Hawk problems at Valley
Thread Starter
When CAS gets his inevitable summons for a bollocking from SofS, I wonder if he will have the cojones to point out that the RAF didn't want the Hawk T2, and was forced to buy it following the political intervention of a certain J. Prescott, then Deputy PM with a constituency near a BAES plant. And then go on to say that RAF capability in general would benefit from rather less manipulation of procurement by ministers with constituencies near BAES plants. I mean, it's not as if Wiggy has a shot at CDS, so he has nothing to lose, and he might even be able to retire with a slightly clearer conscience...
The following 3 users liked this post by Easy Street:
"and he might even be able to retire with a slightly clearer conscience..."
yeah but he'd lose a grade in the "Retirement Honours" stakes
yeah but he'd lose a grade in the "Retirement Honours" stakes
So, if not the T2, what should the RAF be using for AJT? I do recall the late, great John Farley writing on here as to why the T2 was the wrong choice.
Advanced Hawk? T-50? T-7?
Advanced Hawk? T-50? T-7?
Thankfully, Mr. Prescotts intervention provided continued work for 1000's of people for another 15+years, not only in East Yorkshire, that must be worth something?
Thread Starter
A simple solution for all of this.
Well maybe the T1 needs a new lease of life. By using the Red airframes, and the best of what 100 Squadron scrapped, and the very successful pilot production system that 100 had going, then the backlog in the pilot training pipeline could be fixed in months.
Bae Systems should have the decency to resolve T1 spares problems, as it’s their product, fitted with a Rolls Royce engine, that has created a need to use the T1.
As for losing the Reds, who's mad enough to prevent the training of more pilots, just to show what the RAF was once able to produce, but nowadays can’t?
Bae Systems should have the decency to resolve T1 spares problems, as it’s their product, fitted with a Rolls Royce engine, that has created a need to use the T1.
As for losing the Reds, who's mad enough to prevent the training of more pilots, just to show what the RAF was once able to produce, but nowadays can’t?
Arguably the Finns ended up with the best Hawk upgrade variant after fitting the Ex Swiss Mk66's with a glass cockpit.
The T2 has too much gubbins squeezed into too little space (amongst other problems).
The T2 has too much gubbins squeezed into too little space (amongst other problems).
Thread Starter
At the time, and for decades thereafter, MoD default policy was to seek 15 years guaranteed support. If it wanted more, then it had to provide ample notice, and contract it.
If BAeS are to resolve problems on T.1, who would pay for it? This is dangerously close to the Health and Safety Executive's formal position in the Sean Cunningham case (which MoD did not disagree with) that when MoD cancelled Martin-Baker contacts in 1983 the company should have continued doing the work free of charge. That, having accepted the initial contract, their liability remained in perpetuity and was 'non-delegable', regardless of contract cover.
Thread Starter
Solution
Tucumseh, I am not suggesting thet Bae Systems provide parts free, as the warranty on the T1 fleet is well expired. They have been reluctant to sell the spares, to promote the sales of T2 which now turns out to be no use.
This is just a solution, which is what the SofS instructed the RAF to find.
Some guys went from T1 at Leeming to Typhoon OCU so the T2 is not essential.
The alternative is for RR to say the existing engine is safe to fly. Based on last week, who is going to sign that off?
This is just a solution, which is what the SofS instructed the RAF to find.
Some guys went from T1 at Leeming to Typhoon OCU so the T2 is not essential.
The alternative is for RR to say the existing engine is safe to fly. Based on last week, who is going to sign that off?
Last edited by Warren Peace; 26th Jan 2023 at 09:32. Reason: Adding a wee bit.
Less than 40 T1s available
Wonder how many T Mk 1s we have in store?
... have to get some T1s out of storage.
If BAeS are to resolve problems on T.1,
At a guess, other than RAFAT, no more than a handful could be made available to fly safely, at less than a few months notice.
LFH
Thread Starter
100 Squadron only had six jets available most days, yet they taught pilots, as well as doing the red air task at the same time.