Why no royals in fast jets?
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Genstabler
Pprune is an international website. He's just as entitled to express his opinions as you are.
I haven't noticed Brit posters holding back from criticizing things that happen in America and the American way of life, nor should they. Some even talk about 'Americans' as if we're all the same which we aren't, any more than Brits are all the same or all have the same opinions.
Pprune is an international website. He's just as entitled to express his opinions as you are.
I haven't noticed Brit posters holding back from criticizing things that happen in America and the American way of life, nor should they. Some even talk about 'Americans' as if we're all the same which we aren't, any more than Brits are all the same or all have the same opinions.
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Cost?
ISTR Charles had 2 specially built JPs, (Golden Eagle?) which only he flew - special maintenance requirements too. Maybe the costs of a similar arrangement on a fast jet would be prohibitive?
Genstabler: SASless is alright...he's one of the good ones...just cool down a little eh? He has a point, there are Zilions out there who couldn't give a fig about the Royals....and rightly so in their world. No harm in it. I don't see anyone here raving about the Jordanian Royal Family or the King of Monaco.
It's just steeped in our history. I have had my fair share of mixing with the royals during my time. Believe me, William is different. He is so in tune with reality..he will transform the Monarchy beyond recognition and bring it into line with 21st century demands. He is also a competent and confident pilot.
SAS: Royalty gives us Brits a sense of belonging, it is our link with the past and all our history. It's hard not having the same over in Yank land, I know but we tried and failed to share ours with yours in the late 1800's. Never mind perhaps when Hilary becomes President..........
It's just steeped in our history. I have had my fair share of mixing with the royals during my time. Believe me, William is different. He is so in tune with reality..he will transform the Monarchy beyond recognition and bring it into line with 21st century demands. He is also a competent and confident pilot.
SAS: Royalty gives us Brits a sense of belonging, it is our link with the past and all our history. It's hard not having the same over in Yank land, I know but we tried and failed to share ours with yours in the late 1800's. Never mind perhaps when Hilary becomes President..........
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I agree. SASless is one of the good ones and usually writes a lot of sense. And of course he is entitled to his opinions.
However, for a Yank, on a predominantly Brit military forum, to belittle our monarchical system, to call the heir to OUR throne jug ears and say that he's never done anything useful in his life, could be construed as somewhat tactless, arrogant, even provocative. And yes, it angered me. I apologise for expressing my own opinion. I will try to improve.
However, for a Yank, on a predominantly Brit military forum, to belittle our monarchical system, to call the heir to OUR throne jug ears and say that he's never done anything useful in his life, could be construed as somewhat tactless, arrogant, even provocative. And yes, it angered me. I apologise for expressing my own opinion. I will try to improve.
sasless - this whole accident of birth thing applies to all of us - not just royalty. You and I had the great good fortune to be born in stable countries, you in the wealthiest nation on earth, I in one that's not far behind. We both have had opportunities to develop our talents, unhindered by a repressive state or widespread poverty and corruption. We neither of us did anything to win this great prize, we just happened to strike lucky in the birth stakes. Where would either of us be if we had been born in the backstreets of Calcutta or an impoverished African village? True, I am never going to be king, but neither are you ever going to be president unless you are a multi-millionaire or have chums who are, which is certainly one of the criteria for your top job.
By the way I often go in American internet chatrooms and a soon as I introduce myself the first question is almost always "how's the Queen?". Maybe ironic, but there is a huge interest in our royalty from your side of the pond. Your media's obsession with our royalty is only matched by ours with American politics, which at election time we get force-fed to the point of nausea.
By the way I often go in American internet chatrooms and a soon as I introduce myself the first question is almost always "how's the Queen?". Maybe ironic, but there is a huge interest in our royalty from your side of the pond. Your media's obsession with our royalty is only matched by ours with American politics, which at election time we get force-fed to the point of nausea.
