BBC coverage of RAF 100 years
IMO, he downplayed the Tornado capability and then, went on to point out that OLF might well be required by stealthy aircraft. Not a matter of being "dry", a gentle 250' navex should have been described as such.
OAP
Just listened to the piece and I thought she did very well. I had a little shock when they mentioned that the Tornado will be out of service within a year. When I left the RAF in 1977 there were still two years before the aircraft (which was still called the MRCA) was to enter RAF service, so in my mind it is still a "new" aircraft. Just another function of getting old I suppose 
Gnome de PPRuNe
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I remember when the Tornado had just entered service there were four or maybe six on the western ramp at Biggin Hill in connection with a fly past, presumably over London - first I'd seen other than development aircraft at Farnborough... Must have been summer 1980?
Less than 40 year's service life seems quite short compared with some other types!
Less than 40 year's service life seems quite short compared with some other types!
Treadigraph
The vast majority of those years were spent on Ops though. Right up until the bitter end.
Few other platforms can boast of a record like that.
BV
Few other platforms can boast of a record like that.
BV
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Add to which the blue on blue in Iraq when an RAF GR4 was shot down by a Patriot missile when returning to its base in Kuwait in 2003, highlighted its vulnerability.
Unlike Scotland, there are no mountains or deep valleys in the Baltic region to snuggle up to. It is as flat as a pancake. To be a successful ground attack a/c in that NATO region of special interest, it needs stealth.
Unlike Scotland, there are no mountains or deep valleys in the Baltic region to snuggle up to. It is as flat as a pancake. To be a successful ground attack a/c in that NATO region of special interest, it needs stealth.
Unlike Scotland, there are no mountains or deep valleys in the Baltic region to snuggle up to. It is as flat as a pancake. To be a successful ground attack a/c in that NATO region of special interest, it needs stealth.
Has anyone worked out what caused the “Jesus Mary and Joseph” moment? OC IX talks about the “ brakes “ but I couldn’t see any sign of the air brakes on the 360 deg film ( I know it may not be synchronised) and they are pretty mild in the Tornado anyway . I thought it was all good coverage for the Today listening public. Well done all-even the BBC.
Last edited by Timelord; 28th Mar 2018 at 19:17.
Has anyone worked out what caused the “Jesus Mary and Joseph” moment? OC IX talks about the “ brakes “ but I couldn’t see any sign of the air brakes on the 360 deg film ( I know it may not be synchronised) and they are pretty mild in the Tornado anyway . I thought it was all good coverage for the Today listening public. Well done all-even the BBC.
Just watched the 18 minutes or so BBC video and I have to say she did far, far better than I would have done. A low level over Somerset in a 47 Sqn Herc proved too me that my ear canals are not suitable for such circumstances. Bravo to her for maintaining an intelligent conversation whilst enjoying the delights of the Mach Loop etc!
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Slight thread drift here but another bit of RAF history fades away
Edinburgh Airport's second runway closes - BBC News
Edinburgh Airport's second runway closes - BBC News
Just a quick question / point on the BBC RAF 100 yrs programme. As well as the “50 yrs in service” error with the chinook I questioned the 03 readiness state ? It might be memory fade over the years but I thought we went to readiness state 02 (ie 2 mins) from a readiness state 05 (ie 5 mins) as opposed to the 3 mins stated in the programme ? I thought it was Readiness State 15 - 05 - 02 - scramble . . . any old thoughts on that ?
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The Tornado flight is to be described on BBC Radio 4 Today programme at some point before 9.00am.
add
For those that can replay the BBC Radio 4 Today from about 8.10am there follows 18 minutes about the Tornado and then a detailed discussion with Air Marshall Atha about the projected role of the RAF in space, under the water, the P-8 Poseidon and F-35 Lightning.
add
For those that can replay the BBC Radio 4 Today from about 8.10am there follows 18 minutes about the Tornado and then a detailed discussion with Air Marshall Atha about the projected role of the RAF in space, under the water, the P-8 Poseidon and F-35 Lightning.
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Although I have good uncorrected distance vision, after many years of reading countless lever arch files of documents under artificial light, I decided I needed to wear specs for reading and I switched to using speech recognition software for dictation, leaving it to my admin staff to proof read for errors. It is encouraging to know in my retirement that there contributors to this forum willing to step up to plate to fill the void, especially as I stopped using specs altogether a couple of years ago.
Idle Reverse,
That is what I remember as well. RS15 - 05 - 02 - "end off!!"
Bill
That is what I remember as well. RS15 - 05 - 02 - "end off!!"
Bill
Re Air Marshals, I was confused to read a report about sky marshals, the undercover armed agents placed on flights to prevent hijacking incidents. The reporter referred to them as air marshals and I thought this an odd job for a VSO - particularly as his much braided uniform and the scrambled egg on his hat might well draw attention to himself.