RAF planes await order to set off to collect PPE from Turkey

[Ken Scott]

At the risk of sounding cynical, is the use of the RAF for this task not just a PR stunt to make it look like the Government are pulling out all of the stops?

RAF AT is already paid for, sitting on the apron and the crews probably need the hours, so why not use them for an urgent task rather than getting them to fly empty airframes around for training whilst paying a civil company to fly the loads?

[safetypee]

The military forces have a role as an 'aid to the civil power'; so use them.

The current situation is a 'civil', sociological war, where principles of war still apply.

'Operation Rescript', 'Operation Broadshare'.

The lads and lasses are doing their bit; take a positive viewpoint, get outside and clap them opposed to following tabloid negativity.

[ExAscoteer2]

Originally Posted by Ken Scott

RAF AT is already paid for, sitting on the apron and the crews probably need the hours, so why not use them for an urgent task

What urgent task are you going to achieve with a Hawk exactly in support of this crisis?

[Ken Scott]

That would depend on whether you considered a ‘Hawk’ to be part of ‘RAF AT’...?

[ExAscoteer2]

Ah misunderstood. I read your post as RAF Aerobatics Team!

[Ken Scott]

And you with the handle, ‘ExAscoteer’...!!

[gijoe]

Originally Posted by safetypee

The military forces have a role as an 'aid to the civil power'; so use them.

No they don't.

[topgas]

No they don't.

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ties-in-the-uk

[ExAscoteer2]

Originally Posted by gijoe

No they don't.

In UK yes they do.

[falcon900]

I was given to understand that the RAF airlift capacity had other calls on its time, but even if it was sitting idle, the cost benefit analysis relative to what surplus civilian capacity could have been chartered for would make interesting reading. Anyway, the assertion that there is marginal capacity which can be considered to be available at a discounted rate / free will no doubt provide for much opportunistic future deployment.
But I am reassured to learn that PR wasn’t involved.

[racedo]

If anything shows how incompetent and inept this Govt is then it is this. The crew does as is told but yet again they are being led by donkeys.

[gijoe]

Originally Posted by ExAscoteer2

In UK yes they do.

I say again, no they don’t.

[gijoe]

Originally Posted by topgas

https://www.gov.uk/government/public...ties-in-the-uk

Precisely - last time I looked it was an A not a P.

...but don’t want to let that get in the way of someone that probably retired many years ago and knows it all.

[deeceethree]

gijoe, why didn't you think to make your point obvious at the outset, instead of indulging in the to and fro of Yes and No? It was only the semantics that seemed to bother you, A versus P, so why not just get that out in the open right away? But instead you resorted to an entirely unnecessary tit for tat - why?

[ExAscoteer2]

Originally Posted by gijoe

Precisely - last time I looked it was an A not a P.

...but don’t want to let that get in the way of someone that probably retired many years ago and knows it all.

1. You don't know when I retired.
2. You are arguing semantics.
3. Your pathetic attempt at insult is water off a duck's back.

You know where you can stick it.

[Asturias56]

Ladies, ladies - please put away the handbags...................... it adds nothing to either the argument or the thread.

[Coltishall. loved it]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

Ladies, ladies - please put away the handbags...................... it adds nothing to either the argument or the thread.

Hence why normal people don't do Facebook etc.

[TEEEJ]

C-17 and A400M outbound/inbound Istanbul.

Twitter

[TEEEJ]

Well done to all! C-17 ZZ175 now back at RAF Brize Norton.

A400M ZM417 has left Istanbul heading for Brize.

https://www.radarbox.com/data/registration/ZM417