Pilots Target Scottish Homes
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Pilots Target Scottish Homes
PILOTS ADMIT THEY HAVE US IN THEIR SIGHTS
IN FIRING LINE: The MoD admits pilots use Scots homes as targets during
practice Monday June 23,2008 By David Scott
FIGHTER pilots use civilian cars and homes as practice targets while on
low-level training missions across rural Scotland, the Ministry of Defence
has admitted. The pilots routinely buzz cars, rowing boats and farmers
working in fields to prepare crews for attacking real targets in Iran or
Afghanistan.
Rural communities have been outraged by the low flying. Two vast areas – one in the north of the country and one in the south – have been designated
Tactical Training Areas where jets can fly as low as 100ft.
In the past five years, nearly 56,000 hours of low-flying have taken place, mainly in the north, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.
Now the SNP has demanded the MoD review its policy. Rob Gibson, Nationalist MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: “Targeting people in their homes and cars is unacceptable. The MoD is a blight on our economic lives and on our everyday lives.”
He was speaking after he received a reply from Derek Twigg MP,
Under-Secretary of State for Defence, in response to a constituent’s
complaint.
Mr Twigg wrote: “Air-crew are required as part of their training to select
practice targets. “This may include vehicles (in simulation of military vehicles) as well as buildings.”
An MoD spokesman said: “Low flying is rigorously controlled and monitored.
Since 1988 the total number of sorties has been reduced by a third, and
those by jets by more than half.”
IN FIRING LINE: The MoD admits pilots use Scots homes as targets during
practice Monday June 23,2008 By David Scott
FIGHTER pilots use civilian cars and homes as practice targets while on
low-level training missions across rural Scotland, the Ministry of Defence
has admitted. The pilots routinely buzz cars, rowing boats and farmers
working in fields to prepare crews for attacking real targets in Iran or
Afghanistan.
Rural communities have been outraged by the low flying. Two vast areas – one in the north of the country and one in the south – have been designated
Tactical Training Areas where jets can fly as low as 100ft.
In the past five years, nearly 56,000 hours of low-flying have taken place, mainly in the north, the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.
Now the SNP has demanded the MoD review its policy. Rob Gibson, Nationalist MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: “Targeting people in their homes and cars is unacceptable. The MoD is a blight on our economic lives and on our everyday lives.”
He was speaking after he received a reply from Derek Twigg MP,
Under-Secretary of State for Defence, in response to a constituent’s
complaint.
Mr Twigg wrote: “Air-crew are required as part of their training to select
practice targets. “This may include vehicles (in simulation of military vehicles) as well as buildings.”
An MoD spokesman said: “Low flying is rigorously controlled and monitored.
Since 1988 the total number of sorties has been reduced by a third, and
those by jets by more than half.”
The MOD spokesperson is struggling to defend routine training in this sensationalist story. It just makes me wonder what sort of training should be allowed and where it should take place in the eyes of these complainers.
DF
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If anyone has the coords for Rob Gibson's home then feel free to post them...
Mr Gibson,
the ladies and gentlemen you lay barrage to in your statement regularly expose themselves to great danger in a very austere and hostile environment. I speak from experience, being in theatre at the moment.
Perhaps a visit to Afghanistan would allow you to enjoy a more realistic perspective as to the needs for practicing low flying & single pass, accurate bombing runs. It seems to be playing a big part in keeping people alive out here & I'm sure the families of the Scottish regiments in theatre would welcome any training that improves the safety of their loved ones serving on the ground out here.
I am sickened by your attack on the armed forces on the very day that Cpl Sarah Bryant, Cpl Sean Robert Reeve, L/Cpl Richard Larkin and L/Cpl Paul Scott were repatriated to the UK.
Mr Gibson,
the ladies and gentlemen you lay barrage to in your statement regularly expose themselves to great danger in a very austere and hostile environment. I speak from experience, being in theatre at the moment.
Perhaps a visit to Afghanistan would allow you to enjoy a more realistic perspective as to the needs for practicing low flying & single pass, accurate bombing runs. It seems to be playing a big part in keeping people alive out here & I'm sure the families of the Scottish regiments in theatre would welcome any training that improves the safety of their loved ones serving on the ground out here.
I am sickened by your attack on the armed forces on the very day that Cpl Sarah Bryant, Cpl Sean Robert Reeve, L/Cpl Richard Larkin and L/Cpl Paul Scott were repatriated to the UK.
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The pilots routinely buzz cars, rowing boats and farmers
working in fields to prepare crews for attacking real targets in Iran or
Afghanistan.
working in fields to prepare crews for attacking real targets in Iran or
Afghanistan.
I hope that is a spelling mistake....
Red On, Green On
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How much is the RAF in Moray and Fife worth to the local economies? How many civvies are employed, and what about the council tax paid by those who buy homes in the local area?
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'The MoD is a blight on our economic lives'
How many military establishments are there in the Highlands and Islands, and how much do they contribute to the region's economy - directly, in the form of employment, and indirectly, in the form of consumer spending?
Or would the Honourable MSP rather see the MOD close all its units in the area, so that he can get back to smearing woad on his face and living in a hovel?
Silly sod.
How many military establishments are there in the Highlands and Islands, and how much do they contribute to the region's economy - directly, in the form of employment, and indirectly, in the form of consumer spending?
Or would the Honourable MSP rather see the MOD close all its units in the area, so that he can get back to smearing woad on his face and living in a hovel?
Silly sod.
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And this is new?
My aunt used to complain (just to me) about the RF4Cs attacking an airfield in the borders.
As far as I know only one person complained about a pair of English Jags doing battle turns over Nairn for 10 minutes.
Or the V-force on fixed track low level routes round the UK and Highlands.
