Preservation of C130 K and VC10 for Future Generations
Brakedwell:
Hahahahahahahahaha...OK BW, I can't top that! It's a corker! As a once Hastings Captain myself I was often the most junior officer in the crew (as a Flying Officer) and the least well paid of all being single, with Master Aircrew who weren't. No problem with that, you were posted to the job and paid per your rank until the Brize card was played! 
Oh, and I've just remembered we had quite a few ex 216 on the Comet Fleet when I was with Dan-Air (from 1973). Never on that Fleet myself though or I might have been required to call them "Sir"!
It was to give VC10 captains more authority over stroppy Air Movements Officers.
Oh, and I've just remembered we had quite a few ex 216 on the Comet Fleet when I was with Dan-Air (from 1973). Never on that Fleet myself though or I might have been required to call them "Sir"!
Last edited by Chugalug2; 10th Dec 2008 at 15:17. Reason: Memories
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Looks like the would-be Gate Guardians will be needed a bit longer
RAF Considers Alternatives to Belated A400M
The Ministry of Defence is now believed to be looking at alternatives to the A400M aircraft given the lengthy delays that the project faces. The programme, run by EADS has endured severe delays due to engine testing problems in the aircraft. The first deliveries were originally scheduled for late 2009, but the technical issues have pushed the delivery date back to 2011 according to some EADS officials. A leaked e-mail from the company however stated that the company could not confirm any delivery date or first flight for the airplanes. With the project in a state of limbo, MoD has begun looking at alternatives both in the short term and on a more permanent basis. It has been well documented by MoD officials that the RAF is examining the possibility of extending the life of the C-130Ks and leasing additional C-17s on a short term basis. But with the A400M’s future becoming more uncertain by the day, MoD has begun discussions with the AirTanker consortium about developing a new model of the A330 tanker as a permanent alternative to the A400M. The consortium is already contracted to provide refuelling tanker aircraft for the RAF. MoD officials have asked the consortium to explore the possibility of refining the A330 MRTT tankers for equipment transport duties. The RAF is scheduled to buy 14 of the aircraft as part of a £13bn PFI deal. At this point it is unclear whether the conversion is possible or how long the transformation will take and at what cost. It is obvious however that there are genuine concerns that the A400M project may join the ranks of other high profile defence projects in suffering huge delays and cost overruns. BBC News.
RAF Considers Alternatives to Belated A400M
The Ministry of Defence is now believed to be looking at alternatives to the A400M aircraft given the lengthy delays that the project faces. The programme, run by EADS has endured severe delays due to engine testing problems in the aircraft. The first deliveries were originally scheduled for late 2009, but the technical issues have pushed the delivery date back to 2011 according to some EADS officials. A leaked e-mail from the company however stated that the company could not confirm any delivery date or first flight for the airplanes. With the project in a state of limbo, MoD has begun looking at alternatives both in the short term and on a more permanent basis. It has been well documented by MoD officials that the RAF is examining the possibility of extending the life of the C-130Ks and leasing additional C-17s on a short term basis. But with the A400M’s future becoming more uncertain by the day, MoD has begun discussions with the AirTanker consortium about developing a new model of the A330 tanker as a permanent alternative to the A400M. The consortium is already contracted to provide refuelling tanker aircraft for the RAF. MoD officials have asked the consortium to explore the possibility of refining the A330 MRTT tankers for equipment transport duties. The RAF is scheduled to buy 14 of the aircraft as part of a £13bn PFI deal. At this point it is unclear whether the conversion is possible or how long the transformation will take and at what cost. It is obvious however that there are genuine concerns that the A400M project may join the ranks of other high profile defence projects in suffering huge delays and cost overruns. BBC News.
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'The RAF is sceduled to buy 14 of the aircraft'
No sir! The aircraft will belong to Air Tanker and only hired to the RAF. It is up to them to decide how the frames are configured.
No sir! The aircraft will belong to Air Tanker and only hired to the RAF. It is up to them to decide how the frames are configured.
We are now starting to see that the PFI was a complete farce and the equipment as bid will not and cannot meet emerging requirements. Now let me think, what is the expression? "Told, I, So, You". And 14 was never going to be enough to meet the AAR requirement, let alone the AAR AND AT requirement!!! But of course "we will always be able to charter AT", wont we?
Back on topic, I think Brize and Kinloss are the only two stations without a gate guardian. What a shame they chopped up the K2s. I always thought that a K2 on the (was it?) long stay car park to the east of the main entrance would have been an appropriate site for a gate guard at Brize. Or better still an "airborne" VC10 on a pole (as per the Offutt B52) over the main gate would have been even better!!
