Future of the FAA
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Oversimplistic devil's advocate time:
Best all round solution?
Bin a Puma squadron.
Shift the bods around to Odious and the other Puma Sqn!
Stand the old Puma Sqn up as a new Wokka sqn.
Dump a Naval Sqn of Junglies in the vacated space at Benson and let them squat on the Mk3s!
(This should help the CHF eek out the SK a bit longer, too.)
Finally: Cross fingers and hope someone finds a few mil down the back of the sofa and buys more Merlins for the Junglies at some future point!
I'll get me coat.
Best all round solution?
Bin a Puma squadron.
Shift the bods around to Odious and the other Puma Sqn!
Stand the old Puma Sqn up as a new Wokka sqn.
Dump a Naval Sqn of Junglies in the vacated space at Benson and let them squat on the Mk3s!
(This should help the CHF eek out the SK a bit longer, too.)
Finally: Cross fingers and hope someone finds a few mil down the back of the sofa and buys more Merlins for the Junglies at some future point!
I'll get me coat.
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From the 'Think Tank' article at the top pf the page:
Well, that's a turn around from a few months back then!!
Whereas the RN remain open-minded to services, RAF and RN,
Join Date: Mar 2005
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It would make perfect sense to close yeovilton and move the Wildcat to cornwall..... Closer to the sea would save a fortune in transit costs... I've a spare house down here if anyone needs some accomm
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roulements
Unchecked/not checked/never checked
Correct. The RAF are reporting that their theatre roulement schedules are 1:5, which is one period in theatre, followed by 4 periods not in theatre (this clearly includes PDT and any other exercises etc that go on).
CHF has been, since its inception into Afghanistan, either reporting 1:4, or in many cases 1:3. That is one on in theatre, followed by three off, or (especially for engineers), one in theatre, two off. This has been our enduring commitment, and it continues to be.
Therefore you will understand why I have a bee in my bonnet when RAF types claim that they are working as hard as their Junglie colleagues, and that they are more productive. We are on a busier roulement schedule, as well as carrying out PDT/MRX/FTX/CFX and any other exercise that comes along. Like Ex Auriga which the RAF clearly haven't heard of as they didn't show up.
Any one in the RAF heard of Ex Cougar?
UNCHECKED
As for value for money from CHF, I don't think the SK4 lifting 5 troops and a bag of mail in the Helmand heat qualifies.
Has anyone answered how much a Merlin carries in the Helmand heat? Answer - Maybe 6-8 troops, and probably not the bag of mail. Que difference?
I quote from an ex RAF JHF(A) CO - The SK det operate with the most capable personnel with the least capable airframe.
End of.
Correct. The RAF are reporting that their theatre roulement schedules are 1:5, which is one period in theatre, followed by 4 periods not in theatre (this clearly includes PDT and any other exercises etc that go on).
CHF has been, since its inception into Afghanistan, either reporting 1:4, or in many cases 1:3. That is one on in theatre, followed by three off, or (especially for engineers), one in theatre, two off. This has been our enduring commitment, and it continues to be.
Therefore you will understand why I have a bee in my bonnet when RAF types claim that they are working as hard as their Junglie colleagues, and that they are more productive. We are on a busier roulement schedule, as well as carrying out PDT/MRX/FTX/CFX and any other exercise that comes along. Like Ex Auriga which the RAF clearly haven't heard of as they didn't show up.
Any one in the RAF heard of Ex Cougar?
UNCHECKED
As for value for money from CHF, I don't think the SK4 lifting 5 troops and a bag of mail in the Helmand heat qualifies.
Has anyone answered how much a Merlin carries in the Helmand heat? Answer - Maybe 6-8 troops, and probably not the bag of mail. Que difference?
I quote from an ex RAF JHF(A) CO - The SK det operate with the most capable personnel with the least capable airframe.
End of.
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Join Date: Oct 2004
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Unchecked,
I did and it is not at all clear....according to the fact sheets both the Army and RAF are claiming ownership of SH - if anyone is right it is the Army factsheet as they own JHC who own SH.
Please click on the links to the SDSR factsheets in Just This Once's post #107 on page 6 and all will become clear.
I did and it is not at all clear....according to the fact sheets both the Army and RAF are claiming ownership of SH - if anyone is right it is the Army factsheet as they own JHC who own SH.
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SDSR - JHC Narrative. CHF will get Merlin...
SDSR - JHC Narrative (an open source doc) states categorically:
The review has endorsed the Rotary Wing Strategy (RWS) as the most cost-effective and efficient method to transition to a future force structure which is based, ultimately, upon four core platforms across Defence: Chinook, Merlin, Apache and Wildcat, with Puma as a critical enabling capability until 2025.
and
Merlin Mk4. Ship optimisation within the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (LSP) and transfer to the Commando Helicopter Force to enable the delivery of the LitM Air Assault package.
So no change to plan then.....
The review has endorsed the Rotary Wing Strategy (RWS) as the most cost-effective and efficient method to transition to a future force structure which is based, ultimately, upon four core platforms across Defence: Chinook, Merlin, Apache and Wildcat, with Puma as a critical enabling capability until 2025.
and
Merlin Mk4. Ship optimisation within the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme (LSP) and transfer to the Commando Helicopter Force to enable the delivery of the LitM Air Assault package.
So no change to plan then.....
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Unfortunately I don't think the JHC Narrative (I've only read the excerpts above at the moment) provide a definitive answer any more than CAS or CinC Air's statements and briefings. Indeed it is what I would expect from both a currently dark blue led JHC and an RAF who are being presented with a significantly different RWS to that they had accepted last year. At the moment there is obviously disagreement / infighting / negotiation going on that none of us will be privy to, probably meaning a long period of uncertainty for those involved and, even worse, the possibility of bickering on this thread going on for another six months...
Well said RTM. We have a 4* HQ pronouncing one future and a 2*HQ saying something different. The sooner the head-sheds are locked in a room until they make a decision the better for all concerned. The current situation undermines the credibility of both organisations.
Join Date: Oct 2004
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But what prats we are beginning to look....
...
..er sorry but due to decisions by the then CDS (RAF), CAS (RAF) and PM (fooled) we will not be able to accept your jets until about 2025 at the earliest(if then), as the capability was debunked in 2010.
...
French fighter jets could be stationed on Britain's new aircraft carrier as the two nations' navies become "interdependent," the French defence minister has said.
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The Fleet Air Arm is sadly now on its knees. With the Harrier gone, Sea Kings going and not to be replaced... CHF to close in 2016.... AEW gone..... SAR gone.... That just leaves Merlin Mk 2 and Wildcat. Prestwick will close in 2016...Wildcat will be moved to Culdrose in 2018 to fill in all the spare space left by the Sea King fleet and Yeovilton will close in 2019. Leaving the FAA museum a sad legacy of what once was....
Red On, Green On
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The Fleet Air Arm is sadly now on its knees.
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Maybe it will but I'm led to believe that it may be later than that..... Sources close to the man who knows suggest it may be spring 2014 before the gates open again....
Because the one, maybe 2, who had realistic fast jet ambitions will now in all likelihood qualify on the F18 with the USN instead of GR9 and JFH?
And the rest will still be flying Wildcat or Merlin, just like they were supposed to be 2 weeks ago.
God help me, but the RN doesn't consist solely of the FAA.....
And the rest will still be flying Wildcat or Merlin, just like they were supposed to be 2 weeks ago.
God help me, but the RN doesn't consist solely of the FAA.....
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God help me, but the RN doesn't consist solely of the FAA.....
Yes it does...The fishheads are merely there to drive the flightdeck around.... Without WAFUs there is no need for any fishheads....