617 to be first F-35 Sqn
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"between 12 and 16 aircraft" - the sqn aircraft numbers appear to be on a worryingly similar trajectory to the MRA4....Hope there will be some left by the time it appears at Marham - will be a nice job for some new pilots currently at UAS (or holding).
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What the article doesn't say is that 617 will be disbanded after their return from Herrick next year & 'stand up' (horrible expression, see 'Naff Mil phraseology' thread) in 2016 with JSF. This will be their third disabndment having done so in 1955 & after the withdrawl of the Vulcan in 1981.
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will be a nice job for some new pilots currently at UAS (or holding)
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Dambusters To Be Next Lightning II Squadron 18072013 18 Jul 2013
Dambusters To Be Next Lightning II Squadron
"...
“Lightning shall be operated jointly by the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm pilots, from land or from the Queen Elizabeth Class carrier. Overall, a hugely flexible and futuristic joint capability.”
The UK’s Lightning II is the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, which will give the supersonic multi-role stealth aircraft the ability to operate from land or sea. When it reforms in 2016, 617 Squadron will have both RAF and Royal Navy personnel. The next squadron will carry a Royal Navy squadron number but be similarly jointly manned."
“Lightning shall be operated jointly by the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm pilots, from land or from the Queen Elizabeth Class carrier. Overall, a hugely flexible and futuristic joint capability.”
The UK’s Lightning II is the Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, which will give the supersonic multi-role stealth aircraft the ability to operate from land or sea. When it reforms in 2016, 617 Squadron will have both RAF and Royal Navy personnel. The next squadron will carry a Royal Navy squadron number but be similarly jointly manned."
Last edited by SpazSinbad; 18th Jul 2013 at 13:36.
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Do I smell very carefully chosen words. Will operate from land or the carriers. If we keep saying it enough we will forget that we bought this thing specifically for operations from the sea base.
Land ops would seem to be somewhat implicit wouldn't you say?
Where's that Ward chap when you need him?
I have never seen the official 617 Sqn crest before as the chaps always seemed to wear the red on black 'Dambuster' badge. It's actually quite apposite as it shows a DPI (that might not make the JPTL these days) succumbing to Electronic Attack.
Bastardeux - come along, there are hundreds of jobs to do getting the turd barge around the world with a few Gen 5 jets on the top...or are we saying that only the drivers count?
Land ops would seem to be somewhat implicit wouldn't you say?
Where's that Ward chap when you need him?
I have never seen the official 617 Sqn crest before as the chaps always seemed to wear the red on black 'Dambuster' badge. It's actually quite apposite as it shows a DPI (that might not make the JPTL these days
) succumbing to Electronic Attack.Bastardeux - come along, there are hundreds of jobs to do getting the turd barge around the world with a few Gen 5 jets on the top...or are we saying that only the drivers count?
Why is this new fighter to be flown by an historic bomber squadron?
Surely there must be some real fighter squadron numbers available?
Surely there must be some real fighter squadron numbers available?
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BEagle, is the F35 really a fighter? It would seem to me that it was designed as a bomb truck, to replace the A10s and F16s, in the great scheme of things as I understand it the USAF wanted the F22 as a fighter and the F35 as a tactical bomber, the USN as I understand it intends to use the F18s as fighters and the F35s as attack aircraft.
So it seems not unreasonable that 617 stands up as an F35 squadron.
So it seems not unreasonable that 617 stands up as an F35 squadron.
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Let's not forget that this "development" also marks the end of the road for our gallant and highly skilled FJ backseat community be they good old style Nav's or the Wizzo's of today 
Coff.
Coff.
Last edited by CoffmanStarter; 18th Jul 2013 at 20:51.
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However, the badge implies that the aircraft should be Lightning III!
I'm with Sir, Beags on this one, the designation F** relates to Fighter aircraft. Without trying to give any type of lecture FB** is a Fighter Bomber. Bomber would therefore, and logically be B**. So, accepting that there are many, "laid up" fighter Squadrons, why have an aircraft with an F prefix serving on a squadron that has no history of Fighter operations. Now, if we are saying what's in a number ??????
Smudge
Smudge
Fighter or Bomber ?
Well be it a fighter or a bomber designate letter I guess the decision on the first Sqn to operate it would be down to it going to the Bravest of the Brave . . . hence 617 ! 
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Hmmm.
If one were to choose the next squadron number. If it were a training or test squadron then 899 NAS might be more appropriate. If it were another front line unit then it would probably come down to a 800 NAS/ 801 NAS play off...just like the good old 'chequered death vs quiche eater' fights of old. (Actually flight safety hazards...but great fun!)
How about 809 NAS as an outsider? Particularly poignant given the phoenix emblem and the fact that it would mark the re-emergence of the FW Fleet Air Arm from not at all persecuted nomadic seed corn at the end of the perfectly understandable, logical, apolitical, purely financial, nothing whatsoever a sister service, petite, capability holiday.
If one were to choose the next squadron number. If it were a training or test squadron then 899 NAS might be more appropriate. If it were another front line unit then it would probably come down to a 800 NAS/ 801 NAS play off...just like the good old 'chequered death vs quiche eater' fights of old. (Actually flight safety hazards...but great fun!)
How about 809 NAS as an outsider? Particularly poignant given the phoenix emblem and the fact that it would mark the re-emergence of the FW Fleet Air Arm from not at all persecuted nomadic seed corn at the end of the perfectly understandable, logical, apolitical, purely financial, nothing whatsoever a sister service, petite, capability holiday.
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Do I smell very carefully chosen words. Will operate from land or the carriers