32(TR) Sqn - Why do we have/need them?
 

Many of you will know of my outbursts on the subject of the Nimrod MRA4 and the total loss of LRMPA coverage for this nation, not to mention SAR cover, and I make no apology for them, however;

In light of this and other significant cuts in the inverntory of our front line Armed Forces, I wonder if someone 'in the know' could explain to me what the heck we still have 32 Sqn for and their role as the so-called Royal Flight??

It appears to me that in recent times, their Highness's fly commercial pretty much everywhere they go, so why do we need them?? I would much prefer to see an MPA asset on the books rarther than an ageing fleet of 125's and 146's (are the 146's still going??)

That would then leave the way clear to bin Northolt, sell it off for some ridiculous figure and em..............................pay for Nimrod MRA4 maybe!!

On the other hand, it's a bit too convenient for the likes of CAS, ACAS and their entourage when they want to go to an airshow at the weekend isn't it? so I guess it will never happen. Shame really.

Winco

Cost !
 

The operation at Northolt is in money terms very small in comparison with the Nimrod project, the aircraft are cheap , parts are cheap and Netjets is paying a large part of the cost of the airfield.

The Nimrod is hand built , packed with very costly kit and takes a lot of people to fly and maintain it.

So all in all I dont think selling the Northolt operation would pay for 2% of the Nimrod operation.

That is not to say that I don't think scrapping the Nimrod was a very silly thing to do.

Good God man! Don't you know that Northolt is home to HQ RAF Music Services and it's ever-expanding 'Musician's Uniform Design and Embellishment Section' ? How can we expect piccolo players to carry more gold braid than an Air Marshal if we do away with such important establishments!

Plus Northolt is probably the only RAF Airfield to run a profit/ break even due to all the private customers wanting to get to London in their private jets and not wanting to brave Heathrow/ Gatwick.

Winco

So you wish to see the end of emergency Casualty Evacuation for premature babies born overseas to Military Families - coupled with an end to Compassionate Evacuation for Serving Personnel overseas to enable them to visit dying loved ones before it is too late? In the 14 years I served on 32 these were regular occurrences. Is this a price worth paying to keep what is basically a 58 year old airframe design in operation for a few more years?

Cazatou
"So you wish to see the end of emergency Casualty Evacuation for premature babies born overseas to Military Families - coupled with an end to Compassionate Evacuation for Serving Personnel overseas to enable them to visit dying loved ones before it is too late? In the 14 years I served on 32 these were regular occurrences. Is this a price worth paying to keep what is basically a 58 year old airframe design in operation for a few more years?"

is there no other platorm - C-130/A-400M/C-17/VC-10/Tristar/CH-47/Merlin - that can perform these roles?

can - and i ask because i don't know - the platforms on 32(TR) drop into Bastion to bring the unfortunate Cpl Goodbloke back to Newcastle to be with his dying mum, and do we really send the families of service personnel to areas where premature babycare doesn't exist?

do we really need - given the less than palatable other options available - to retain what apears to be a very much 'one-trick pony' platform, and not one with unique capabilities - at the expense of a single GR4, or Frigate, or ASTOR, or a Bay class landing ship?

Those of you who are actually in the forces and actually deploy would know that 32 Sqn's main role is operational flying, both Iraq and Afghan (that includes Bastion). There is a quote kicking around, I think from CJO, stating that a 125 trip (bearing in mind that this could be to any airfield at short notice) can save up to 3 weeks of negotiations. Imagine a C130 doing these trips; they are stretched enough as it is without leaving troops/freight behind to move our leaders around.

The jets are paid for, Northolt makes a profit and I think you'll find the few million that may have been saved (although I'm not convinced it would save anything ref. T&S, chartering aircraft, using C130/C17) is a drop in the ocean compared to the BILLIONS needed for Nimrod?

:ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh:

Quite so. The days of corgi-chauffering and flying Air Miles Andy between parties various are long one.

Nevertheless, I still feel that we should have a proper 'Head of State' aeroplane, just as France, Germany and other major European nations have.

Ah but Mr Barrel:ugh::ugh::ugh:??

The Nimrod money has already been spent. So NOT finishing the bloody project we have completely wasted the Billions and lost LRMPA Brilliant.

Now that is:ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::ugh::*:*:mad:

Indeed. But that's a different argument (and I for one don't condone the decision). But suggesting closing Northolt and 32 will pay for the through life cost...? :=

BEagle

re the "Head of State" aircraft - are you sure it is not being delivered direct to Mr Brown? :oh:

32 Sqn will withdraw all its A109 rotary assets APR 11 and funding is only secure for the fixed wing assets until 2015, when the next SDSR is due.

On the same note the Red Arrows, the other night on the BBC One Show they were giving a jolly to some fat bloke reporter bigging them up, great I know its only 9 million a year or whatever small costs they carry but 9 million can buy a lot of equipment for the guys on the ground. That is what this SDSR is about is it not. Saving at all corners of defence and saving lives, not recruitment as its pretty obvious now we dont need numbers as we are loosing 9000 people, a third of our strength.

Why does the plight of the Nimrod, as sad as it is, have to appear in almost every thread on this forum.:{

Because anyone with even half a brain cell is absolutely livid about the loss of such a crucial national capability, perhaps?

The sad thing is that, though I left in 75, people I work with ask me how can it make sense that we will not have a real maritime capability

Totally 100% agree

"a proper 'Head of State' aeroplane" -

How about a Nimrod? I believe there's a few airframes in Cheshire that are looking for a home. New engines, wings, the works. All paid for too.

Rip out the expensive electronics down the back, whack in a few comfy seats and you're golden.

Like what that isn't being bought already? £9m isn't very much in procuring and supporting any piece of equipment.

Cazatou
"So you wish to see the end of emergency Casualty Evacuation for premature babies born overseas to Military Families - coupled with an end to Compassionate Evacuation for Serving Personnel overseas to enable them to visit dying loved ones before it is too late? In the 14 years I served on 32 these were regular occurrences. Is this a price worth paying to keep what is basically a 58 year old airframe design in operation for a few more years?"

Your comments are simply not worthy of comment other than to suggest you grow up a little bit and stop being so bl00dy stupid! If you are now saying that bthe CURRENT role of 32 Sqn is CASEVAC and COMP cases, then fine. I was unaware that we had a dedicated squadron undertaking that role. As has been pointed out, there are many other platforms doing just that role and I can't see a 125 being that good for the job either.

Anyway, I am aware of the civilian traffic using Northolt, and that kind of highlights the point that, in these cash-strapped times, we could sell of Northolt for a huge sum of money and begin to put things right on the old MPA front.

BEagle - 100% agree my dear chap.

Regards
Winco