Back on topic, I think Brize and Kinloss are the only two stations without a gate guardian. What a shame they chopped up the K2s. I always thought that a K2 on the (was it?) long stay car park to the east of the main entrance would have been an appropriate site for a gate guard at Brize. Or better still an "airborne" VC10 on a pole (as per the Offutt B52) over the main gate would have been even better!!
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Buy back the buy back
Whilst serving as a GE we took about half the K fleet back to the USA on the buyback scheme to help purchase the J.
So at a small airfield somewhere in the state of Delaware,USA there may some rotting frames to buyback again. This would allow the "oggy" crews to once again go to that lovely pink hotel on the beach and play some more free golf with Gerry Hines. Ah! Such nostalgia!! Such rates!!!
Alternatively, just fit some K props and external tanks to one of the many tired J models and place it where that Comet stands, and what a waste of money and effort that was . A Comet, what an affront to Lyneham
Isn't irony great.
That reminds me must irony some work shirts!!
Happy days
So at a small airfield somewhere in the state of Delaware,USA there may some rotting frames to buyback again. This would allow the "oggy" crews to once again go to that lovely pink hotel on the beach and play some more free golf with Gerry Hines. Ah! Such nostalgia!! Such rates!!!
Alternatively, just fit some K props and external tanks to one of the many tired J models and place it where that Comet stands, and what a waste of money and effort that was . A Comet, what an affront to Lyneham
Isn't irony great.
That reminds me must irony some work shirts!!
Happy days
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I am now starting to get an idea about how the germans felt in the last days of Berlin in 1945...
It appears that Labour have done such a wonderful job over the past few months that Mcdonalds has a better credit rating than the UK on the Credit Default Swap Market...... BEAutifullll....
Ah well, I suppose I can always go and flip burgers when the government cant pay me anymore. Last one in please turn out the lights.
It appears that Labour have done such a wonderful job over the past few months that Mcdonalds has a better credit rating than the UK on the Credit Default Swap Market...... BEAutifullll....
Ah well, I suppose I can always go and flip burgers when the government cant pay me anymore. Last one in please turn out the lights.
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Not sure about your last comment, VinRouge. With today's announcement that spongers will have to work at last, the minimum wage will be increased significantly to make the work option more lucrative even than sitting back and watching the 'social' roll in, McDonalds and similar outfits won't be able to pay the increased wage bill and Bingo - takeaways, pubs and similar will cease to exist. And you won't be flipping burgers anywhere, not even at home 'cos you will have had to sell the BBQ to pay your next (increased) tax bill.
Thank God that Gordon Brown has just 'saved the world'! Tw
at!!
Thank God that Gordon Brown has just 'saved the world'! Tw
at!!
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Sorry, should give credit where due....
Guy Fawkes' blog of parliamentary plots, rumours and conspiracy
Guido Fawkes
Pretty good site.
Guy Fawkes' blog of parliamentary plots, rumours and conspiracy
Guido Fawkes
Pretty good site.
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The Helpful Stacker
Although I've been through the gates of Brize Norton many times for onwards passage to exciting destinations not found in the travel agents I can't ever remember seeing a gate guardian there.
Am I right in thinking that Brize is the largest station without a gate guardian?
There was a York aircraft on show there for a couple of years in the 1970s. Then it was moved first to Shawbury in storage then on to the museum at Cosford.
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Perhaps an AN124 or DC10 or even some old airliner from the bone yard would be a more appropriate gate guard as there are generally more clapped out civil airliners on charter to the MOD at Brize these days than RAF aircraft if you discount the 216 static display Sqn Tri-motors, that spend more time U/S than flying.
The way ahead is to ditch the strategic AT fleet and moved all passengers by charter like the worlds largest Air Force does.
The way ahead is to ditch the strategic AT fleet and moved all passengers by charter like the worlds largest Air Force does.
The way ahead is to ditch the strategic AT fleet and moved all passengers by charter like the worlds largest Air Force does.
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The way ahead is to ditch the strategic AT fleet and moved all passengers by charter like the worlds largest Air Force does.
Most charter aircraft don't have the right equipment to fly into our current holiday hotspots.
200+ pax on an unprotected civvy charter - I don't think so
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Why not put a 10 on the frontgate and Brize and turn it into an up-market restaurant.........and albert on the back gate as a kebab shop on rtb from the Beedive
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Charter is the way ahead. I notice that all troops deploying to Iraq fly from the UK by charter and unlike the Ascot mob the charter aircraft are nearly always ontime. Starting next week half the passenger movements for the Afghan theatre are going to be mored by charter as the 216 trimotor static display Sqn can not cope.
Charter is the way ahead. Do away with the gloryfied bus drivers of the Ascot fleet.
Charter is the way ahead. Do away with the gloryfied bus drivers of the Ascot fleet.