Another No Particularly Important Discussion Thread
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Under the clag EGKA
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Still a bit of kit flying where I am, south of France. Same goes for the other place I've been staying but then Ramstein is just over the hill.
Where ever you go, there are fewer sorties. A mate was at Nellis earlier this year, he said he saw fewer aircraft. I suppose that they may all be in theatre. Who is increasing their inventory these days? Iran? China?
Where ever you go, there are fewer sorties. A mate was at Nellis earlier this year, he said he saw fewer aircraft. I suppose that they may all be in theatre. Who is increasing their inventory these days? Iran? China?
Join Date: Jul 2007
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I'm sure if you look back far enough, you'll find people on 2 April 1918 complaining that the RAF had already had its heyday... 
R
Last edited by Riskman; 19th Sep 2012 at 12:42.
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BEagle's table of squadrons in 2nd TAF, c.1956 stirred the memory cells...
In 1953 on 16 Sqn with Vampires, we were able to dog-fight around the hangars during Exercise 'Coronet' - reputedly, the simulated conflict between 2nd TAF and 4th TAF cost the lives of eleven aircrew. On occasion it was hair-raising... The realistic if lax doctrine, then extant under the Earl of Bandon the C-in-C, was promptly replaced with much more restrictive rules.
In 1953 on 16 Sqn with Vampires, we were able to dog-fight around the hangars during Exercise 'Coronet' - reputedly, the simulated conflict between 2nd TAF and 4th TAF cost the lives of eleven aircrew. On occasion it was hair-raising... The realistic if lax doctrine, then extant under the Earl of Bandon the C-in-C, was promptly replaced with much more restrictive rules.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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BEagle
Beags, you are my favourite anorak!
I think you were at university when 99 entry was flown out to Colorado Springs, via NY Dulles, in a 99 Sqn Brittania to spend a wonderful time with the guys at the American Air Force Academy.
Went skiing at Arapahoe Basin; gliding in the lenticular lift waves off the Rockies; got to drive a Corvette Stingray and the climax (if you see what I mean) was meeting a mexican nurse from Denver. I think we also went to some lectures but I can't remember them.
What fun!
Rgds SOS
I think you were at university when 99 entry was flown out to Colorado Springs, via NY Dulles, in a 99 Sqn Brittania to spend a wonderful time with the guys at the American Air Force Academy.
Went skiing at Arapahoe Basin; gliding in the lenticular lift waves off the Rockies; got to drive a Corvette Stingray and the climax (if you see what I mean) was meeting a mexican nurse from Denver. I think we also went to some lectures but I can't remember them.
What fun!
Rgds SOS
It strikes me that the last Golden age, shall we say, was my own time in the R.A.F. it was book ended by the last two great fly pasts since the 1953 Coronation. I joined in 1977, just following the Queen's Silver Jubilee flypast, flown on both the 29th and 30th July, over Finningley. 128 aircraft altogether. I left in 1990, just after the 50th Battle of Britain Anniversary flypast on 15th September. About 166 aircraft, it carried on over R.A.F. Abingdon, minus two Spitfires and a Hurricane.
Despite greater justification for grand flypasts since, i.e. Golden and Jubilee Celebrations, none can hold a candle to those events of the past. Given the editorial by Simon Heffer in the Daily Mail today, I'm not entirely certain our lack of prowess today is quite justified by the lack of resources or lack justification position of our blasted political leaders. For one thing the present bunch place little store by it and perceive the wider public mood to be no different.
FB
Despite greater justification for grand flypasts since, i.e. Golden and Jubilee Celebrations, none can hold a candle to those events of the past. Given the editorial by Simon Heffer in the Daily Mail today, I'm not entirely certain our lack of prowess today is quite justified by the lack of resources or lack justification position of our blasted political leaders. For one thing the present bunch place little store by it and perceive the wider public mood to be no different.
FB
Last edited by Finningley Boy; 22nd Sep 2012 at 15:41.