Or the chap who moved to Tain and then complained about the bombing range next door - what is the Scots for plonker?
Or with F15Es dropping 500lbs bombs on Holme on Spalding Moor - they should worry.
My aunt used to complain (just to me) about the RF4Cs attacking an airfield in the borders.
As far as I know only one person complained about a pair of English Jags doing battle turns over Nairn for 10 minutes.
Or the V-force on fixed track low level routes round the UK and Highlands.
Or the chap who moved to Tain and then complained about the bombing range next door - what is the Scots for plonker?
Or with F15Es dropping 500lbs bombs on Holme on Spalding Moor - they should worry.
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Pull up a sandbag.................
Back in 74 I lived in a caravan not far from a large F4 flying base in Lincolnshire. The caravan had a white roof and stood out clearly from the surrounding land.
I knew it was being used as a target, but when the aircrew discovered (after much banter from me) that a 'blue suit' lived there, the attacks increased at least 10 fold!!
I didn't mind - at least I didn't need an alarm clock!!
................stop the lights swinging now.
Back in 74 I lived in a caravan not far from a large F4 flying base in Lincolnshire. The caravan had a white roof and stood out clearly from the surrounding land.
I knew it was being used as a target, but when the aircrew discovered (after much banter from me) that a 'blue suit' lived there, the attacks increased at least 10 fold!!
I didn't mind - at least I didn't need an alarm clock!!
................stop the lights swinging now.
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Dan D'air - I'll forgive the dig this time, only because I'm a happy bunny today, having seen - yes, you've guessed it - a Wokka fly overhead this morning 
. I appreciate anything flying low overhead, not just wokka's, but alas that's all I ever seem to get! So my message to any of you fighter pilots is 'sod the bloody Scots, come and do your target practice on Southend pier instead !'
. I appreciate anything flying low overhead, not just wokka's, but alas that's all I ever seem to get! So my message to any of you fighter pilots is 'sod the bloody Scots, come and do your target practice on Southend pier instead !'
I was serious about my place. I get loads of low fly by's here and even arty shots of herks and wokka's against the sunset as they trundle by. By eck, we even had a Merlin in the valley the other eve. BTW-The green paint on them is brill as they blend into the background v well.
Keep up the good work guys and gals, we here in Viet Taff appreciate your endevours even if they don't in Jockistan
Keep up the good work guys and gals, we here in Viet Taff appreciate your endevours even if they don't in Jockistan
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When I were a nipper in Glozzershire our house used to get targetted by A-10's of all things. I'm not sure where the heck they were stationed (Heyford maybe?) but every school Summer holiday they'd turn up.
Our house was painted white, on the lee side of a small valley and backdropped by trees so I guess form a pilots perspective it made an idea practice target. I always used to wonder why my Mum started hoovering so early in the morning until I learnt to recognise the sound from a Warthog's engines
Our house was painted white, on the lee side of a small valley and backdropped by trees so I guess form a pilots perspective it made an idea practice target. I always used to wonder why my Mum started hoovering so early in the morning until I learnt to recognise the sound from a Warthog's engines
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Quote:
The pilots routinely buzz cars, rowing boats and farmers
working in fields to prepare crews for attacking real targets in Iran or
Afghanistan.
I hope that is a spelling mistake....
I doubt it, probably doesn't know the difference.
The pilots routinely buzz cars, rowing boats and farmers
working in fields to prepare crews for attacking real targets in Iran or
Afghanistan.
I hope that is a spelling mistake....
I doubt it, probably doesn't know the difference.
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
'The MoD is a blight on our economic lives'
The delay in signing a contract for two new aircraft carriers could endanger jobs at Scottish shipyards, according to a cross-party group of MPs. In its report on the defence industry, the Scottish Affairs Committee also said any gap in workload could damage the UK's ship-building skills base.
There have been delays over the past two years in finalising the £4bn deal for the vessels. They would be partly built on the Clyde and fully assembled at Rosyth.
In its report, the committee urged the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to review how it communicates the progress of defence programmes. It said this was necessary to "limit uncertainty and worry about possible delays, and to avoid 'scare-mongering' which has been destabilising to the workforce and wider community".
The report also identified a number of "challenges" ahead for the industry. It said possible constitutional change, limited success to date in the export market, and competition from English yards were all threats to future work.
Committee chairman, Mohammad Sarwar MP, said: "It is not an exaggeration to say that the defence industry in Scotland is vital. We heard during evidence sessions that defence and aerospace industries and the MoD support almost 50,000 jobs in Scotland."
"To secure the future of the industry, and to ensure that it remains a world class base for manufacturing and engineering, we call on the MoD, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, the Scotland Office, and the industry itself to forge a coherent and effective working relationship."...........
Red On, Green On
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Compare and contrast:
Mohammad Sarwar MP "It is not an exaggeration to say that the defence industry in Scotland is vital. We heard during evidence sessions that defence and aerospace industries and the MoD support almost 50,000 jobs in Scotland."
with
Rob Gibson, Nationalist MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: “......The MoD is a blight on our economic lives and on our everyday lives.”
I think I know which one is right
Mohammad Sarwar MP "It is not an exaggeration to say that the defence industry in Scotland is vital. We heard during evidence sessions that defence and aerospace industries and the MoD support almost 50,000 jobs in Scotland."
with
Rob Gibson, Nationalist MSP for the Highlands and Islands, said: “......The MoD is a blight on our economic lives and on our everyday lives.”
I think I know which one is right
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Hightow
If I remember rightly the A10 hogs were from Bentwaters, we had some fun with them up on the ranges of Otterburn back in the eighties.
Rob
If I remember rightly the A10 hogs were from Bentwaters, we had some fun with them up on the ranges of Otterburn back in the eighties.
Rob