I believe he's holding it the wrong way round
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I believe he's holding it the wrong way round
RAF boss draws his pistols
4 Jan 08
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, has been practising his pistol shooting at Bisley for the Air Officers and Station Commanders Pistol Match. He hopes to demonstrate to younger members of the Armed Forces a central part of military life - being able to defend themselves. Report by Ian Carr.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy takes aim on a target 15 metres away
[Picture: Harland Quarrington]
Having emptied a full clip into the target from 15 metres, Sir Glenn Torpy rendered safe his 9mm Browning pistol and slipped it back into his holster. He stepped up to the target to see how good his practice session had been and to get a few pointers from the safety officer advising him:
This is Sir Glenn's third year competing for the winner's trophy, something he achieved the first time he took part, but which he modestly passes off as "a fluke". Last year he came third. Something about his approach to the practice session makes you sense that he wants to improve on that this year.
Looking at the 20 other competitors, it appears the determination to win may also be burning very strongly in some of them. And why not? How often does someone still climbing the greasy pole of RAF command have a chance to challenge the man at the very top in a friendly contest on equal terms:
"It gives us a chance to practise a central part of military life: being able to defend ourselves. I'm really keen to encourage that." Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff
This is a rare day away from the job for Sir Glenn, although it does not quite qualify as a day off:
He's clearly chuffed, but the shooting is not over yet. In the next event, each team of three will blast away at clay tiles on a rack ten metres away, shooting against the clock.
This time the rest of the competitors may be taking more notice of the career pecking order. Then again it might be sheer skill. Whatever, CAS and his team achieve a comfortable second place. Does he mind failing to achieve first position? No, not really. Well, maybe just a bit:
4 Jan 08
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, has been practising his pistol shooting at Bisley for the Air Officers and Station Commanders Pistol Match. He hopes to demonstrate to younger members of the Armed Forces a central part of military life - being able to defend themselves. Report by Ian Carr.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy takes aim on a target 15 metres away [Picture: Harland Quarrington]
Having emptied a full clip into the target from 15 metres, Sir Glenn Torpy rendered safe his 9mm Browning pistol and slipped it back into his holster. He stepped up to the target to see how good his practice session had been and to get a few pointers from the safety officer advising him:
"It's not been a bad effort," the range officer whispers to me. "Actually, he's something of a natural. If he put in a bit more practice I reckon he could be one of the lads on our team."
Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, President of the RAF Small Arms Association, is preparing to face a band of senior hot shots in the Air Officers and Station Commanders Pistol Match.This is Sir Glenn's third year competing for the winner's trophy, something he achieved the first time he took part, but which he modestly passes off as "a fluke". Last year he came third. Something about his approach to the practice session makes you sense that he wants to improve on that this year.
Looking at the 20 other competitors, it appears the determination to win may also be burning very strongly in some of them. And why not? How often does someone still climbing the greasy pole of RAF command have a chance to challenge the man at the very top in a friendly contest on equal terms:
"It's a good gathering," says Sir Glenn. "Not quite as many as last year because of commitments."
Apparently no one in uniform is immune to the time sapping influence of two major operations."It gives us a chance to practise a central part of military life: being able to defend ourselves. I'm really keen to encourage that." Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff
This is a rare day away from the job for Sir Glenn, although it does not quite qualify as a day off:
"It's going to be great fun", he says. "But at the same time it gives us a chance to practise a central part of military life: being able to defend ourselves. I'm really keen to encourage that. I want to instil in all youngsters in the Service that if they find themselves in Iraq or Afghanistan they need to be able to look after themselves and their mates. If they see their senior officers taking time to do something like this, then they know they can too."
So how did he do, blazing away at the cardboard commando charging towards him? Not bad at all. Just as he did last year, CAS grouped his bullets nicely around the heart of the target, achieving third place with 107 points out of a possible maximum of 150.He's clearly chuffed, but the shooting is not over yet. In the next event, each team of three will blast away at clay tiles on a rack ten metres away, shooting against the clock.
