Well done to the Herc boys and girls
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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RG - I believe it 'embarked' on the Herc a few days ago ex TIP. (If previous 'diplomatic' flights are anything to go by - for those who have long memories - we probably flew out the UK Ambassador's garden shrubs and tubs too
)
Anyone know - did we have to 'beg' air cover from the Septics? Not sure we could spare any T-bags that far away from home. I bet Ark Royal and mates sucked their teeth.
)Anyone know - did we have to 'beg' air cover from the Septics? Not sure we could spare any T-bags that far away from home. I bet Ark Royal and mates sucked their teeth.
Blimey no NAVS!
Well done guys - I knew you didn't need us even 38 yrs ago! Apart from the beer of course.
There was a BBC radio interview this morning with a guy who had just arrived back at Gatwick, and he had nothing but praise for the effort put in by the FCO guys.
Elements of the Government did foul up but at least the PM had the grace and humility to say sorry. That's quite a change - after all none of us are perfect. After 13 years of lies and cock-ups it was so refreshing!
There was a BBC radio interview this morning with a guy who had just arrived back at Gatwick, and he had nothing but praise for the effort put in by the FCO guys.
Elements of the Government did foul up but at least the PM had the grace and humility to say sorry. That's quite a change - after all none of us are perfect. After 13 years of lies and cock-ups it was so refreshing!
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Yep well done to everyone involved we are proud of you.
Typical when HM Government gets in the **** who do they always rely on to get them out of trouble. It's a pity they don't give the same level of support to HM forces that HM forces is expected to give them! When will they realise that they need to support the forces and maintain a lot of the capability they are getting rid of. I was watching Ark Royal on Discovery yesterday and was interested to see how the Ark was diverted from her primary task to act as a big passenger ferry when thousands of brits were stranded on the otherside of the channel when the volcanic ash cloud struck. Next time this happens they won't have an Ark Royal.
Typical when HM Government gets in the **** who do they always rely on to get them out of trouble. It's a pity they don't give the same level of support to HM forces that HM forces is expected to give them! When will they realise that they need to support the forces and maintain a lot of the capability they are getting rid of. I was watching Ark Royal on Discovery yesterday and was interested to see how the Ark was diverted from her primary task to act as a big passenger ferry when thousands of brits were stranded on the otherside of the channel when the volcanic ash cloud struck. Next time this happens they won't have an Ark Royal.
Having listened to the inane witterings of the Sky news so called security correspondent, following the latest mission into Libya, who is based on the border between Libya and Tunisia, how the hell does he know what is going on inside Libya as regarding on going military operations.
A period of STFU would be more than appropriate as there are possibly people on the ground out in the desert.
Congratulations to all concerned and come home safe.
Regards
Air pig
A period of STFU would be more than appropriate as there are possibly people on the ground out in the desert.
Congratulations to all concerned and come home safe.
Regards
Air pig
Last edited by air pig; 27th Feb 2011 at 20:48.
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Well done the Hercs
I kept mailing Mr Cameron, Fox & Co, saying that is was ridiculous we could not afford 2.7% of GDP for defence, when the majority of government department budgets were not within that in terms of accuracy. Did not get a reply
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BBC has reported 1 aborted landing and being shot at
BBC News - UK military rescue plane 'shot at' in Libyan desert
BBC News - UK military rescue plane 'shot at' in Libyan desert
Ich bin ein Prooner.
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Please excuse this intrusion by a lowly civvy, but as a supporter of our armed forces I would just like to add my own "well done" to everyone involved in the Libyan extractions. Seeing it on the telly news makes me very proud to have you folks looking after me and mine.
If I may just add a comment with regards to post #4, from backseatjock, in which it is stated, quote - 'the general public does not seem to understand the need to sustain equipment...etc. etc.', I think that if a straw poll of the general public were to be held, I think you would find that they do indeed understand the need.
But what good is that when those in power refuse blindly to to acknowledge that the path they have taken is an extremely dangerous one?
The level of expertise and dedication in our armed forces is unparalleled. The same is to be said about most of our defence industry, and indeed everyday manufacturing industry in this country.
But, once thrown away and disgarded, it is gone. It cannot be called back into being on a mere whim. It is gone. And we may yet rue the day.
But, as I set out to say -Well done you folks!