Maybe its because if you want to really get involved , then sitting at 60,000 feet pressing buttons in airspace dominated by your side isn't as exciting as it might seem ?
I'm not a pilot, but I imagine that being in the thick of it close to the ground, supporting people and assets you can physically see, sounds a darn sight more exciting than playing space invaders on an expensive computer and watching blips on screen. Its possibly a bit more like being a UAV pilot ?
Its possibly the difference between watching TV on your favourite subject or actually going out and getting involved.
But thats just my view.
I'm not a pilot, but I imagine that being in the thick of it close to the ground, supporting people and assets you can physically see, sounds a darn sight more exciting than playing space invaders on an expensive computer and watching blips on screen. Its possibly a bit more like being a UAV pilot ?
Its possibly the difference between watching TV on your favourite subject or actually going out and getting involved.
But thats just my view.
Last edited by GrahamO; 26th Jul 2013 at 09:26.
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the principle that someone gets to be the ruler of a country, actually or notionally, just by an accident of birth. The American ethos is that anyone what ever their family background should be able to get anywhere in life including the very top by hard work.
Wealth & power in the USA as in most countries relies more often than not in the 'accident of birth' - your parents are wealthy & connected then you have a greater chance of achieving higher officer.
For evidence I would point at the Kennedys, 2 Bush Presidents, even potentially a second Clinton President. All of those people benefited from being connected usually by birth to a wealthy family.
I agree that our Royal Family is a fairly closed shop but as the former Kate Middleton demonstrates you can enter it.
SASless: I would appreciate your not insisting upon referring to our heir to the throne in that tasteless manner, you are merely reinforcing certain stereotypes about Americans which I am sure you would not wish to do. Mocking someone for a physical characteristic is bad form these days & besides, what has he done personally to you that prompts you to talk in an offensive way about him?
Recollect walking into a sports shop in Chicago years ago.
Guy in Shop: "What do you think of that Margaret Thatcher?"
Bas: "Er, um, well, she's the best man in Britain!"
GiS: "Right on!"
Guy in Shop: "What do you think of that Margaret Thatcher?"
Bas: "Er, um, well, she's the best man in Britain!"
GiS: "Right on!"
Red On, Green On
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I agree that our Royal Family is a fairly closed shop but as the former Kate Middleton demonstrates you can enter it.
On the royal theme, just rceived the following from a Brit resident in the US:
The newborn Prince George of Cambridge has already completed 3 of my bucket list ambitions:
1 become a millionaire;
2 meet the royal family;
3 play with Kate Middletons nipples.
The newborn Prince George of Cambridge has already completed 3 of my bucket list ambitions:
1 become a millionaire;
2 meet the royal family;
3 play with Kate Middletons nipples.
(Not HRH, but a daft idea compared to a 2 minute winch and land on in a SK!)
Last edited by John Eacott; 26th Jul 2013 at 10:29.
Wealth & power in the USA as in most countries relies more often than not in the 'accident of birth' - your parents are wealthy & connected then you have a greater chance of achieving higher officer.
Billy born in poverty, raised by a Single Mom.....
BH...the alleged Son of a visiting Kenyan Student, raised by a single Mom and her Parents.
Harry Truman who never had a Dime...and retired in Penury....whose plight provoked the Nation to create a Pension for Presidents.
Ike who grew up dirt poor in Kansas....obtained an Army Commission by means of the Military Academy....and later commanded all Allied Forces in Western Europe before becoming President.
Sorry....while Money talks such as the Roosevelts, Kennedys, and a few others.....we are very much different than the Royals treatment in the UK.
Tank.....all that being said.....remember my Grand Mother did cooked on a woodstove until my teens, had no indoor plumbing until my teens, and lived as a Sharecropper for most of her life. It wasn't the back streets of Calcutta....not by a long shot....but during the Depression it wasn't a whole lot better.
In those days and when I grew up....we had Opportunity and if we had the drive, ability, and education we could prosper.
