UK RAF to raise UAV squadron
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Huh?
'Almost fifty years ago, Britain's then defence minister, Duncan Sandys, famously predicted the end of the manned fighter aircraft.
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Life in the Womens' Auxiliary Balloon Corps suddenly seems more attractive!
(But I suppose that is compared to that of the SH/AT world)
Calling Melchett01 to sign off the application...........
(But I suppose that is compared to that of the SH/AT world)
Calling Melchett01 to sign off the application...........
Last edited by TacEval Inject; 5th Dec 2006 at 22:25. Reason: sodding text format
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And just which such unmanned aircraft would the RAF have been using these last 50 years if the wonderful and prescient Duncan Sandys had gotten his way back then?
Any imaginative goof can think up an idea that eventually becomes reality... just look at Leonardo Da Vinci (helicopters, tanks, etc.) Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, any science fiction writer... it takes an intelligent man to realize when the time (and technology, political climate, public opinion) is right to put that idea into real existence.
Any imaginative goof can think up an idea that eventually becomes reality... just look at Leonardo Da Vinci (helicopters, tanks, etc.) Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, any science fiction writer... it takes an intelligent man to realize when the time (and technology, political climate, public opinion) is right to put that idea into real existence.
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Greenknight.
"Any imaginative goof can think up an idea that eventually becomes reality... just look at Leonardo Da Vinci (helicopters, tanks, etc.) Jules Verne, H.G. Wells"
Imaginative Goof is an interesting term to use for the luminaries that you mention.
Leonardo would come in most peoples list of famous intelligent people I would think, and the other two are no thickys. Didn't H G Wells invent, in some detail, the necessary theory behind geostationary satelites and space elevators a long long time ago?
"Any imaginative goof can think up an idea that eventually becomes reality... just look at Leonardo Da Vinci (helicopters, tanks, etc.) Jules Verne, H.G. Wells"
Imaginative Goof is an interesting term to use for the luminaries that you mention.
Leonardo would come in most peoples list of famous intelligent people I would think, and the other two are no thickys. Didn't H G Wells invent, in some detail, the necessary theory behind geostationary satelites and space elevators a long long time ago?
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Duncan Sandy's comments in the defence white paper that came to bear his name was focussed on the removal of the need for "expensive" manned aircraft as missile defences would render them obsolete, therefore we should put all our money into missiles rather than aircraft.
The article states that the aircraft will be delivered direct to Iraq with one ground station - is it because:
a. UK hasn't got its particulars in one sock regarding UAV operations in UK airspace,
or
b. because we can't afford to pay the VAT?
A. Both
The article states that the aircraft will be delivered direct to Iraq with one ground station - is it because:
a. UK hasn't got its particulars in one sock regarding UAV operations in UK airspace,
or
b. because we can't afford to pay the VAT?
A. Both
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I just like the concept of a UAV hanging around for hour after hour in Iraq, Afghanistan etc ...... keeping an eye out ..... spotting the bad guys ..... sending them a pressie ..... 
and then the Controllers go home for their tea at 5.00 oclock (from Northwood or wherever) ......
seems so civilized to me .....
and then the Controllers go home for their tea at 5.00 oclock (from Northwood or wherever) ......
seems so civilized to me .....
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If the bad guys shoot you down, while sitting in your little hut in Creech, I guess it is simply a point for the debrief, and then you go to the bar.
As long as the Womens Auxilliary Balloon Corpse gets flying pay, then who cares what you call the job.
BTW, Is the name of the squadron going to be....lets guess...
As long as the Womens Auxilliary Balloon Corpse gets flying pay, then who cares what you call the job.
BTW, Is the name of the squadron going to be....lets guess...
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Many years ago I was at an RPV ( as then was) symposium in the West of England.
The statement was made from industry that we were now close to the stage of technology of being able to remove one man from the entire two man attack aircraft mission profile set (then Bucc/Phantom).
The question then was -which one?
The smirks on the faces of the Pilots were soon removed when it was then revealed that they , in fact, were the more easily replicable component in electronic capability/Artificial Intelligence terms.
The Navs in turn rapidly broke out into triumphal grins:
which then very slowly faded as the implications settled in.
The statement was made from industry that we were now close to the stage of technology of being able to remove one man from the entire two man attack aircraft mission profile set (then Bucc/Phantom).
The question then was -which one?
The smirks on the faces of the Pilots were soon removed when it was then revealed that they , in fact, were the more easily replicable component in electronic capability/Artificial Intelligence terms.
The Navs in turn rapidly broke out into triumphal grins:
which then very slowly faded as the implications settled in.