If I may just add a comment with regards to post #4, from backseatjock, in which it is stated, quote - 'the general public does not seem to understand the need to sustain equipment...etc. etc.', I think that if a straw poll of the general public were to be held, I think you would find that they do indeed understand the need.
But what good is that when those in power refuse blindly to to acknowledge that the path they have taken is an extremely dangerous one?
The level of expertise and dedication in our armed forces is unparalleled. The same is to be said about most of our defence industry, and indeed everyday manufacturing industry in this country.
But, once thrown away and disgarded, it is gone. It cannot be called back into being on a mere whim. It is gone. And we may yet rue the day.
But, as I set out to say -Well done you folks!
As I mentioned on another thread, I hope the RAF are charging the oil companies fair commercial rates for this service, otherwise it is an unfair subsidy to the oil companies who are too irresponsible and tight to look after their employees properly. Responsible companies paid to get their people out using commercial operators (we did one charter) - why should their less-responsible competitors get a free subsidy from the RAF?
Also, it undermines commercial operators (like us) who are losing possible charter work because oil companies are now expecting the RAF to evacuate their people for free.
Moreover, did the RAF pay the landing fee and a handling agent? If not, their flights are also undermining the local economy at a time when they also need the business.
I hope that the decision to use the RAF was taken only after commercial flights were genuinely impossible, and that it was not just a kneejerk reaction to a few moaning **unnecessary language** on BBC 24 with a satellite phone complaining about blocked toilets in their compound. The more measured interview with an oil engineer from Redcar on the BBC last night seemed to suggest that there was not much problem at all at the airfield that they were evacuated from.
Well done the RAF for providing this service - but please send the bill to the oil companies - otherwise you are taking our business!
Also, it undermines commercial operators (like us) who are losing possible charter work because oil companies are now expecting the RAF to evacuate their people for free.
Moreover, did the RAF pay the landing fee and a handling agent? If not, their flights are also undermining the local economy at a time when they also need the business.
I hope that the decision to use the RAF was taken only after commercial flights were genuinely impossible, and that it was not just a kneejerk reaction to a few moaning **unnecessary language** on BBC 24 with a satellite phone complaining about blocked toilets in their compound. The more measured interview with an oil engineer from Redcar on the BBC last night seemed to suggest that there was not much problem at all at the airfield that they were evacuated from.
Well done the RAF for providing this service - but please send the bill to the oil companies - otherwise you are taking our business!
Last edited by Trim Stab; 28th Feb 2011 at 09:37.
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Malta Operations
Found these pictures on a UK model Forum very interesting and very close up of the chaps and their special bits on the Herc
Libyan Air Force moving to Malta??? - Page 3 - The Diecast Aviation Web Site and Forum
Good job this operation was not hush hush
Libyan Air Force moving to Malta??? - Page 3 - The Diecast Aviation Web Site and Forum
Good job this operation was not hush hush
the two Hercs involved were painted black
I standby to be corrected, but I would like to see some evidence that the airfield used by the RAF for the evacuations was closed to commercial traffic. Whatever the case, the RAF should bill the oil companies concerned, and preferably a lot more than they would have paid to use commercial charter flights.
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Some points
1. The RAF has no C130's painted black. Granted they may look a little grubby but they're not painted that way.
2. TS, I take it your company has contacted the MoD mentioning loss of earnings and asking for suitable recompense. Would your company have posted a 'clippy' (think Olive of off On The Buses) with a card reader to bill pax as they embarked? Or are you just seeking a bite here?
3. TS, If you were so keen to become involved perhaps you should have joined the RAF in the first place.
1. The RAF has no C130's painted black. Granted they may look a little grubby but they're not painted that way.
2. TS, I take it your company has contacted the MoD mentioning loss of earnings and asking for suitable recompense. Would your company have posted a 'clippy' (think Olive of off On The Buses) with a card reader to bill pax as they embarked? Or are you just seeking a bite here?
3. TS, If you were so keen to become involved perhaps you should have joined the RAF in the first place.
Last edited by Grabbers; 28th Feb 2011 at 10:07. Reason: Thank's Mods.
Trim stab
On the BBC news website there are reports that one of the RAF Hercules had shots fired at it, and that it was possibly hit. I think under those circumstances withholding the airports landing fee and bypassing the handling company is justified don't you?
Maybe that's the kind of business you're after though. Hope your insurance company is understanding.
