Announcement: Royal Air Force to be Disbanded.
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Announcement: Royal Air Force to be Disbanded.
It is with great sadness and disappointment that I must announce the disbanding of the Royal Air Force, on what is today, its 100th anniversary.
This unfortunate event will take place over the course of the next 24 months with the RAF officially standing down, on the first of April 2020, which unfortunately coincides with it being the 102nd anniversary of its formation in 1918.
The various branches of the RAF will be divided up and personnel transferred to both the Royal Navy and the Army.
It is proposed that the UK Air Defence role will go to the Royal Navy’s, Fleet Air Arm, with all the Fast Jet Pilots, navigators and Ground Crew transferring to the Royal Navy.
The Transport, AWACS, Tankers and Rotary wing will become the Army’s responsibility and all Pilots and Ground Crew will be transferred to the Army over the next 24 months.
The SAR role will remain independent of the Army’s rotary sections and their specialist role training will be carried out by the FAA.
All RAF Personnel will be officially addressed on the changes once back at work following the Easter stand down and will receive a full brief on how it will affect them as both servicemen and civilian staff. The brief details of the changes are outlined below and although not finalised, the document outlining the changes in full, is awaiting formal signature.
It is expected that the amalgamation will save in the region of five Billion pounds annually, once the disbandment has been completed.
Basic flying training will still be completed at what will become the Centre of Flying Excellence, ‘HMS Cranwell’, when it goes back under the control to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, later this year. They will be responsible for all service ab initio flying training and on completion of the EFT courses, Successful students will then be ‘streamed’ and then ‘join’ the Navy or Army respectively, according to their abilities. They will then Graduate from HMS Cranwell in the uniforms relative to their flying career role, whether that be Navy or Army.
Officer and Aircrew Training will continue at HMS Cranwell, but only for the Aviation orientated candidates. Both BRNC Dartmouth and RMC Sandhurst will continue to train ‘non Flying’ Officer roles and Candidates will be divided between the Navy and the Army depending on entrants requests and the service requirements and needs.
The station annotation of RAF ‘XXXX’ will be replaced with ‘HMS’ and ‘Barracks’ respectively, dependant of the role the stations will provide.
The RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, will in future be known just as ‘The Red Arrows’ and will continue to display as they do now. The only difference being that the pilots will now be serving Fleet Air Arm pilots, following their transfer from the RAF. Likewise, the BBMF will be transferred to Yeovilton, and will become part of what will be known as ‘The Historic Flight’
All pay and pension structures will remain unaffected for those already serving, and any new recruits will receive pay and pension conditions from the service they join.
The full details of the changes will be outlined at the respective briefings being held later this month.
Although there will be job losses and redundancies, it is proposed that many of these can be dealt with by natural wastage.
A helpline is being set up and its number will be released later today.
This unfortunate event will take place over the course of the next 24 months with the RAF officially standing down, on the first of April 2020, which unfortunately coincides with it being the 102nd anniversary of its formation in 1918.
The various branches of the RAF will be divided up and personnel transferred to both the Royal Navy and the Army.
It is proposed that the UK Air Defence role will go to the Royal Navy’s, Fleet Air Arm, with all the Fast Jet Pilots, navigators and Ground Crew transferring to the Royal Navy.
The Transport, AWACS, Tankers and Rotary wing will become the Army’s responsibility and all Pilots and Ground Crew will be transferred to the Army over the next 24 months.
The SAR role will remain independent of the Army’s rotary sections and their specialist role training will be carried out by the FAA.
All RAF Personnel will be officially addressed on the changes once back at work following the Easter stand down and will receive a full brief on how it will affect them as both servicemen and civilian staff. The brief details of the changes are outlined below and although not finalised, the document outlining the changes in full, is awaiting formal signature.
It is expected that the amalgamation will save in the region of five Billion pounds annually, once the disbandment has been completed.
Basic flying training will still be completed at what will become the Centre of Flying Excellence, ‘HMS Cranwell’, when it goes back under the control to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, later this year. They will be responsible for all service ab initio flying training and on completion of the EFT courses, Successful students will then be ‘streamed’ and then ‘join’ the Navy or Army respectively, according to their abilities. They will then Graduate from HMS Cranwell in the uniforms relative to their flying career role, whether that be Navy or Army.
Officer and Aircrew Training will continue at HMS Cranwell, but only for the Aviation orientated candidates. Both BRNC Dartmouth and RMC Sandhurst will continue to train ‘non Flying’ Officer roles and Candidates will be divided between the Navy and the Army depending on entrants requests and the service requirements and needs.
The station annotation of RAF ‘XXXX’ will be replaced with ‘HMS’ and ‘Barracks’ respectively, dependant of the role the stations will provide.
The RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, will in future be known just as ‘The Red Arrows’ and will continue to display as they do now. The only difference being that the pilots will now be serving Fleet Air Arm pilots, following their transfer from the RAF. Likewise, the BBMF will be transferred to Yeovilton, and will become part of what will be known as ‘The Historic Flight’
All pay and pension structures will remain unaffected for those already serving, and any new recruits will receive pay and pension conditions from the service they join.
The full details of the changes will be outlined at the respective briefings being held later this month.
Although there will be job losses and redundancies, it is proposed that many of these can be dealt with by natural wastage.
A helpline is being set up and its number will be released later today.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Dangerous stuff, giving politicians ideas.
Quote for the Day:
Nobody's perfect, but if you've been in the RAF you've got closer than most"
Quote for the Day:
Nobody's perfect, but if you've been in the RAF you've got closer than most"
Once upon a time, April Fools Day spoofs were much more subtle....
