Red White and Blue Voyager
I agree that the 32 Sqn scheme is much, much more stylish. The new 'Bozza Bus' scheme seems to be an unholy union of a t*rt's boudoir and an ice cream van, IMHO. But then I have hated the 'slanty' styling of the current 'R' in Royal Air Force since its introduction. Each to their own, I suppose.
I feel sorry for the crews who will have to operate this visual horror - presumably they will emplane and deplane under cover of either night or a jacket over the head?
I feel sorry for the crews who will have to operate this visual horror - presumably they will emplane and deplane under cover of either night or a jacket over the head?
Had the A330 been painted like this, there'd be screams of 'is that it'...
Part of that cost likely stems from the fact that the Voyagers are not owned by the RAF, but operated on their behalf by the Airtanker consortium—a joint venture of Airbus, Cobham, Rolls-Royce and Thales—and the livery is a bespoke scheme. According to the UK defense ministry, the work was contracted directly with Airtanker through its Private Finance Initiative contract and had to account for the aircraft’s certification, regulatory and licensing requirements. A competitive tender was issued for the repainting work.
Maybe there were trials required to ensure the efficacy of the DIRCM once painted in the ‘brighter’ scheme? Even if those trials done by were computer modelling, they would have added to the cost.
The "turn" reminds me of Flybe Q400s at the former RAF Eastleigh/HMS Raven - which by the way is a compliment.
Well I can live with it, not that I had a choice. As with all such "fashionable" designs it will tire quickly. Has the cropping and tilting of the Union Flag actually meant its got two St Patrick's, One St Andrew's and no St George's crosses?
Is the cost because they have they bought enough paint to give as atrade deal sweetner present to the Orange One for his VC-25Bs?
Shame they haven't painted the FRU basket in union flag colours.
I trust there is nothing vital behind the "targets".
Well I can live with it, not that I had a choice. As with all such "fashionable" designs it will tire quickly. Has the cropping and tilting of the Union Flag actually meant its got two St Patrick's, One St Andrew's and no St George's crosses?
Is the cost because they have they bought enough paint to give as a
Shame they haven't painted the FRU basket in union flag colours.
I trust there is nothing vital behind the "targets".
Vascodegama - Thanks, I did wonder. It always seemed odd to me they converted a KC3 not a KC2 (hence my earlier question).
Never seen one close up and, from the (less detailed) photos I have seen of ones trailing the FRU basket, I thought it might one of these bits
however on closer examination I see I'm wrong.
Never seen one close up and, from the (less detailed) photos I have seen of ones trailing the FRU basket, I thought it might one of these bits
however on closer examination I see I'm wrong.
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OMG ... politics again? Give it a rest!! 😩 👎
At least this thread has given us something RAF-related to talk about during lockdown.
At least this thread has given us something RAF-related to talk about during lockdown.
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Something different from plain grey is okay for a state aircraft. But the UK had been better at designing liveries before.
That ugly "wave" is just yesterday's outdated fashion. The style should be more symbolizing the dignity of an empire and less showcase simplified, advertisement style "britishness". It's like a copy gone bad of what the French did.
That ugly "wave" is just yesterday's outdated fashion. The style should be more symbolizing the dignity of an empire and less showcase simplified, advertisement style "britishness". It's like a copy gone bad of what the French did.
Last edited by Less Hair; 26th Jun 2020 at 15:40.
I accept that we left the EU as we entered the EEC but that does not make it a great result for democracy. If the parties responsible (on both sides) could have been held to account for their lies - then we might be getting somewhere. But changing the constitution (even without a super majority) based on lies is not very clever. The fact that many of the men behind those are lies are now in govt is not good news. We still have the question, how did a law of parliament for an ADVISORY referendum - get switched into COMPULSORY? Please publish where that legally took place and was voted on by the MPS of the day. Let's just wait and see who the Tories offer up when they dump Boris.
I think Nige321 is correct about a photo-shoot. The aircraft in question was in close company with a Hawk, a Typhoon and a Lightning earlier today. Should see some nice PR photos, with a by-product of showing to the uneducated that being painted a different colour doesn’t mean it cant be used as a tanker as well.
The formation lights mentioned earlier in the thread are seen switched on in this photo. Note that there is a vertical row on the fin as well.
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Yes, or more accurately reflectivity considerations.
Resulting photo, presumably taken from the Hawk.
https://www.forces.net/news/union-fl...ational-duties
https://www.forces.net/news/union-fl...ational-duties
Perhaps he would like to back it up with the manufacturers guidance.
).
It really matters not - I suggest that it would be impossible to create a paint-job that appealed to all. Or, even a majority.
We now know what it is - and we could all have tweaked it to suit our own tastes.
But that is what it is, so why not accept that it is better than a grey machine on the international stage.
Perhaps, even, support it as a way of portraying the UK around the world for those who merit its use for VIP travel - whilst also fulfilling its important role as a tanker.
It could always be painted again in different colours if it is really wrong - but at least it has provided a brief change from the dreary CoVid-19 daily news coverage.
I say - great - different - shows it is a UK machine - let's enjoy it and criticise - if we have to - other things/people, and stop criticising ourselves.
We now know what it is - and we could all have tweaked it to suit our own tastes.
But that is what it is, so why not accept that it is better than a grey machine on the international stage.
Perhaps, even, support it as a way of portraying the UK around the world for those who merit its use for VIP travel - whilst also fulfilling its important role as a tanker.
It could always be painted again in different colours if it is really wrong - but at least it has provided a brief change from the dreary CoVid-19 daily news coverage.
I say - great - different - shows it is a UK machine - let's enjoy it and criticise - if we have to - other things/people, and stop criticising ourselves.