Is the Raf transport fleet over stretched ?
 

Is the Raf transport fleet over stretched ?

i was reading in the mail on sunday that the RAFs transport fleet is approaching breaking point with ops in iraq and afganistan.

can any one shine some light on this?

cheers luke.

No offence but this thread has an odour of journo about it!:hmm:

sorry mate what you mean by that? i just saw something about this in the paper and im purely just asking some information.

Those in the Ivory towers say 'no'.

No-one asks the guys and gals on the ground.

I wonder why........?

TI

like i said, no offence meant if it is a genuine question, it just sounds a bit like a potential Daily Star headline is all. No hard feelings.;)

Could you describe "overstretched"?

Hit the search button and see how many posts have been made over the past six months by the chattering class who would suggest the RAF has had a trainwreck in that regard.

Journo or not....the forum is filled with whinges about it. Beauty of the internet and all that. What you post today can be found years later by anyone that cares to look hard enough. The problem lies in determining the validity of the whinges. This forum certainly is not the place to do that.

If he is a real journo...he will have the answer to his question long before he gets here. If not....he is not much of a journo (thus would fit right in with the vast majority of them!).

But then if it was a serious journo, writing for say Flight or JDW, and who was about to put the boot into New Liarbour about the atrocious state of our AT (and AAR fleets). Would that be so bad?:}

i can tell u now that im not a journolist im just a 19 year old lad who has an interest in our airforce. by over stretched i mean been over used to breaking point.

Good point! But do you not see the potential damage that could arise from such news regarding recruiting, morale etc etc :uhoh:

"Is the RAF Air Transport fleet overstretched?"

Are bears catholic? Does the Pope cr@p in the woods?

Having been part of RAF AT (at Lyneham), for 10+ years until moving on quite recently, I would state, hand on heart, that YES, I truly believe that it is at overstretch. Currency for various disciplines (known as BTRs/BCRs depending on what day of the week it is) has only been maintained by moving the goalposts, not by any increase in airframe availability. The next thing to suffer after currency has been basic OCU training, with courses overrunning by weeks, if not months. Whilst legally qualified, I doubt whether any students to go through the course of late could honestly say that continuity and the standard of training - through no fault of the instructors - hadn't suffered to a great extent. Morale has been low amongst many - not just in AT - for years, due to lack of variety and constant budget cuts, and of small benefits of being in the services gradually removed. I fear the recent loss of a Herc in Afghanistan will not be the last, I hope the next crew are as fortunate. It must be nigh on impossible to fulfill future commitments with the remaining frames. Training, and thus a base level of skill and experience can do nothing but suffer.

Well I would guess that about half the Herc fleet is stretched by the addition of a 10 foot plug and a 5 foot plug, so compared to the normal length Herc, a 15 foot stretch isn't that much of an overstretch.

[edited due to getting my figures muxed ip, shud have dun betterer at skool]
K still stinks of p1$$ though!

You should try cabaret.

Dear ZH875;

Wow...Really long Hercs at Lye then????:D

Bet yours is at least 6"....:ok:

Best check your measuring tape!!!

Regards;
'J' Bloke!!:cool:

Good job ZH875 doesn't get flying pay!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to JPA, I dont get much of any pay, just a couple of hundred down this month.:\

Lukeylad- The RAF has been at stretch point for a number of years. In reality the RAF should have been buying off the shelf Airbus freighters from the former Filton line years ago to help supplement the Hercules fleet flying to benign destinations. Interestingly the U.S are now seriously looking at smaller tactical transporters for use in the various hot spots. Essentially the pinciple is of faster and smaller reinforcement ala the use of the Caribou and C-123 in Vietnam.
Sadly the RAF hasn't got anything which could fit this slot - the Andover which was long before your time would have been a useful asset if they could have prolonged it's life with various airframe ,engine and cockpit upgrades.

Lukylad look here for a report on overstretch............

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.../ixuknews.html

Could be a journo and could be 19 yrs old
His grammar is atroshush!
Love many, Trust a few, Always paddle your own canoe:hmm:

Sometimes being a journo is bad, sometimes being on the front page of the Daily Star works wonders...........:ok: