China recruits former British military pilots
BV
You are absolutely right that losing all our experience after a tour or so is a massive issue. Flying a Typhoon or an F35 is cool but when the organisation you work for is constantly kicking sand in your face there isn't much reason to stay. Don't think it justifies going to work for the Chinese though.
I’m inclined to say “hats off” to the Chinese. Saves all that spying and espionage malarkey, cuts straight to the chase with a “help wanted” ad.
we might consider doing the same with Russian and Chinese pilots; the going rate is less than £240k too I gather.
As has been said already, this is morally no worse than what many senior officers do when they sell their soul on retirement to the major defence contractors, and certainly harms our defence rather less. It will be a long time before Chinese pilots will be threatening UK skies, and I can’t help but feeling we should be much more concerned about infiltration closer to home. Hinckley point, for example…..
we might consider doing the same with Russian and Chinese pilots; the going rate is less than £240k too I gather.
As has been said already, this is morally no worse than what many senior officers do when they sell their soul on retirement to the major defence contractors, and certainly harms our defence rather less. It will be a long time before Chinese pilots will be threatening UK skies, and I can’t help but feeling we should be much more concerned about infiltration closer to home. Hinckley point, for example…..
Administrator
I will ask those who wish to discuss Saudi Arabia and Israel to take that to a different thread.
Thank you all in advance.
T28B
Thank you all in advance.
T28B
I had a very good friend who was employed in China to teach their nationals to fly. He spent a year or so there, had a very pleasant time and ended up married to a Russian princess. The marriage didn’t last, unfortunately, because she spoke no English and he no Russian. The briefs and debriefs were carried out through an interpreter and always finished with the phrase “I will try to do better.”
He was a highly decorated pilot who had been previously been flying state-of-the art fighters and on return, had no problem with his former Service nor, indeed the government.
Slight thread drift though; this was 1920, his previous type was the SE5A, on which he had won a Military Cross. He subsequently stopped flying, won an Oscar for the screen play of Pygmalion and formed a well-known broadcasting company that has had its centenary today. He also went on to write one of the best flying memoirs ever - Sagittarius Rising. He read some of my poetry in the late 80’s, which resulted in me being invited to his 90th birthday bash, where we formed an instant bond.
One hell of a man!
Mog
He was a highly decorated pilot who had been previously been flying state-of-the art fighters and on return, had no problem with his former Service nor, indeed the government.
Slight thread drift though; this was 1920, his previous type was the SE5A, on which he had won a Military Cross. He subsequently stopped flying, won an Oscar for the screen play of Pygmalion and formed a well-known broadcasting company that has had its centenary today. He also went on to write one of the best flying memoirs ever - Sagittarius Rising. He read some of my poetry in the late 80’s, which resulted in me being invited to his 90th birthday bash, where we formed an instant bond.
One hell of a man!
Mog
Here's the question for these guys. "Might what I do here make these people better combatants than my countrymen?" If the answer is yes, then shame on them. If the answer is no, then finding something to have a stroke over is a little harder.
CG
CG
I’m not sure working in China counts as a security risk and makes you ineligible for an airside pass. If it does someone should tell all the expats flying commercial over there.
Avoid imitations
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China is now one of the top industrial nations and a large proportion of our consumer goods come from there. Most seem to have no qualms about buying Chinese made goods!
A good day to burry bad news?
I had a very good friend who was employed in China to teach their nationals to fly. He spent a year or so there, had a very pleasant time and ended up married to a Russian princess. The marriage didn’t last, unfortunately, because she spoke no English and he no Russian. The briefs and debriefs were carried out through an interpreter and always finished with the phrase “I will try to do better.”
He was a highly decorated pilot who had been previously been flying state-of-the art fighters and on return, had no problem with his former Service nor, indeed the government.
Slight thread drift though; this was 1920, his previous type was the SE5A, on which he had won a Military Cross. He subsequently stopped flying, won an Oscar for the screen play of Pygmalion and formed a well-known broadcasting company that has had its centenary today. He also went on to write one of the best flying memoirs ever - Sagittarius Rising. He read some of my poetry in the late 80’s, which resulted in me being invited to his 90th birthday bash, where we formed an instant bond.
One hell of a man!
Mog
He was a highly decorated pilot who had been previously been flying state-of-the art fighters and on return, had no problem with his former Service nor, indeed the government.
Slight thread drift though; this was 1920, his previous type was the SE5A, on which he had won a Military Cross. He subsequently stopped flying, won an Oscar for the screen play of Pygmalion and formed a well-known broadcasting company that has had its centenary today. He also went on to write one of the best flying memoirs ever - Sagittarius Rising. He read some of my poetry in the late 80’s, which resulted in me being invited to his 90th birthday bash, where we formed an instant bond.
One hell of a man!
Mog
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Arthur_Lewis
I should probably do a Wikipedia entry for my cousin Harold William Medlicott
Doing stuff with MoD permission is ok; doing it without is not. This stuff is written down and part of QRs and Officers' Terms of Service.
Unless you are suggesting that PLAAF cadets on your IOT were there without MoD's / PLAAF permission?
Unless you are suggesting that PLAAF cadets on your IOT were there without MoD's / PLAAF permission?
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Remember few years Back when two of our British Army guys went on exchange to the Chinese military academy?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-27152535
Think one of the two gents was AAC judging by his light blue beret.
I imagine plenty of former AAC (both officers and NCO) pilots were flying for Bristow out in China during the /80s/90s..
Cheers
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-27152535
Think one of the two gents was AAC judging by his light blue beret.
I imagine plenty of former AAC (both officers and NCO) pilots were flying for Bristow out in China during the /80s/90s..
Cheers