So ...... now we've had a clear promise ....

...... from a politician ......


...... that something won't happen ......


..... then obviously it won't!!! ;)

So to summarize the RAF post SDSR …
Ground Trades –

Pretty much all similar to the Army – Cook, Doc’c Nurses etc – yep ARMY have them in more abundance. Why bother have duplicated training and support systems for both?


Aircraft -

Typhoon – AD Fighter that will soon (or is) doing CAS – In support of the ARMY

Helicopters – Used to Transport ARMY personnel in the field

SAR Flights – Doesn’t count as soon to be privatized (maybe)

AT- Transports the ARMY

ISTAR – Operated by the RAF on behalf of the ARMY

That leaves AWACS (I am told that it’s Radar has a very good look down capability which may be useful to the ARMY) and AAR Tankers – which could refuel the above which in turn support the ARMY.

Personally, I think it will happen within the next ten years. It seems senseless to me that a service which is pretty much fully committed to supporting another service should be independent. Someone upstairs will realize that there would be much savings to be made in streamlining the management of the RAF and making it a Service within the Army. Hopefully the Brown Jobs will allow an RAF of the British Army to have a degree of Autonomy that will allow them do things like directly recruit and train etc.

To say that all the RAF does is support the army is extremely ignorant and shows a deep misunderstanding on your behalf.

Thanks althenick, I needed a good laugh, top comedy!!!

I think unchecked thought that you were serious!!!!!!

It appears that without the RAF, the ARMY cannot go anywhere or do anything, surely it would be far more efficient to merge the ARMY into the RAF to make best use of these resources.

Do any of our Canadian friends wish to comment on the great merger theory? :8 As I recall from history, the Canadian forces merged into one big happy family a few decades ago.

Care to share a few thoughts for our friends across the pond regarding the pros and cons?

(Grabs bucket of popcorn, sits back ... )

If the RAF joins the Army it should surely be as a separate flying regiment.

That way we can have our own rules, regulations, uniforms, abbreviations, bases, ranks*, etc. Only problem is I don't think any shops near me sell red trousers.

*If the Cavalry can have Corporal of Horse we can stick with Flight Sergeants etc. I've no problem with the O's adopting Army ranks - it'll save explaining that Flight Lieutenant is the same as Captain - except PA Flt Lt, more like a Lt Col where it's important - at the bank..

High Spirits - I think what the Fishheads and Pongos actually say is "Disband the Crabs".

Shakedown, work-up and operational deployment? Nah, that's over nine months away at sea every 15-18 month cycle. Routine stuff for the FAA but I can't see many Crabs wearing it.

Best keep them separate (and intact).

Most of the FAA I worked with had less sea time than the chinny boys.

No t'was early 90s

I'm not surprised if you mean the air bases in Iraq and Afghanistan over the past few years but that's not where the Lynx HAS8 and Merlin HM1 ships' flights have been operating.

And it's not like the FA2/GR7/9 embarkation, where you only used the fixed wing elements for a couple of days (generally on an exercise) and then left them alone for a couple of weeks. I am expecting our flight to fly every day (standfast maintenance days, defect rectification and shi*ty wx) of our deployment. Our work-up will see a similar tempo, with tasking varying from their core role, to the more usual "secondary roles" to some weird and wacky stuff I'm going to ask if they can do.

In fact, I'd love to see a RAF RW pilot embark on a "small ships flight", I suspect you'd love it (but maybe not the OOD duties!) and you'd save a load of dosh....

Mmmmm it's that great that just about every inter service transfer is towards the RAF, don't see very many going the other way !

Says it all :ok:

You don't suppose it has something to do with the RN having lost FW a/c while the RAF still has them, do you? After all, the RAF's so attractive otherwise...;)

There, fixed if for you!

Transferring into the RAF? You should see the number of applications here in Army recruitment from a large number of trainee pilots that the RAF recently sacked.

Will they have to go to Sandhurst and be taught how to be Officers?

Little room at the mo and yes, RMAS will be required; something is required to unteach the HKLP ingrained at the RAFC. Soldier first, then a pilot...

By this flawed logic, I presume you are also endorsing the formation of a single Royal Regiment of Squaddies encompassing all of the existing Corps and Regiments, as it is senseless for one Corps/Regiment which is pretty much fully committeed to supporting another Corps/Regiment to be independent.