Perhaps the one I included in the Gateway station magazine was a bit too subtle though, as Air Clues pinched the photo ('technicians adjusting the AAR probe of the BAe146P') and I had to ring up and explain the story to them...
It was all about adding 'stealth' capabilities to the pair of 146 we had at Brize at the time, so that they could be used as 'special duties' aircraft for covert insertion of special forces. Features included 'a RF illumination limiting loop' (A RFIL Loop...) and something to reduce the optical signature. The article ended 'This is a Special Property of Optical Fibre', but even then few people noticed - which I suppose only went to show how few people read the station magazine!
But my best April Fool spoof involved convincing a squadron Flight Commander that he was posted to Staff College. Even the Boss was in on the wind-up which was carefully planned with a few villainous confederates...
Perhaps the one I included in the Gateway station magazine was a bit too subtle though, as Air Clues pinched the photo ('technicians adjusting the AAR probe of the BAe146P') and I had to ring up and explain the story to them...
It was all about adding 'stealth' capabilities to the pair of 146 we had at Brize at the time, so that they could be used as 'special duties' aircraft for covert insertion of special forces. Features included 'a RF illumination limiting loop' (A RFIL Loop...) and something to reduce the optical signature. The article ended 'This is a Special Property of Optical Fibre', but even then few people noticed - which I suppose only went to show how few people read the station magazine!
But my best April Fool spoof involved convincing a squadron Flight Commander that he was posted to Staff College. Even the Boss was in on the wind-up which was carefully planned with a few villainous confederates...
Late on one 31st March a signal was received by ASC stations reminding them that the new Stanag digital time system was effective as at 0001 hours 01APR('70 something or other). SDOs were called from their slumbers by worried OOs who had thus been disturbed by their Comcens. The prodigiously long signal left them even more confused having read it through to the very end, not least as to when or what 0001 was now? Wg Cdrs were aroused who in turn apologetically woke their Stn Cdrs. It was probably the Cpls in Comcen who settled the matter, pointing out the bogus originating address as well as today's date being April the First (as it well was by then).
We odds and sods slept on in our innocence and later hoped that the perpetrator would escape undetected. Never did hear if that was so...
We odds and sods slept on in our innocence and later hoped that the perpetrator would escape undetected. Never did hear if that was so...
Late on one 31st March a signal was received by ASC stations reminding them that the new Stanag digital time system was effective as at 0001 hours 01APR('70 something or other). SDOs were called from their slumbers by worried OOs who had thus been disturbed by their Comcens. The prodigiously long signal left them even more confused having read it through to the very end, not least as to when or what 0001 was now? Wg Cdrs were aroused who in turn apologetically woke their Stn Cdrs. It was probably the Cpls in Comcen who settled the matter, pointing out the bogus originating address as well as today's date being April the First (as it well was by then).
We odds and sods slept on in our innocence and later hoped that the perpetrator would escape undetected. Never did hear if that was so...
We odds and sods slept on in our innocence and later hoped that the perpetrator would escape undetected. Never did hear if that was so...
Avoid imitations
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Was once involved in a spoof about the then recently introduced, and rather popular "round necked" blue woolly jumpers being replaced with WRAF pattern "V" necked ones (Lumpy jumpers).
It backfired because it actually came true...
It backfired because it actually came true...
Even better was the 'Sweater, cashmere' spoof as a replacement for the No 5 HD mess kit jacket!
Various tailors' price lists in a number of OMs began to feature 'Sweater, cashmere' with 'moleskin facings'; I think it was in around 1981?
If I recall correctly, the spoof was perpetrated by 115 Sqn aircrew when visiting for a spot of exciting ILS calibration and the like.
Harmless fun which wound up a few gullible folk!
Various tailors' price lists in a number of OMs began to feature 'Sweater, cashmere' with 'moleskin facings'; I think it was in around 1981?
If I recall correctly, the spoof was perpetrated by 115 Sqn aircrew when visiting for a spot of exciting ILS calibration and the like.
Harmless fun which wound up a few gullible folk!
Canada operated Migs, who knew? 
The Breaking Point - Canadian MiGs test American friendship - 2011 APRIL FOOL'S HOAX > Vintage Wings of Canada
Someones gone to a lot of trouble.
The Breaking Point - Canadian MiGs test American friendship - 2011 APRIL FOOL'S HOAX > Vintage Wings of Canada
Someones gone to a lot of trouble.
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Vintage Wings Canada have form. Their April Fool prank for 2018 -
Fairey-Vintech Swordfish Turbine Conversion > Vintage Wings of Canada
Fairey-Vintech Swordfish Turbine Conversion > Vintage Wings of Canada
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Spoof SRO - Introducing parking charges on the station with consultancy on whether the charge should be by rank or by size of vehicle. At 1600 the Stn Cdr came on the tannoy pointing out that the date was the 1st April. I think that he suspected 360 Sqn but could not prove it
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TBH it is April Fools day that should be retired on the grounds of irrelevancy. In recent times the human race has proved itself perfectly capable of turning far greater hoaxes into reality on any given day of the year.
A SAR Wessex at Valley was mocked up with a refuelling probe and put on the front of the Station magazine - generated some amusing phone calls from the gullible
Originally Posted by [email protected]
A SAR Wessex at Valley was mocked up with a refuelling probe and put on the front of the Station magazine - generated some amusing phone calls from the gullible
cheers