On the BBC news website there are reports that one of the RAF Hercules had shots fired at it, and that it was possibly hit. I think under those circumstances withholding the airports landing fee and bypassing the handling company is justified don't you?
Maybe that's the kind of business you're after though. Hope your insurance company is understanding.
Grabbers - I fly a bizjet, so we are contracted by companies, rather than individual pax, and are paid in advance.
We often get charters from oil companies and we are still open for business to fly to Libya.
I only get paid if I fly (ts and cs have been badly eroded in bizjet world the past few years) and so I really do want the work. It is not a question of me "wanting to be involved" - if the RAF are doing this for free then it is seriously unfair to us.
StopStart - I never claimed to be in the know about the situation at the airfield they landed in - but I do know that there are plenty of airfields in Libya still open to commercial traffic. Indeed, are any closed? But whatever the situation, while commercial flights can still go into Libya, the RAF should be charging at least full commercial fees - and preferably they should be charging a premium to stop freeloading oil companies getting subsidies at taxpayer's expense.
We often get charters from oil companies and we are still open for business to fly to Libya.
I only get paid if I fly (ts and cs have been badly eroded in bizjet world the past few years) and so I really do want the work. It is not a question of me "wanting to be involved" - if the RAF are doing this for free then it is seriously unfair to us.
StopStart - I never claimed to be in the know about the situation at the airfield they landed in - but I do know that there are plenty of airfields in Libya still open to commercial traffic. Indeed, are any closed? But whatever the situation, while commercial flights can still go into Libya, the RAF should be charging at least full commercial fees - and preferably they should be charging a premium to stop freeloading oil companies getting subsidies at taxpayer's expense.
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Seriously, only on Pprune could a thread like this degenerate so quickly into that sort of facile argument against what our C130 brethren have just done. Landing fees and handling agents!!!! What's more, I bet they had the butty boxes on the cheap too!.
What a chimp!. There really should be some sort of minimum IQ/spelling/grammar legislation over PC/Laptop purchase and access to the internet to protect us from insightful attitudes such as Trim Stab's.
Well done chaps. Nice to see PG's gurning mug all over Sky last night, desperately trying not to laugh.
What a chimp!. There really should be some sort of minimum IQ/spelling/grammar legislation over PC/Laptop purchase and access to the internet to protect us from insightful attitudes such as Trim Stab's.
Well done chaps. Nice to see PG's gurning mug all over Sky last night, desperately trying not to laugh.
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TS
I don't want to get bogged down in the role of the RAF and doctrine, but, broadly speaking are HM Armed Forces here to do as bid by our elected politicians in order to maintain the security of British citizens throughout the world?
Look at it from the oil companies POV. If you wanted to protect profit margins that may be eroded by evacuating your personnel from your infrastructure, you could exaggerate the situation on the ground to your Chief Exec or whomever. They then may decide that the insurance loading from a private company may be too large from a random bizjet company and ask for Govt assistance.
Have your company made representation to HMG? I acknowledge your stance but this thread surely is to discuss the act of the crews and support personnel. I take it you have a professional respect for fellow professionals in a similar line of work?
Oh, one more thing. Who said all landings took place on established airfields/runways?
I don't want to get bogged down in the role of the RAF and doctrine, but, broadly speaking are HM Armed Forces here to do as bid by our elected politicians in order to maintain the security of British citizens throughout the world?
Look at it from the oil companies POV. If you wanted to protect profit margins that may be eroded by evacuating your personnel from your infrastructure, you could exaggerate the situation on the ground to your Chief Exec or whomever. They then may decide that the insurance loading from a private company may be too large from a random bizjet company and ask for Govt assistance.
Have your company made representation to HMG? I acknowledge your stance but this thread surely is to discuss the act of the crews and support personnel. I take it you have a professional respect for fellow professionals in a similar line of work?
Oh, one more thing. Who said all landings took place on established airfields/runways?
Last edited by Grabbers; 28th Feb 2011 at 10:30. Reason: Forgot the last point.
What a chimp!. There really should be some sort of minimum IQ/spelling/grammar legislation over PC/Laptop purchase and access to the internet to protect us from insightful attitudes such as Trim Stab's.
I expect the RAF did pay landing fees, as I would expect there are people in charge who are a bit more intelligent than you...