Queens Birthday Honours 2014
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: England's green and pleasant land
Posts: 697
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Had the flypast been larger there would undoubtedly be furore over the extravagance and cost when the UK economy isn't in the best of shapes. Damned if you do and damned if you don't. The sheer spectacle of the 60s-90s' was a product of having a relatively huge military and was probably a significantly important piece of propaganda to the USSR too!
IMHO the day was the expected professional display and the RAF delivered an excellent flypast to an expectant crowd with most types we fly, operationally.
Expecting more from contemporary flypasts is probably a little 'out of touch' with just how lean things are these days, especially considering all the various commitments we have overseas.
Go to Fairford, Farnborough or RAF Waddington Air Shows and you'll see more.
IMHO the day was the expected professional display and the RAF delivered an excellent flypast to an expectant crowd with most types we fly, operationally.
Expecting more from contemporary flypasts is probably a little 'out of touch' with just how lean things are these days, especially considering all the various commitments we have overseas.
Go to Fairford, Farnborough or RAF Waddington Air Shows and you'll see more.
Not expecting more, nor out of touch,just pointing out that the annual flypast illustrates each year just how the Services are shrinking year on year.
It was quite disappointing after joining the RAF in 1970 to see the drawdowns that were taking place even then during the cold war,with some of the best postings disappearing. Little could we have imagined how much further the Organisation would shrink to the point where flexibility is so severely curtailed. The RAF can just about manage to carry out all of its commitments but how much more cost cutting/staff reduction can it take?
It was quite disappointing after joining the RAF in 1970 to see the drawdowns that were taking place even then during the cold war,with some of the best postings disappearing. Little could we have imagined how much further the Organisation would shrink to the point where flexibility is so severely curtailed. The RAF can just about manage to carry out all of its commitments but how much more cost cutting/staff reduction can it take?
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: London
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Damned if you do and damned if you don't.
IMHO the day was the expected professional display and the RAF delivered an excellent flypast to an expectant crowd with most types we fly, operationally.
IMHO the day was the expected professional display and the RAF delivered an excellent flypast to an expectant crowd with most types we fly, operationally.
I agree.
They looked very impressive when they flew over our house, a mile SW of the Palace.
FL
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MOD
"RAF numbers will fall to 33,500 by 2015 and to 31,500 by 2020"
Pride Park Stadium 33,502 Derby County
St Mary's Stadium 32,689 Southampton
Bramall Lane 32,609 Sheffield United
Ricoh Arena 32,604 Vacant
King Power Stadium 32,312 Leicester City
Stadium:MK 32,000 Milton Keynes Dons
Ewood Park 31,154 Blackburn Rovers
"RAF numbers will fall to 33,500 by 2015 and to 31,500 by 2020"
Pride Park Stadium 33,502 Derby County
St Mary's Stadium 32,689 Southampton
Bramall Lane 32,609 Sheffield United
Ricoh Arena 32,604 Vacant
King Power Stadium 32,312 Leicester City
Stadium:MK 32,000 Milton Keynes Dons
Ewood Park 31,154 Blackburn Rovers
RAF numbers will fall to 33,500 by 2015 and to 31,500 by 2020"
Which of course is the establishment size. I have no idea of what percentage in manning terms, we are currently at? Nor if SDSR 15 will make further cuts?
Nevertheless, from Wembley stadium to Milton Keynes says it all really.
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: uk
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
NutLoose - I agree with your sentiment on the whole, however, when you have worked alongside someone who then gets one of these "blue Peter Badges", you do tend to support the ethos.
An extention of our country's past, presumably - but also a filip to those working around certain individuals to give of your best perhaps?
Someone who works tirelessly all of their lives for charity or child abuse compared to someone who wins a cycle race at a critical national moment???
There seems to be no datum to work from. And this occasionally degrades those awards afforded to the deserved.
An extention of our country's past, presumably - but also a filip to those working around certain individuals to give of your best perhaps?
Someone who works tirelessly all of their lives for charity or child abuse compared to someone who wins a cycle race at a critical national moment???
There seems to be no datum to work from. And this occasionally degrades those awards afforded to the deserved.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Or officers getting OBE's apparently as of right rather than because of doing something special 
TBH I find it very hard to justify honours outside of bravery and sacrifice
TBH I find it very hard to justify honours outside of bravery and sacrifice
