RAF Rivet joint and the SU-27s

[pasta]

Originally Posted by uxb99

Maybe flying a figure of eight saves fuel and increases endurance. You cover less distance flying an eight rather than a loop.

As any glider pilot will tell you, it's very easy to develop a preferred direction of turning; once you're more comfortable circling in a certain direction you're more likely to favour it next time. Flying figure of eights should limit this tendency by retaining currency in both left and right turns...

[MightyGem]

As any glider pilot will tell you, it's very easy to develop a preferred direction of turning

Yes, been there, done that. Took a concerted effort to turn the other way.

[langleybaston]

Originally Posted by MightyGem

Yes, been there, done that. Took a concerted effort to turn the other way.

Even car parking ......in local supermarkets she ALWAYS wants a slot on the right. And does not back in.
I durst not say more.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by langleybaston

Either way, the captain flies less far than the co. if left hand circuits or indeed left hand eights.

I'm told it takes great skill to fly a figure of eight while turning only left ...

[sycamore]

You have to fly `8`s,otherwise the aircraft gets `bent` in one direction........

[langleybaston]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

I'm told it takes great skill to fly a figure of eight while turning only left ...

Oh! Bugger!
and not a drop to drink

[ORAC]

Easy, you just roll inverted at the centre point and fly the second half upside down…

[cynicalint]

Or, you do a stall turn off the top and don't turn at all! Keep the bayonets well stowed though!

[Lonewolf_50]

Originally Posted by cynicalint

Or, you do a stall turn off the top and don't turn at all! Keep the bayonets well stowed though!

OPSEC, man, OPSEC!

[RAFEngO74to09]

Article on leaked details

Malfunctioning Russian Missile May Have Saved RC-135 Spy Plane (thedrive.com)

[Video Mixdown]

Originally Posted by RAFEngO74to09

Article on leaked details.

If the Russian pilot believed he had orders to destroy the RC-135 and saw his first missile malfunction would he not launch another one?

[Ninthace]

Originally Posted by Video Mixdown

If the Russian pilot believed he had orders to destroy the RC-135 and saw his first missile malfunction would he not launch another one?

That is discussed in the article.

[GlobalNav]

Originally Posted by RAFEngO74to09

Article on leaked details

Malfunctioning Russian Missile May Have Saved RC-135 Spy Plane (thedrive.com)

Very interesting article, but an awful lot of speculation and caveats about what is not known with any assurance. Just saying.

[B Fraser]

Would it be of interest to the west to recover the missile ? I presume we know exactly where the aircraft was along with speed and heading so calculating a search area ought to be possible. Finding it in that area is a totally different matter.

[ZH875]

Originally Posted by B Fraser

Would it be of interest to the west to recover the missile ? I presume we know exactly where the aircraft was along with speed and heading so calculating a search area ought to be possible. Finding it in that area is a totally different matter.

Better be quick as the Russians have the Moskva scouring the sea bed for it.

[Martin the Martian]

But it is a fact that RC-135s have a fighter escort now. I cannot see that it is for no reason.

[ORAC]

Would it be of interest to the west to recover the missile ? I presume we know exactly where the aircraft was along with speed and heading so calculating a search area ought to be possible. Finding it in that area is a totally different matter.

Not sure why. There are plenty of sources to acquire an intact working Aphid or Atoll for trials of flares etc, and it's not as if they're in the same class as AMRAAM or Meteor.

[57mm]

IIRC, in the Soviet era, it was normal to launch 2 missiles, with IR followed by radar guided.

[Ddraig Goch]

Just on BBC Today program

Rogue Russian pilot tried to shoot down RAF aircraft in 2022

Link to article

Please ignore if old news.

[Less Hair]

Sloppy language and confusion? They will get clearly ordered from the ground to fire or not fire at the target.