TOP GUN : Inside the RAF (where did it go?)
I think you are generally correct, although the 3 original R1 were never MR1.
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albeit I'm a little surprised to learn this is the case.
I think you are confusing Flight Engineers, part of the flight deck crew, with Airborne Techs who flew on the E3D AWACS to maintain the radar and associated systems
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shouldn’t be. Sentry was a 1960s tech flying museum exhibit. The flight deck was decades out of date. The mission system was decades out of date. The role of the airborne tech was outdated.
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I flew one trip as an airborne tech on a shaky 8 Shack. I carried a GS screwdriver, a rubber mallet, and some baling twine. Got us up to the Faroe gap and back OK 
I based my query on the fact. that, whilst Poseidon is clearly more advanced then to me, carrying Airborne Techs would have been prudent . If however, the reliability of the kit is such that failures are rare, then I can understand why they have been dispensed with.
Modern test equipment is pretty much essential, but is far too costly to have a set per aircraft. It also weighs, so would cost endurance as well as money. Additionally, if your spare kit is overhead the GIUK gap somewhere, but unused, it is also not available to fit to the relief aircraft.
N
I based my query on the fact. that, whilst Poseidon is clearly more advanced then to me, carrying Airborne Techs would have been prudent . If however, the reliability of the kit is such that failures are rare, then I can understand why they have been dispensed with.
I based my query on the fact. that, whilst Poseidon is clearly more advanced then to me, carrying Airborne Techs would have been prudent . If however, the reliability of the kit is such that failures are rare, then I can understand why they have been dispensed with.
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Well tonight’s episode, what can I say…. 2 Typhoons near bad guys land and one gets a missile launch warning, so they sit there trying to fault diagnose the spurious warning, my first thought was, what if the warning is correct and the jet without it was the one at fault. That didn’t appear to have come into the thought process.
Speed drivers to de-panel the slats, have the Airforce not woken up to cordless electric screwdrivers or air driven, yes I understand the need for manual tooling in a war situation where you might have an EMP or lack of power but come on, join the 21st century.
Electronic slats… ok I admit there is good reasons for them, but. the Me 109 and some Rallly aircraft had leading edge slats that were manual and “sucked” themselves out when required.
Speed drivers to de-panel the slats, have the Airforce not woken up to cordless electric screwdrivers or air driven, yes I understand the need for manual tooling in a war situation where you might have an EMP or lack of power but come on, join the 21st century.
Electronic slats… ok I admit there is good reasons for them, but. the Me 109 and some Rallly aircraft had leading edge slats that were manual and “sucked” themselves out when required.
Well tonight’s episode, what can I say…. 2 Typhoons near bad guys land and one gets a missile launch warning, so they sit there trying to fault diagnose the spurious warning, my first thought was, what if the warning is correct and the jet without it was the one at fault. That didn’t appear to have come into the thought process.
Speed drivers to de-panel the slats, have the Airforce not woken up to cordless electric screwdrivers or air driven, yes I understand the need for manual tooling in a war situation where you might have an EMP or lack of power but come on, join the 21st century.
Electronic slats… ok I admit there is good reasons for them, but. the Me 109 and some Rallly aircraft had leading edge slats that were manual and “sucked” themselves out when required.
Speed drivers to de-panel the slats, have the Airforce not woken up to cordless electric screwdrivers or air driven, yes I understand the need for manual tooling in a war situation where you might have an EMP or lack of power but come on, join the 21st century.
Electronic slats… ok I admit there is good reasons for them, but. the Me 109 and some Rallly aircraft had leading edge slats that were manual and “sucked” themselves out when required.
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Yes I know about electric screwdriver issues, but a compressor or bottles to run a windy is doable and I cannot see a problem with spare screws being carried, I agree the fault diagnosis appeared to be piss poor, it appeared to be more of a suck it and see, rather than a logical approach. If you cannot fix such items on first line at the front you are screwed if the war ever becomes hot. It might be an all singing all dancing bit of kit but if in a war situation it cannot be fixed and turned around it’s just an expensive hangar Queen.
To Joe Public it might have given the impression that Typhoons go tech all the time.
My takeaway is that it is a sign of the times that we can only send 2 airframes on a det.
My takeaway is that it is a sign of the times that we can only send 2 airframes on a det.
Quite an interesting episode last night. Long range EO to identify the Russian aircraft looks intersting - but can it discriminate between an Il-76 transport and an Il-78 tanker....which might be supporting Russian fighters?
But the segment on boxing didn't really reflect the 'Top Gun' branding, although 'Waggy' seems like a nice chap.
'Swipe right' is some new yoof-speak expression, I gather!
But the segment on boxing didn't really reflect the 'Top Gun' branding, although 'Waggy' seems like a nice chap.
'Swipe right' is some new yoof-speak expression, I gather!