The most significant aircraft
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At the risk of upsetting just about everyone I think the most significant aircraft the RAF has ever operated is the Tornado in all it's guises.
I genuinely think it was a big and significant mistake.
F-4 and Buccaneer replaced by F-15A and E - we'd have been the canine's proverbials.
(Just prior to donning tin hat, gum shield and safety goggles I would like to state that I am quite aware that one has been 'the' war horse for many a year and the other proved that whilst turd polishing isn't possible you can at least get rid of most of the smell. But think what could have been....)
I genuinely think it was a big and significant mistake.
F-4 and Buccaneer replaced by F-15A and E - we'd have been the canine's proverbials.
(Just prior to donning tin hat, gum shield and safety goggles I would like to state that I am quite aware that one has been 'the' war horse for many a year and the other proved that whilst turd polishing isn't possible you can at least get rid of most of the smell. But think what could have been....)
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Could we have managed without the Hercules for the last fifty odd years?
And for your supplementary question: how are we going to cope without it after 2020?
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1. (By a distance) C130K 1966 - 2013?
Critical component in East Pakistan evacuation, Belize, Falklands, Ethiopian Relief, Gulf 1&2, FRY, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. These, plus God knows, how many unknown SF Operations.
2. (Joint) Canberra and Harrier.
Any Post War aircraft the US Government would purchase against the wishes of their own powerful Aviation Lobby has to be good. They have subsequently proved themselves in countless conflicts around the world.
3. Hawk. The only post war aircraft to come in ahead of schedule and under budget. Sold in large numbers to many AF's including our American cousins.
1974- 2040? It will be the longest serving aircraft the Royal Air Force will ever know.
I wager the aircraft will outlast the RAF.
Critical component in East Pakistan evacuation, Belize, Falklands, Ethiopian Relief, Gulf 1&2, FRY, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan. These, plus God knows, how many unknown SF Operations.
2. (Joint) Canberra and Harrier.
Any Post War aircraft the US Government would purchase against the wishes of their own powerful Aviation Lobby has to be good. They have subsequently proved themselves in countless conflicts around the world.
3. Hawk. The only post war aircraft to come in ahead of schedule and under budget. Sold in large numbers to many AF's including our American cousins.
1974- 2040? It will be the longest serving aircraft the Royal Air Force will ever know.
I wager the aircraft will outlast the RAF.
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At the risk of upsetting just about everyone I think the most significant aircraft the RAF has ever operated is the Tornado in all it's guises.
I genuinely think it was a big and significant mistake.
F-4 and Buccaneer replaced by F-15A and E - we'd have been the canine's proverbials.
I genuinely think it was a big and significant mistake.
F-4 and Buccaneer replaced by F-15A and E - we'd have been the canine's proverbials.
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Sorry, powers of expression let me down.
I personally think that whilst MRCA offered a lot it wasn't delivered and in the Tornado the RAF got a barely first class striker and a woeful air defender.
Not until 2004 ish did the F-3 mature and the GR1/4 has been competent from start to finish, but never anything more than that. Alternative weapon systems were giving their operators swing and multi role capability at the same time.
I would venture that in buying two such average steeds the RAF consigned the heroes who operated them to a fairly low worldwide status for decades.
A real shame - because I genuinely believe that we can fight anyone man for man. But the airborne warfare game is technology driven to a greater degree than the maritime and land components.
I personally think that whilst MRCA offered a lot it wasn't delivered and in the Tornado the RAF got a barely first class striker and a woeful air defender.
Not until 2004 ish did the F-3 mature and the GR1/4 has been competent from start to finish, but never anything more than that. Alternative weapon systems were giving their operators swing and multi role capability at the same time.
I would venture that in buying two such average steeds the RAF consigned the heroes who operated them to a fairly low worldwide status for decades.
A real shame - because I genuinely believe that we can fight anyone man for man. But the airborne warfare game is technology driven to a greater degree than the maritime and land components.
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I think that I rest my case.
The Lightning and the Buccaneer might have a bigger fan base. There's no doubt that the Hunter did a lot of stuff.
You might think it was a dog, built by committee for compromised reasons, but for Combat Air, which RAF aircraft has been more significant in the last 60 years than the Tornado?
I think that given the wars into which the UK and the RAF has been forced in the last 20+ years, there are lots of reasons to be grateful to the Tornado GR and its crews.
The Lightning and the Buccaneer might have a bigger fan base. There's no doubt that the Hunter did a lot of stuff.
You might think it was a dog, built by committee for compromised reasons, but for Combat Air, which RAF aircraft has been more significant in the last 60 years than the Tornado?
I think that given the wars into which the UK and the RAF has been forced in the last 20+ years, there are lots of reasons to be grateful to the Tornado GR and its crews.
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Agreed with the Wessex, was to the UK what the Huey was to the US.
Transport, Herc and VC10
Fighter, Hunter, Harrier, Buccaneer, and Lightning
Medium bomber and a myriad other roles and still going today in the world, Canberra.
Trainer, Hawk and Hunter
It makes you wonder where it all went wrong for the UK industry because the majority of those were home built.
Transport, Herc and VC10
Fighter, Hunter, Harrier, Buccaneer, and Lightning
Medium bomber and a myriad other roles and still going today in the world, Canberra.
Trainer, Hawk and Hunter
It makes you wonder where it all went wrong for the UK industry because the majority of those were home built.
Last edited by NutLoose; 26th Oct 2014 at 00:10.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Varsity? Monopoly
Ok, navigation, multi-engine pilot, air electronics, bombing, calibration but significant that it trained people to get to Berlin (and back) and was wholly unsuited for training Canberra navs or modern ME pilots and should have been retired in the mid-50s. Admittedly it was a major improvement over the Wimpy.
Ok, navigation, multi-engine pilot, air electronics, bombing, calibration but significant that it trained people to get to Berlin (and back) and was wholly unsuited for training Canberra navs or modern ME pilots and should have been retired in the mid-50s. Admittedly it was a major improvement over the Wimpy.
