A400M vs Belfast

[Motleycallsign]

Even with AAR capability (and the clearance/ability to airdrop) would the Belfast have made it to the Falklands and back, given it's cruise speed? Surely scurvey would have broken out amongst the 2 or 3 crews that would have been required. Joking aside it would have taken a herculean effort and assets from the tanker force just to service one airframe, look at the Black Buck sortie breakdown of assets.

If the government of the day had let Shorts build it as planned then it would have been a no brainer keeping it in service longer IMHO.

[ancientaviator62]

Willard,
cleared and capable are indeed two different states. The Belfast had well documented drag problems so I would question whether even opening the ramp and door in flight would have been feasible. Even if it was as dragartist will no doubt confirm, the timescale to clear an a/c for airdrop is very long indeed. Yes we did produce the Herc tanker in record time but I would suggest that it was a far easier thing to do than to clear the Belfast for airdrop even if it had still been in service .

[thowman]

Several Belfasts were leased and operated between Wideawake and the UK during the conflict, IIRC Indeed, the first two Wessex V of 845 NAS were transported there by a Belfast from Yeovilton around the 2nd or 3rd (Source - Scram by Harry Benson)

[VX275]

the timescale to clear an a/c for airdrop is very long indeed.

That's why the Beverley missed Suez and the heavy drop had to be carried out by Hastings using kit already consigned to a museum.
At the time of Suez the MSP was cleared for use but could only be dropped from the USAF's C-119 and we all know what the Americans thought of Suez.