That was the great benefit to growing up in my Country....one can live your Dream if you work hard enough and have the necessary tools to succeed.
I am not sure that is the situation today.....at least it is a lot harder today due to the growth of Government and the loss of Individual Freedom we are experiencing.
What has Jug Ears done to me......nothing. But he is in my estimation the pure essence of a "Pommy Bastard".....an arrogant one at that with a very poor choice in Women proved by his divorce and subsequent marriage.
Last edited by SASless; 26th Jul 2013 at 11:08.
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But very much on their terms. Ms Middleton had no bargaining power beyond her looks and some education.
Small Pedant Bit:
As I was taught in primary school many years ago, the King (as was then) does not RULE, he/she REIGNS.
Pedant Off
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If you Google for a novel by Eugene Burdick and William Lederer you might perhaps conclude they had SASless in mind when choosing a title
Last edited by NutherA2; 26th Jul 2013 at 12:31.
Gen,
Be fair - SASless comes from a nation which has had 43 Presidents (44 Presidencies, but Grover Cleveland is numbered twice). Taking just Kings and Queens of England (with due acknowledegement to the Kings of Wessex before England became a nation and to the Scottish crown pre-James VI &I), we'd had 43 by the time that the state of Virgina was named after the Virgin Queen...
The rise of dynastic familial succession to positions of power and influence in the US in 2013 is now at the point we were in approximately 705AD. SASless's great-great-great-great [add a few more greats here] grandchildren will, in due course, wonder why the founding fathers blathered on about not having monarchs as they celebrate the birth of the next in line to the American throne.
Who'll end up as King Juan Pablo Augustin III when the time arrives...
(All suspcions that there is an element of fascetiousness in the above are entirely well-founded)
Be fair - SASless comes from a nation which has had 43 Presidents (44 Presidencies, but Grover Cleveland is numbered twice). Taking just Kings and Queens of England (with due acknowledegement to the Kings of Wessex before England became a nation and to the Scottish crown pre-James VI &I), we'd had 43 by the time that the state of Virgina was named after the Virgin Queen...
The rise of dynastic familial succession to positions of power and influence in the US in 2013 is now at the point we were in approximately 705AD. SASless's great-great-great-great [add a few more greats here] grandchildren will, in due course, wonder why the founding fathers blathered on about not having monarchs as they celebrate the birth of the next in line to the American throne.
Who'll end up as King Juan Pablo Augustin III when the time arrives...
(All suspcions that there is an element of fascetiousness in the above are entirely well-founded)
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
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Be difficult for an American, talking about an English heir to the throne as a 'Pommy Bastard', to be more deliberately and gratuitously offensive.
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Union Jack
HRH did not fly during his RN career
As a kid, I recall HRH attending the Commando Training Centre, Lympstone, Devon, to complete part of the course - which all Naval pilots attached to the marines, did. His Close Protection Officers didn't look that happy wading through chest high water. Photos appeared in the "Globe & Laurel", the R.M. (then monthly) magazine.
Jimmy Savile undertook the whole course and was awarded a green beret . . . . of sorts. We kids got to meet him. I never really understood the milking of the cow game, whilst blindfolded. But after a clean up and a gargle, we got to meet him. He seemed okay.
HRH did not fly during his RN career
. . . 2nd September to 20th January 1975 - HRH joined the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton for helicopter flying training until13th December, and then pursued further helicopter training before joining 845 Squadron (Wessex V Commando Support Squadron).
Jimmy Savile undertook the whole course and was awarded a green beret . . . . of sorts. We kids got to meet him. I never really understood the milking of the cow game, whilst blindfolded. But after a clean up and a gargle, we got to meet him. He seemed okay.
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"His Close Protection Officers didn't look that happy wading
through chest high water."
Surprised they didn't engage soldiers from another regiment for CPP
during this phase of the course !
through chest high water."
Surprised they didn't engage soldiers from another regiment for CPP
during this phase of the course !