This time the rest of the competitors may be taking more notice of the career pecking order. Then again it might be sheer skill. Whatever, CAS and his team achieve a comfortable second place. Does he mind failing to achieve first position? No, not really. Well, maybe just a bit:
"Its pretty noticeable that competitiveness is getting more fierce," he says. "There's evidence of more practice going on around the bases."
You get the feeling that he is planning a few more practice sessions himself.
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Good to see he is interested in a real core millitary skill rather than all the ethos tosh, ie: Where shall we get pissed or wouldn't it look good on my SJAR if I were an AP Mentor.
He might even see fit to replace our 1967 vintage pistols, a good design in it's time but designed before WW2!
I've been too busy to attend Bisley (RAFSAM) for the past 5 years, will be the same again this year
He might even see fit to replace our 1967 vintage pistols, a good design in it's time but designed before WW2!
I've been too busy to attend Bisley (RAFSAM) for the past 5 years, will be the same again this year
Thread Starter
Thanks SRENNAPS
The whole point of this website is so one can express themselves. You can call me a pathetic individual and I can express my displeasure about who I perceive to be a weak and misguided leader i.e. Torpy. I'm not bitter and twisted about the Air Force - I thoroughly enjoyed my 6 years there. I feel its terrible that a fine service such as the RAF, from when I joined in '88, has been left to rot through a dreadful lack of investment into the much needed areas through poor leadership and outdated visions in procurement.
Perhaps c**k was a tad uncalled for but I resent mindless news articles by the MoD especially concerning such an ineffective individual.
So no offence directed towards you or the rest of the RAF, I have my views and am just as entitled as the next man to express them.
Maxibon
The whole point of this website is so one can express themselves. You can call me a pathetic individual and I can express my displeasure about who I perceive to be a weak and misguided leader i.e. Torpy. I'm not bitter and twisted about the Air Force - I thoroughly enjoyed my 6 years there. I feel its terrible that a fine service such as the RAF, from when I joined in '88, has been left to rot through a dreadful lack of investment into the much needed areas through poor leadership and outdated visions in procurement.
Perhaps c**k was a tad uncalled for but I resent mindless news articles by the MoD especially concerning such an ineffective individual.
So no offence directed towards you or the rest of the RAF, I have my views and am just as entitled as the next man to express them.
Maxibon
Avoid imitations
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I left for similar reasons but at least this leader is getting off his backside and attempting to show some proper leadership from the front.
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20 years ago, Glen Torpy was a good egg. Myself and a few other junior officers had a fine night getting pissed with him in the bar at Bruggen not finding out that he was the new Station Commander until he walked in to breakfast the next morning...
Followed by frantic mental revisions of last nights conversation for anything incriminating 
Not a word on his side other than "morning chaps !"
Can't believe that he would have changed that much. Good on him !
Followed by frantic mental revisions of last nights conversation for anything incriminating Not a word on his side other than "morning chaps !"
Can't believe that he would have changed that much. Good on him !
Glock would be the sensible 'head' choice........
But, a Colt 1911 in .38 Super would be my 'heart' choice....
or a new aluminium Colt XSE in .38 Super for a compromise between head and heart......
But, a Colt 1911 in .38 Super would be my 'heart' choice....
or a new aluminium Colt XSE in .38 Super for a compromise between head and heart......
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I think you'll find that BEags was issued with the trusty flintlock for dispatching the enemies of King Grorge on basic at His Britannic and Imperial Majesty's Collage for Aviating Gentlefolk back in 1783 and is therefore entitled to look down on your new-fangled revolving pistol contraptions that are clearly the work of the devil
I'd go for a Skorpion myself.
I'd go for a Skorpion myself.
I often thought that carrying a PPW was more of a placebo than anything else - if you were that far forward to use it deliberately, you were carrying something with a bit more clout as well; if you were there by accident, questions about calibre amd mag capacity become rather academic.....