Nimrod Cancelled?
"He he he" chortled 't Bungling Baron Waste o' Space as he fondled the ears of Boogeroff, his trusty but ever-flatulent whippet. "Didn't I tell thee that old mad Maggie had promised there'd allus be summat' for 't men at 't werrks. Now they've stumped oop wi 't brass, we can get 't owd Comet Mk 8 airrborrne in a year or few, 'appen?" His chuckling increased to a crescendo and the bells on his best clog-dancing trousers tintinabulated merrily. In fact his mood became so cheerful that he sanctioned a second bowl of gruel for 't men at 't werrks whilst he tucked into Medaillons of cow's udder served in a wild toadstool, dandelion and burrdock jus from 'Albert's brasserie - devoted to Northern Nouvelle Cuisine, tha' knows...'.
To be honest how can anyone justify rebuilding airframes as old as Nimrod.
The original project would (just) about be viable if the USN had bought into the project. The cost of developement and production would have been spread over both the US and UK plus whoever they could pursuade t obuy the thing.
But to rebuild this aircraft when the total market is going to be 18 or 21 airframes must be economicaly dubious.
To be blunt it may well be more cost effective for the RAF to lease P3C's from the US until the USN gets around to building the P3 replacement.
The original project would (just) about be viable if the USN had bought into the project. The cost of developement and production would have been spread over both the US and UK plus whoever they could pursuade t obuy the thing.
But to rebuild this aircraft when the total market is going to be 18 or 21 airframes must be economicaly dubious.
To be blunt it may well be more cost effective for the RAF to lease P3C's from the US until the USN gets around to building the P3 replacement.
Inter Arma Enim Silentius Lex Legis
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Or why not just buy the P3's that are sat in the desert?
As well as more Hercs and Transport Aircraft?
Maybe that way we could get more food into the Gulf to feed
our troops!!
Ahh no, sorry Geoff I forget. We are having enough trouble retaining the aircrew for the aircraft we have now, without having to recruit more!
Silly me. Oh well back to the barons plan for delaying the MRA4 into service...
As well as more Hercs and Transport Aircraft?
Maybe that way we could get more food into the Gulf to feed
our troops!!
Ahh no, sorry Geoff I forget. We are having enough trouble retaining the aircrew for the aircraft we have now, without having to recruit more!
Silly me. Oh well back to the barons plan for delaying the MRA4 into service...
The Daily Torygraph talked about a new "in service" date for MRA4 of 2009. I realise that is probably total b***ocks, but can anyone enlighten me as to definition of "in service"? Is that first Sqn operational, or entire fleet conversion?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
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Biggus, it depends on the contract, but usually the first day that one has been accepted by the RAF, whether for an OEU, OCU or sqn. The date you are thinking of is the much later 'In Operational Service' date.
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In-service date
I believe that the in service date is for either 4 or 5 aircraft accepted by the RAF rather than the first front line sqn formed. Somebody may wish to correct me though.
As for the P3 option, no way do we want it, its cr@p. Unless you are talking about the AIP but then that doesn't fill one of the roles required for nimrod.
Anyway what other role is there for the military these days other than propping up a defunct and obsolete company such as BWoS?
As for the P3 option, no way do we want it, its cr@p. Unless you are talking about the AIP but then that doesn't fill one of the roles required for nimrod.
Anyway what other role is there for the military these days other than propping up a defunct and obsolete company such as BWoS?
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Lord Bach stated last week that the In-Service date has been re-defined from April 2003 for the 7th production aircraft to the delivery of the first 6 production aircraft, i.e. 9 including the 3 prototypes
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Apologies!!!
Sorry Dale I guess I should have qualified my statement. The US P3 is cr@p, at least you have had the sense to fit some decent kit to the Australian P3.
Then again, isn't the Fincastle competition all about finding out who is the best at ASW (whether that be airframe or aircrew...
...)
Then again, isn't the Fincastle competition all about finding out who is the best at ASW (whether that be airframe or aircrew...
...)
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Trouble was the Nimrod crews lived in a target rich environment. Training Monday to Friday, ops Friday to Monday <vbg>. The USN just had too many P3s and not enough targets to go around.
For any non-ASW readers, a target is any underwater vessel, friend or foe and apologise later if caught.
For any non-ASW readers, a target is any underwater vessel, friend or foe and apologise later if caught.
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Fincastle
I could have sworn that Fincastle was mostly about International Night and who won the the Fellowship Trophy.... is there an ASW competition that's run as well?
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Air Eng
Are Air Engs' Still required Then?
i heard that there would be no more air eng courses after this year? is this likely to change now? or will we do with what we have already?
minzastella!
i heard that there would be no more air eng courses after this year? is this likely to change now? or will we do with what we have already?
minzastella!
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The Air Eng School is planned to close at the back end of 04.
Since the course is 14 months long, I guess the last few must be starting AAITC in the next couple of months.
Since the course is 14 months long, I guess the last few must be starting AAITC in the next couple of months.
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Nav A
The US P3C airframe is fine it is about early 90s Nimrod standard with a few Gucci bits, ok 2 bits. It is just the outdated training and woeful doctrine they are operated by, not including the monkeys pushing the switches. With a bit of training and a little less belief in what they watch on TV or read in Clancy novels oh and loads of intellect it could just work.
Gorilla nice to see you are still on the wacky bananas, I am sure you would be happy with the P3 as an option so there could be 2 mars bar thieves.
The US P3C airframe is fine it is about early 90s Nimrod standard with a few Gucci bits, ok 2 bits. It is just the outdated training and woeful doctrine they are operated by, not including the monkeys pushing the switches. With a bit of training and a little less belief in what they watch on TV or read in Clancy novels oh and loads of intellect it could just work.
Gorilla nice to see you are still on the wacky bananas, I am sure you would be happy with the P3 as an option so there could be 2 mars bar thieves.
and too long on task - but at least the wings fit.