It's all falling into place now!! Jeez, the stuff I learn on here.

Bar steward, I'll take a wife beater and scampi fries, thanks!!

So if we use the E-6 style trailing antenna at low level over the sea with a big weight on the end, we obviate the need for MAD as we can hook 'em instead?

I'm sure I saw a P-8 video at one point that suggested the use of a sonobuoy-tube launched mini-UAV for MAD type work, but that might be the whisky talking!

Now there are two more exports that could be mentioned on the other thread.

I don't have a CEO.

The clue is Caviar, smoked salmon and Bolinger '61.

Occasionally retsina and ouzo.

A very uncivil civil servant.

There is a distinct lack of humour on this thread. From what I understand, Americans don't 'do' humour. Personally I find Superbowl very funny.

An Anglo-French tie up would be great. At least they would insist on decent food in the canteen. Not the minced cow in a bun the yanks eat.
Vive La France! Mind you I was not happy about Saturday's Rugby. It only cost 55 euros to get in ! Great. And free snails, pate and French bread !

The Beancounters got rid of Nimrod and the Harriers.

God help the UK if there is another crisis.
Foreign aid budget rules OK !

True, I can attest to that.

One day, during an exercise, the guard on the Ops entrance at ISK brought me a small purple velvet bag with a draw cord. He was a bit worried as he believed on of the USN P3 crews had mislaid it.

In side was a small collection of bones some of which had suspicious dark red stains.

This is NODUFF.

If they had the names of different classes of submarines on them, I think Mr S@#$%^Y might have mislaid them.

P.N.

"I recall we used to trail a long wire behind the aircraft."

What bait were you using? I know some crews tried flies, but I always preferred mackerel feathers. With half a gallon of honkers as ground bait.

The only thing I ever saw that long wire catch was the fence just before landing.

Regarding long wires, recently reread Ernest K Gann's wonderful 'Fate is the Hunter'. In one chapter he describes a flight from Bluie West One to Iceland. They fail to pick up the beacon and let-down into solid clag, slowly descending to 300ft then 200ft vainly looking for a glimpse of the sea. At this point he requests his radio-op to pay out the long antenna with its weighted 'fish' on the end. The radio-op complains that he might lose his precious 'fish' and also points out that the antenna will only hang a mere 50ft below the aircraft. Down they go, 100ft, 80ft, still in solid cloud then at 50ft a cry from the radio-op - he had lost his fish. At 40ft the cloud finally thins enough for them to glimpse the water and they continue at this altitude for twenty minutes until they finally see the coast.

OK, back to the main story...

..............Boeing perhaps have cornered the market, by developing a contemporary MPA first. Government orders always help the matter.

However, this is an interesting, more comprehensive analysis of four turboprop MPA and multi - role.

Future Maritime Patrol - Part 6 (C130J and A400M Options) - Think Defence

Was that written by a spotter or someone with legitimate aviation/MPA experience?

Stuffy,

I'm not sure how you can claim that Boeing "got there first" in developing an MPA.

Airships were the first MPA, thereafter followed by the Short184. MPA have been being developed since the early 1900s...

Stupid boy Pike !

Boeing has the only serious MPA on offer.

I wouldn't count the CN235.

Apart from Shorts, on the other side of the pond Consolidated made a pretty good fist of it before Lockheed joined in with a couple of types.

Ah!! You admit that the P-8 is the only "serious" offer. Nice.

But what about the CASA 295?

And if Boeing have the only viable option, why all Sea Herc/Sea Atlas sales pitch?

Indeed...agree strongly.

Was that written by a spotter or someone with legitimate aviation/MPA experience?

Ha ha, neither :)

My uneducated and most definitely 'non domain expert' ramblings I am afraid.

You will note that it was Part 6 of a 7 part series that has a go at looking at the challenges, requirements and a set of possible options, no advocacy or sales pitch for any of the options.

Just posted the final part, a summary, if anyone fancies a read.

You can then get into the business of slagging it off!

Seriously though, have tried not to discount any option but like many I tend to think the answer is staring us in the face. I have also tried to look at the bigger picture and possible future implications for other capability areas rather than having a narrow view.

I would also add, that from a non flying landlubbers perspective, making a case for it far from easy so it comes down to priorities and 'trade offs' I suppose.

UK jobs RIP.

Yes, of course I meant the Casa 295 not the commuterliner 235. Still a tinny piece of crap.

I don't know if the US government gave Boeing the nod but they are the only ones who came up with the goods. The problems will eventually be ironed out.

Speaking to airline engineers who have had B737s and A320s in their fleet. They say that the Airbus is superior. It should be, it is a newer design not a 1950's B707 fuselage. The Airbus fuselage is wider.

Airbus have done nothing except a paper exercise.
Lockheed have done nothing except a paper exercise.

Boeing have produced an MPA which is already in service.

Why the other manufacturers have done nothing, well only they can answer that?

No MAD boom on the Boeing. Well submarines sit next to shipwrecks to hide the metal signature.

The Major Conservative government begun the Nimrod MRA4. With all the money spent. Spend a bit more and at least get something.

If Labour win the 2015 election. Things may become interesting?

Their priority will be UK jobs. Defence doesn't interest them.

Anything could happen. The Russian Carrier group will appear again off the coast of Scotland.

Stuffy,
I know you have come in for some stick on here but are you serious?


If I was Airbus Mil or Lockheed or any other organisation why would I risk squillions on building a demonstrator knowing that the potential customers were broke. throwing white papers around is probably all that is appropriate from a business prospective.


I enjoyed reading the Think Defence piece. Some interesting research into various activity in this area.