BBC - Moray RAF Tornados 'could be grounded'
 

Link: Moray RAF Tornados 'could be grounded'

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yeah - right..!

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BBC News - Moray RAF Tornados 'could be grounded'

That is about it as well.

Sure, in the same way that every fleet and every base is under review...that's why it's called a Defence Review, right?

Yes every fleet is under review, but being mentioned by name is never a good thing!

Last december when the MR2 went out of service, I wasn't told by my Sqn Cdr, Flt Cdr or anyone on base - I (and a majority of my fellow aviators) found out via BBC news. I wish the RAF would actually think about the fact it's people's careers they're dealing with and not names on lists. Ah well. Rant over.

In all fairness, it would be a shame to see a fleet disbanded - especially one that is currently doing a very good job over Afghan- but we all knew the day would come. It is unfortunate that there is little else that can do the job required in the RAF at the moment.

Which is odd, really. Nothing unusual about needing to deliver precision munitions in support of ground forces, is there?

If only we had some kind of multi-role aircraft that could drop PGMs and had lots and lots of airframe hours left on them. Ah well. Send them to the Falklands instead and give them all medals. That'll work.

Perhaps the Chinook FGR1 could help us out as I understand that's all we'll have come 2018.

FH,

You forgot about the AT/AAR and Combat ISTAR Chinook roles, or do I hear a 'BEADWINDOW' coming?

Duncs:ok:

Beware kite-fliers
NS

I may not be the only civilian tearing his hair out at the idea of spending 20bn on replacing nuclear missiles, when we're having to scrap - let's face it - half of the RAF in order to save 7.5bn.

P

Because if haven't got nukes you might as well get rid of the lot. For independent action you need to retain the big stick in the cupboard, else one day someone will call your bluff.

Osbourne should just pay up

Remind me why Harriers have still not been axed - is this to justify the need for carriers or more to do with Senior Officers being nostalgic? It is getting a bit silly, surely you can't chop a platform that is currently in theatre?

Op Twenty - they quite happily chopped the Nimrod when it was doing UK SAR, sub hunting around UK waters and protection of the UK based nuclear deterrent. Just because it's in theatre doesn't mean it's not up for chopping - Vulcan, welcome back from Black Buck. By the way - you're being scrapped next week (I'm aware they were for the chop just before BB anyway!)

With all the doom and gloom of cut after cut, wouldn't it be great if there was someone around with the spirited attitude of Al Pollock who would 'say hello' to the Houses of Parliament....

Preferably in the middle of PMQs at 100 ft and 800KIAS.....:E

Gents,

SDSR has to look at all possibilities, general fishing and scare mongering by Journos shouldn't be a suprise. When we get the answer from SDSR what will they speculate about then? End of the world in 2012?

Future Hunter. I, along with the majority of personnel at Kinloss was briefed by the then Stn Cdr and respective Sqn Cdrs at the same time as the official announcement was made to the press ref MR2 and PR10. I can only assume you were on leave?

I hope the GRs survive the review along with many other platforms and projects (including my pension).:ok:

Thanks Future Hunter - there's a significant amount of 'speculative' journalism floating about nowadays - 'investigative' journalism seems to have disappeared, such a shame. Every time I see a headline concerning the SDSR it has 'could' in the sentence. The RAF 'could' be scrapped - yes, of course it could, but very unlikely. It seems to be all about headline grabbing speculation which is incredibly annoying; I've stopped getting the Times now as it is becoming a broadsheet Daily Mail (which my mum reads, bless her). I suppose journo's need to earn a living though, I just wish that they'd invest some time in quality investigative copy and not 'a source said' type drivel.

Are Moray Tornados any different to Norfolk Tornados :E

One runs on haggis, the other on turnips.

One runs on single malt, the other on mustard :}

I can vouch for the fact that the Mighty Wokka makes a fine meet-bombing platform. Three jumps before breakfast one fine November morning. I think the first one even counted as a night-jump. God knows why you'd want to jump from it, mind, the drivers seem to be quite good at landing it.

Whilst steak tournedos are another matter entirely...