Telegraph - RAF bare bones article
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Well, actually, I thought Typhoon93 made some good points in a measured and reasonable manner; guest or not. Had he been a career civilian professor of military history from a respected university, would he have been so summarily put back in his box? Under the Forum rules, i suppose he would.
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T93
"It is apparent that you have a problem with anybody posting on here who isn't currently serving in the RAF."
No I don't. I'm not in the RAF, I left a few years ago. I don't have thousands of flying ours either. But I am directly involved in both military and civil aviation. I am one of the "...backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground."
You do come across as a spotter and JTO put it very well above. There are forums for spotters and wannabes, I'm just suggesting (bluntly) that perhaps some of your (more inane) questions and comments would be better on those?
Perhaps I could be more subtle/polite/diplomatic etc.
S-D
"It is apparent that you have a problem with anybody posting on here who isn't currently serving in the RAF."
No I don't. I'm not in the RAF, I left a few years ago. I don't have thousands of flying ours either. But I am directly involved in both military and civil aviation. I am one of the "...backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground."
You do come across as a spotter and JTO put it very well above. There are forums for spotters and wannabes, I'm just suggesting (bluntly) that perhaps some of your (more inane) questions and comments would be better on those?
Perhaps I could be more subtle/polite/diplomatic etc.
S-D
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Please, Sir, may I say something?
Well, I hope no-one on here minds me saying this, but some of the posts I have read on this section of the forum have left me feeling a bit of a second class citizen - I no longer qualify as one of the "backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground" having finally left the world of aviation behind some ten years ago.
I do, however, occasionally have an opinion which I think is worth as much as anyone else's (in other words, exactly what you paid for it), but have been loathe to share it in the light of the reception that has been given to others who have dared to venture forth on what some so obviously see as Hallowed Ground.
I don't think that it would hurt to show a little politeness and respect for the opinions of others, even if they don't have a claim to "full membership" of this sub forum.
That is all, I shall go back to my corner now.
I do, however, occasionally have an opinion which I think is worth as much as anyone else's (in other words, exactly what you paid for it), but have been loathe to share it in the light of the reception that has been given to others who have dared to venture forth on what some so obviously see as Hallowed Ground.
I don't think that it would hurt to show a little politeness and respect for the opinions of others, even if they don't have a claim to "full membership" of this sub forum.
That is all, I shall go back to my corner now.
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S-D, perhaps it's best you and I avoid each other like the plague, as we aren't going to get along.
There is nothing wrong with a bit of arrogance when it's justified. Yours is not.
For what it's worth, I haven't seen a military aircraft that wasn't flying over wherever I was at the time, while on a routine sortie, for quite some time. That quite some time being nearly a decade. So I am not a "spotter".
If you class a "wannabe" as just somebody who aspires to do/be something, then yes, I guess I am. However, unlike most 'wannabes', I am actually getting off my ar$e.
Anyway, enough of that. Let's get back to the subject, which I believe is about the RAF being on its knees.
There is nothing wrong with a bit of arrogance when it's justified. Yours is not.
For what it's worth, I haven't seen a military aircraft that wasn't flying over wherever I was at the time, while on a routine sortie, for quite some time. That quite some time being nearly a decade. So I am not a "spotter".
If you class a "wannabe" as just somebody who aspires to do/be something, then yes, I guess I am. However, unlike most 'wannabes', I am actually getting off my ar$e.
Anyway, enough of that. Let's get back to the subject, which I believe is about the RAF being on its knees.
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SD, what has Typhoon said to warrant such ignorant posts? I find your attitude most odd, especially since, as an engineer, you are a guest on a forum for professional pilots.
Hey SD,
is the reason you call yourself Salad Dodger some form of self flagellation for a personal weakness?
No stranger to a Desperate Dan Cow pie and chips I imagine!??!?!
FB
is the reason you call yourself Salad Dodger some form of self flagellation for a personal weakness?
No stranger to a Desperate Dan Cow pie and chips I imagine!??!?!
FB
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ShotOne - Professional pilots and (at least in the military forum) "the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground."
We mere mortals who support the flying are no more guests in these parts than aircrew are.
I do however find SD's crusade against Typhoon93 distasteful.
We mere mortals who support the flying are no more guests in these parts than aircrew are.
I do however find SD's crusade against Typhoon93 distasteful.
No stranger to a Desperate Dan Cow pie
T93, be of good cheer. I speak as one who has been told to shuffle off in my carpet slippers and puff on my pipe. Evidently it's 'only' banter. Charming is not one of the words that come immediately to mind though...
"Directly involved in aviation" can cover all kinds of things...
...altogether better to judge the post by its relevance and accuracy, and its contribution to the discussion, and assess the poster (if need be) by his or her track record. Because in the end that's all we have to go on. Remember, on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.
...altogether better to judge the post by its relevance and accuracy, and its contribution to the discussion, and assess the poster (if need be) by his or her track record. Because in the end that's all we have to go on. Remember, on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.
Remember, on the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.
Anyway, back to the thread, I've just been watching Phil Hammond being interrogated by Andrew Neil at the Toga Party conference, recorded earlier this week, in which Andrew asked Phil if he knew how many frontline squadrons the R.A.F. had back in 1991. Phil clearly did not know or he wasn't prepared to admit the sparsity in numbers compared with today. When Mr Neil put it to him that today the R.A.F. has only 7 frontline combat squadrons (ok FJ squadrons then) to the adla's 15, Phil became quite cross and put it to his quite well briefed tormentor that simply comparing numbers of formations is irrelevant, that training and standards of equipment need to be taken into consideration as well. While I'm not directly quoting, this is what he said. He was clearly stating that our aircraft, weapons and crews are far enough superior to those of the French Air Force to put their significant numerical superiority firmly in the shade!?!
But what do we all think?
FB
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I think that Phillip Hammond is a politician. Doesn't that say it all?
Three professions are paid to lie; journalists, lawyers and politicians. (I think there's a fourth, met men but we'll not go there...)
Three professions are paid to lie; journalists, lawyers and politicians. (I think there's a fourth, met men but we'll not go there...)
bollocks
signed
Met man.
signed
Met man.
I seem to have raised the tone of the debate somewhat.
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@Finningley Boy: I don't want to dispute any of your arguments, but the actual number of AdlA frontline FJ squadrons is nine, with seven "regular" and two "strategic" units - two M2000C/-5, three M2000D, one M2000N (nuclear only), three Rafale, one of which has a nuclear mission as well. OF course, you have to take into account the two Aéronavale squadrons with Rafale M and one with Super Étendard Modernisé.
It may seem like nit-picking from ze overcorrect German, and it probably is. However, the French air forces have been brutally hit by the 2013 Defense White Paper, so they might not be the best benchmark - especially since their flight hours have been seriously affected as well.
It may seem like nit-picking from ze overcorrect German, and it probably is. However, the French air forces have been brutally hit by the 2013 Defense White Paper, so they might not be the best benchmark - especially since their flight hours have been seriously affected as well.