops. surely they don't want to take that gamble again?!
while i write this i have got tears in my eyes. this is partly due to the fact that hearing my brothers voice on the interview piece was an emotional moment.i am also so frustrated by the MoD and their ignorance. i have not listened to the tape that i have as it's too painful. it was necessary to use. i just hope that now the media will follow this up. the MoD need to know that i mean business. i will not go away. the MoD have refused to meet just little old me on a tv interview. it's not just refusal of meeting nigel. the more they refuse to take part in this and come and put forward their arguement and justify their actions the more it looks like they have no arguemnet contrary to that of mine and the more it looks like they have something to hide. running scared are we?
hope i have not let you all down again. please remember that it is paramount to me that i do not offend any member of the armed forces. i hope you are pleased with all that i've done so far. if there is something that has not been done yet please PM me and let me know what i can do.
i'm a little disappointed that there was so little of me as i had alot to say and views i wanted the world to know. the point ,however, is that this is not about me. it's about getting the protection for everyone.
do the muppets in MoD not grasp that the suppressant technology makes financial sense against having fingers crossed and heads in the sand as an option. the costs involved in the aftermath of the crash which i outlined earlier in the thread are phenomonal and surely next time they might not be looking at only ten families to face. the ac that is next might be packed out with the troops. surely they don't want to take that gamble again?!
while i write this i have got tears in my eyes. this is partly due to the fact that hearing my brothers voice on the interview piece was an emotional moment.i am also so frustrated by the MoD and their ignorance. i have not listened to the tape that i have as it's too painful. it was necessary to use. i just hope that now the media will follow this up. the MoD need to know that i mean business. i will not go away. the MoD have refused to meet just little old me on a tv interview. it's not just refusal of meeting nigel. the more they refuse to take part in this and come and put forward their arguement and justify their actions the more it looks like they have no arguemnet contrary to that of mine and the more it looks like they have something to hide. running scared are we?
hope i have not let you all down again. please remember that it is paramount to me that i do not offend any member of the armed forces. i hope you are pleased with all that i've done so far. if there is something that has not been done yet please PM me and let me know what i can do.
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Originally Posted by chappie
hope i have not let you all down again. please remember that it is paramount to me that i do not offend any member of the armed forces.
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lots of things happening, I will give a heads up as soon as I have confirmation of what is being covered on the news tonight.
Would like to thank Angus Stickler for putting together a powerful piece of radio.
Would like to thank Angus Stickler for putting together a powerful piece of radio.
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Well done all!
As an ex-Herc operator, I just wanted to add my own round of applause for a vital job being very, very well done.
Keep it up nigegilb, chappie, Airsound et al!
Gadget
Keep it up nigegilb, chappie, Airsound et al!
Gadget
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Thanks guys and doris day. I know a lot of people have followed this from the start. If you missed R4 Today prog just follow Airsound's advice, a few clicks and you can hear it again via the web.
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hi, i'm afraid that i cannot get onto the news tonight and i'm very upset about it. please understand that you have my utmost support and good luck for tonight. i'll be thinking of you.
i have made contact with the producer of another investigative programme that will beam into all the houses in britain and get the message home.
i also have made contact with the solicitor that may be taking our case and therefore the right steps are being taken to take action against the MoD.
i have made contact with the producer of another investigative programme that will beam into all the houses in britain and get the message home.
i also have made contact with the solicitor that may be taking our case and therefore the right steps are being taken to take action against the MoD.
Watch Channel 4 News!
I think I can confirm that Channel 4 News (1900-1950) will be covering the story this eve (Tue). Of course there's always the proviso that some other disaster could knock the story off the programme - but prospects are looking good so far. Sad to say, Chappie will not be involved (something to do with availability of studios local to her, I understand) - but Nige will be there, and some other significant contributors.
If anyone feels like contacting the two programmes - Today http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/contact/
and Channel 4 News, email [email protected]
with their comments, I'm sure it would be appreciated!
Thanks for support and kind words. We all know it's worth it.
airsound
If anyone feels like contacting the two programmes - Today http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/contact/
and Channel 4 News, email [email protected]
with their comments, I'm sure it would be appreciated!
Thanks for support and kind words. We all know it's worth it.
airsound
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Well done all.
Anyone know who this BBC Defence Expert (Andrew Brookes) expert is? His quotes don't suggest he is an expert at all.
Full Article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4964866.stm
Anyone know who this BBC Defence Expert (Andrew Brookes) expert is? His quotes don't suggest he is an expert at all.
"We've been flying Hercules in Iraq since 2003 and lost one, which is tragic. But when you crash a car, do you stop everyone driving?"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4964866.stm