IAF Retires A-4 Skyhawk
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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IAF Retires A-4 Skyhawk
IAF retires Skyhawk after 48 years in service
48 years have passed since the first American-built McDonnell Douglas A4 Skyhawk landed in Israel, with the anniversary being marked by an official parting ceremony at Hatzerim air base on Sunday. The ceremony featured a flyover, and the veteran jet's last official flight with the IAF...........
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With three active duty Generals flying them........a bit more "in touch" than most of ours.....
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
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JSF, as a VSO said in justification many years ago, just after another (French) VSO had driven his Jag into a hill.
"It's bloody good fun - and the survivors are worth having....."
"It's bloody good fun - and the survivors are worth having....."
I believe this leaves Argentina and Brazil as the only military users? Think the Singapore det in France retired their A-4's ~2012.
Not too shaby with the type first flying in 1954.
Not too shaby with the type first flying in 1954.
JSF,
You are of course correct - but.....
One could argue that the reason our VSOs are so busy is because of the bloated management tree they oversee. Yes, the IAF buys a lot off the shelf, but they also tailor it - and they do so with a fraction of the manpower it takes us. It's a given that they operate substantially more combat air with a smaller headcount and, yes, they don't need to 'breed' people for NATO jobs (why not give acting rank more?) but even so with command devolved down the chain and a sensible reservist policy (an existential threat near by helps I suppose......) they appear to do a lot more with less....
Perhaps we should look into it - doubtless a new 3* post could be created to run it.........
You are of course correct - but.....
One could argue that the reason our VSOs are so busy is because of the bloated management tree they oversee. Yes, the IAF buys a lot off the shelf, but they also tailor it - and they do so with a fraction of the manpower it takes us. It's a given that they operate substantially more combat air with a smaller headcount and, yes, they don't need to 'breed' people for NATO jobs (why not give acting rank more?) but even so with command devolved down the chain and a sensible reservist policy (an existential threat near by helps I suppose......) they appear to do a lot more with less....
Perhaps we should look into it - doubtless a new 3* post could be created to run it.........
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I bet another thing that the IDF/AF will do differently to the RAF and this is to keep the aircraft in "shallow" storage/reserve in case they are needed in the future.
I somehow do not think that the Israeli's would have been quite so ready as to follow HMG's example of binning fleets of Jags and Harriers, which were a lot more capable (than an A4) and had years of service life left when put out to grass.
MB
I somehow do not think that the Israeli's would have been quite so ready as to follow HMG's example of binning fleets of Jags and Harriers, which were a lot more capable (than an A4) and had years of service life left when put out to grass.
MB
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Evalu8ter - a fair argument, although if the IAF were committed to nearly as much conflict and overseas detachments that the RAF has in the last 20 years, would their 4* Generals still have the time to maintain currency?
Badbob - unfortunate true. Sorry to repeat history (as I'm sure this debate has been done to death) however had the electorate not been so stupid in 1997, it might be a bit better than it currently is!
Badbob - unfortunate true. Sorry to repeat history (as I'm sure this debate has been done to death) however had the electorate not been so stupid in 1997, it might be a bit better than it currently is!
Once all the meat was excised from the bone we started cutting flying for instructors, then students, then frontline execs and frontline aircrew to levels below that achieved by the Warsaw Pact.
The only recent exception I can recall is when Torpy decided that he was above all that and allocated himself a short Typhoon course - just before joining BAE Systems…. what a happy coincidence for him.
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One VSO was spotted last week (Air Cdre B** J*****, I believe) in the front seat of a T3 at Coningsby. Although I think his current job requires him to remain current more so than him flying just to be a pilot again.
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Thunderbird7, with respect, Sir - please wake up.
Labour destroyed the economy which forced the Conservatives to make difficult, unpopular and risky decisions to stop the country from going under. Austerity isn't popular, and I certainly don't like it.... but it's the only proven method which works, other than voting intelligently in the first place!
Labour destroyed the economy which forced the Conservatives to make difficult, unpopular and risky decisions to stop the country from going under. Austerity isn't popular, and I certainly don't like it.... but it's the only proven method which works, other than voting intelligently in the first place!
The Alenia M346 has been in service for nearly a year (?) slowly replacing the two seat Scooter in their training role. Their first batch of retired Scooters ended up with the BAe contract at Wittmund replacing the F-100D Hun.
By coincidence I am reading Israel's Air Force (Presidio Power series pub 1992) by Samuel M Katz. Interesting the pilot selection process which is pretty much brutal, with the Gibush. The very first test and exercise, the budding candidates face are two lots of 18.6 mile marches. The second is with a makeshift stretcher with person atop. That is the only tip of the iceberg. The candidates live and breathe in tent city until the end of the Gibush, sorry survive.
Those who pass the Gibush end up doing a combo of infantry training , platoon leadership plus academics in their air force academy thrown in with more brutal infantry training at various stages.
Cheers
By coincidence I am reading Israel's Air Force (Presidio Power series pub 1992) by Samuel M Katz. Interesting the pilot selection process which is pretty much brutal, with the Gibush. The very first test and exercise, the budding candidates face are two lots of 18.6 mile marches. The second is with a makeshift stretcher with person atop
. That is the only tip of the iceberg. The candidates live and breathe in tent city until the end of the Gibush, sorry survive.Those who pass the Gibush end up doing a combo of infantry training , platoon leadership plus academics in their air force academy thrown in with more brutal infantry training at various stages.
Cheers
Sadiego89,
The Singapore Air Force 150 Sqn detachment at Cazaux started receiving Aermacchi M-346s in September last year, replacing their A-4s there. The current contract to keep the Det there has another ten years to run.
The Singapore Air Force 150 Sqn detachment at Cazaux started receiving Aermacchi M-346s in September last year, replacing their A-4s there. The current contract to keep the Det there has another ten years to run.
TBird 7:
Talking to someone with the Nimrod programme, the big problem was that the wings were bespoke to each aircraft and the could be 6"/15cm difference between each set. No laser jig and computer controlled shape forming and metal cutting but a tape measure and slide rule when they were built.
Talking to someone with the Nimrod programme, the big problem was that the wings were bespoke to each aircraft and the could be 6"/15cm difference between each set. No laser jig and computer controlled shape forming and metal cutting but a tape measure and slide rule when they were built.
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Thunderbird7, with respect, Sir - please wake up.
Labour destroyed the economy which forced the Conservatives to make difficult, unpopular and risky decisions to stop the country from going under. Austerity isn't popular, and I certainly don't like it.... but it's the only proven method which works, other than voting intelligently in the first place!
Labour destroyed the economy which forced the Conservatives to make difficult, unpopular and risky decisions to stop the country from going under. Austerity isn't popular, and I certainly don't like it.... but it's the only proven method which works, other than voting intelligently in the first place!
Tell that to the NHS who are functionally bankrupt due to Blair and Brown's vast over-expansion of PFI then add on all the PFI debt for schools. 'Prudence with a purpose' may backside.
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Tell the NHS/Schools that the national debt has doubled under tory austerity ideology despite their budgets being slashed????