What Military Aircraft Would You Bring Back To Service?
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Harrier with a skyhook, then you could outfit the fleet and ditch the carriers 
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Sea Fury - although I have family loyalty to the Seafire and Mossie.
My favourite display aircraft (to watch!) in the 1970s was the Sea Fury - did the best manoeuvres, had a good noise, and just looked like a complete brute!
My favourite display aircraft (to watch!) in the 1970s was the Sea Fury - did the best manoeuvres, had a good noise, and just looked like a complete brute!
When I was first on the VC10, one of the simulator instructors was an ex-Hornet pilot. He told a tale once of spotting a flight of RAAF Sabres below him. So he dived down on them at a prodigious rate of knots, feathered one engine and then went past them rolling as he did so....
When I was first on the VC10, one of the simulator instructors was an ex-Hornet pilot. He told a tale once of spotting a flight of RAAF Sabres below him. So he dived down on them at a prodigious rate of knots, feathered one engine and then went past them rolling as he did so.
In 1951, considerable numbers of Hornets were redeployed from Fighter Command to the squadrons of the Far East Air Force (FEAF).[29] Along with 45 Sqn, 33 and 80 squadrons participated in combat operations during the Malayan Emergency
On 21 May 1955, the last operational Hornet sortie was flown;[31] by mid-1956, all Hornets had been recorded as having been withdrawn from operational service.
The RAAF operated the CA-27 from 1954 to 1971. The Aircraft Research and Development Unit (AFDU) received the first example in August 1954; re-delivered to No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Training Unit (2 OTU) in November.
From 1958 to 1960, CAC Sabres of No. 78 Wing RAAF (78 Wing), comprising 3 Sqn and 77 Sqn, undertook several ground attack sorties against communist insurgents in the Federation of Malaya, during the Malayan Emergency.
I'm sure the (BA) crew had fun doing multiple runs at 200ft along the runway at 'high' speed!
I would bring back small liaison aircraft. Many of them. Cub, L-19-style or Helio Courier/Fieseler Storch style. STOL. Powered by kerosene burning piston engines. If you look at how simple, easy maintenance and low cost they were and compare this to today's drone infrastructure, these flying Jeeps would be good for many uses. Low technology and cheap compared to anything new. No datalinks, no jamming, no big radar return.
I would bring back small liaison aircraft. Many of them. Cub, L-19-style or Helio Courier/Fieseler Storch style. STOL. Powered by kerosene burning piston engines. If you look at how simple, easy maintenance and low cost they were and compare this to today's drone infrastructure, these flying Jeeps would be good for many uses. Low technology and cheap compared to anything new. No datalinks, no jamming, no big radar return.
The ability to lose things without needing to mount an expensive and often hazardous rescue operation is very attractive. Plus the full cost of a crew is astronomical, at least in the US, as it entails pensions and health care for the dependents.
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Second thought
The Blanik needed a fair bit of ground handling. So I am going to that RJ Mitchell masterpiece..........., the Walrus. I live in Dartmouth (UK) and it would be dead handy for a trip out to the Scilly Isles for a picnic (saves all that sailing). RAF colours of course.
If I may humbly add the maligned and unsuccessful Westland Wyvern. I stood 100 yds from it at Farnborough as it ran up the power, Beautiful beyond belief, powerful, ejector seat .....let's go
Wyvern? Absolutely NOT! Childhood memories of those things droning around RAF Merryfield on Westlands' tests, often followed by silence when the Python decided not to play, much to the chagrin of Harald Penrose!
F-111 - there's a few buried around the place in Australia; shouldn't be too hard to dig up, check the tyres, charge the batteries, fill the tanks, hop in and light the fuse!
Avro Vulcan - fortunately I'm old enough to have just seen one in the air very briefly at the time of the Maralinga test program - low and loud!
B-36 - now that would be something to stand in awe of (or horror). Six turning and four burning! Only seen in the film Strategic Air Command, and in a Youtube clip out there somewhere ....
Alas all nothing but memories now - we shall not see the likes of them again.
Avro Vulcan - fortunately I'm old enough to have just seen one in the air very briefly at the time of the Maralinga test program - low and loud!
B-36 - now that would be something to stand in awe of (or horror). Six turning and four burning! Only seen in the film Strategic Air Command, and in a Youtube clip out there somewhere ....
Alas all nothing but memories now - we shall not see the likes of them again.
Agree with you BEags
. Harald found himself flicked inverted on finals with a dead engine,. In recalling this incident , he explained that he had considered himself dead , decided to continue the roll anyway, and deadsticked in short but the right way up.
It was not a popular aeroplane in FAA service either.
. Harald found himself flicked inverted on finals with a dead engine,. In recalling this incident , he explained that he had considered himself dead , decided to continue the roll anyway, and deadsticked in short but the right way up.
It was not a popular aeroplane in FAA service either.
Told you so! Maligned and unsuccessful, Remember you read it here first.