A question for 99 Squadron.
Thread Starter
Right!
Whatever the official date that 99 reformed (the date that I'm after), the squadron began life during August 2000, when the first personnel (including the SENGO and other key personnel) took up residence in surplus accomodation at the back of base hangar.
That's why when the first aircraft arrived in May '01, the squadron was able to start operations with a bang! The buggers logged 1,844 hours from May until the end of 2001! 140 per cent of the flying planned for the fully manned squadron.
That gives an early timeline as follows:
July 1988: The Strategic Defence Review identified a requirement for a strategic airlift aircraft capable of deploying the Joint Rapid Reaction Force, specifically including outsized loads such as helicopters and large military vehicles.
September 1988: The Short-Term Strategic Airlift (STSA) competition was launched.
5 August 1999: The STSA competition was halted, the MoD’s preferred C-17 solution being judged unaffordable. The Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) then initiated STSA Phase 2 to provide the capability the MOD sought, aiming to obtain four C-17 aircraft at an acceptable price as ‘Track 1’, with ‘Track 2’ (a fallback option, described by the Public Accounts Committee as a ‘stalking house’) consisting of an An-124 lease.
29 October 1999: Phase 2 proposals submitted. The C-17 bid breached the budgetary limit by 10% and was estimated to cost double to three times as much as the An-124 solution. In reality the differential was much higher.
May 2000: The Government announced that the C-17 bid had been accepted. This was a lease contract for seven years, covering the supply of four aircraft (3 + 1 "in use reserve") to be operated by RAF aircrews, with RAF First Line servicing and USAF second-line and depth maintenance. The aircraft were expected to remain in service until replaced by the Future Transport Aircraft (FTA, then expected to be the Airbus A400M) in 2007-08.
Under the terms of the lease the full capabilities of the C-17 were not available to the RAF, which was to be limited to using the aircraft as a strategic long-range transport, albeit with the ability to land on short runways. The C-17’s para-drop, airdrop, rough field, low-level and air to air refuelling capabilities would not be used. The UK committed to upgrading the C-17s in line with the USAF so that the USAF could adopt them if returned.
August 2000: The first personnel for the new C-17 squadron (then still un-numbered), including the Squadron SENGO and Warrant Officer arrived at Brize Norton, occupying surplus office space at the rear of Base Hangar. Engineers were recruited from across the RAF, and spares, tools and publications began to arrive.
September 2000: The training of squadron personnel, including aircrew and groundcrew, began at Altus and Charleston Air Force Bases.
November 2000: It was officially announced that No.99 Squadron would be reformed to operate the C-17 at RAF Brize Norton.
17 May 2001: The first C-17 was delivered to the RAF at Boeing's Long Beach facility.
23 May 2001: The RAF’s first Boeing C17 Globemaster III was flown to Brize Norton by a No. 99 Squadron crew, and the type was formally accepted into Royal Air Force service.
24 August 2001: The RAF's fourth C-17 was delivered, completing the fleet.
1 January 2002: No 99 Squadron was officially declared operational as a strategic airlift squadron.
Official formation date? 7 February 2002? Really????
Whatever the official date that 99 reformed (the date that I'm after), the squadron began life during August 2000, when the first personnel (including the SENGO and other key personnel) took up residence in surplus accomodation at the back of base hangar.
That's why when the first aircraft arrived in May '01, the squadron was able to start operations with a bang! The buggers logged 1,844 hours from May until the end of 2001! 140 per cent of the flying planned for the fully manned squadron.
That gives an early timeline as follows:
July 1988: The Strategic Defence Review identified a requirement for a strategic airlift aircraft capable of deploying the Joint Rapid Reaction Force, specifically including outsized loads such as helicopters and large military vehicles.
September 1988: The Short-Term Strategic Airlift (STSA) competition was launched.
5 August 1999: The STSA competition was halted, the MoD’s preferred C-17 solution being judged unaffordable. The Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) then initiated STSA Phase 2 to provide the capability the MOD sought, aiming to obtain four C-17 aircraft at an acceptable price as ‘Track 1’, with ‘Track 2’ (a fallback option, described by the Public Accounts Committee as a ‘stalking house’) consisting of an An-124 lease.
29 October 1999: Phase 2 proposals submitted. The C-17 bid breached the budgetary limit by 10% and was estimated to cost double to three times as much as the An-124 solution. In reality the differential was much higher.
May 2000: The Government announced that the C-17 bid had been accepted. This was a lease contract for seven years, covering the supply of four aircraft (3 + 1 "in use reserve") to be operated by RAF aircrews, with RAF First Line servicing and USAF second-line and depth maintenance. The aircraft were expected to remain in service until replaced by the Future Transport Aircraft (FTA, then expected to be the Airbus A400M) in 2007-08.
Under the terms of the lease the full capabilities of the C-17 were not available to the RAF, which was to be limited to using the aircraft as a strategic long-range transport, albeit with the ability to land on short runways. The C-17’s para-drop, airdrop, rough field, low-level and air to air refuelling capabilities would not be used. The UK committed to upgrading the C-17s in line with the USAF so that the USAF could adopt them if returned.
August 2000: The first personnel for the new C-17 squadron (then still un-numbered), including the Squadron SENGO and Warrant Officer arrived at Brize Norton, occupying surplus office space at the rear of Base Hangar. Engineers were recruited from across the RAF, and spares, tools and publications began to arrive.
September 2000: The training of squadron personnel, including aircrew and groundcrew, began at Altus and Charleston Air Force Bases.
November 2000: It was officially announced that No.99 Squadron would be reformed to operate the C-17 at RAF Brize Norton.
17 May 2001: The first C-17 was delivered to the RAF at Boeing's Long Beach facility.
23 May 2001: The RAF’s first Boeing C17 Globemaster III was flown to Brize Norton by a No. 99 Squadron crew, and the type was formally accepted into Royal Air Force service.
24 August 2001: The RAF's fourth C-17 was delivered, completing the fleet.
1 January 2002: No 99 Squadron was officially declared operational as a strategic airlift squadron.
Official formation date? 7 February 2002? Really????
Last edited by Jackonicko; 8th Apr 2009 at 11:36.
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That way inclined?
CBTL, dont tell me you are thinking of deserting to the cushy life of hotels and more rates than salary per month
?
Fresh mag on, rounds to auto, pull pin, roll in.......await large bang.
? Fresh mag on, rounds to auto, pull pin, roll in.......await large bang.
