Fair cop, your'e right it isn't the highest priority and i am perhaps guilty of going off the mark from the original questions posed.

The Cryptkeeper

Did the AH have the Doughnut on when it went into the Hangar,
when I was at Wattishame and they had just finished building and the rumour was that they would have to take the Doughnut off or lower the floor.

The only Hangar it was likely to fit in was 7BN. or use the old Hangars but the Management didn't want their New Toy in an old box. :confused:

Get Real
 

To Crab@ SAAvn:- Good post thanks for that.
To most of the others who have posted responces to this thread I am concerned at the level of ill informed rumour/rubbish which has been aired on these pages.

Do bear in mind there are only 6 Qualified Instructors at the moment and they are working their butts off to keep the present course running. A limited MAR, a steep leaning curve for those maintaining and suppliying the aircraft all take their tole on available aircraft. By the by the course is just coming to the end of the night flying phase and have been on reverse cycle for the last 6 weeks (try that some of you!) so give them (students and QHIs) an chance to get some daytime kip and recovery over the weekend before starting again on Monday.

The aircraft (weapon system) is an Army asset. The AAC are just the people who are charged with getting the aircraft into a position to bring it's weapons systems to bear on the target at the right time. The target choice and the time will be the responsibility of the Army (Formation Headquarters) who task them and direct, facilitate and resupply the aircraft. Actually to do this well is a more complex task than flying the aircraft. For those lined up for courses the flying is a joy but also a challenge so be prepared to look into your soul!

Sorry off soapbox now! To all Rotary types remember 'Bags of Flare in your Engine Offs!'

Thanks! question answered.:p

Wasn't aware that there were so few who were qualified to drive it, will now shut my mouth and crawl back under the rock from where I came.

Shame rumour control coming from Westlands and some of the Flying Regiments are a little out of date & over exaggerated. I should have known better than to base opinions on rumours and apologise to anyone Ive upset. Apart of course from the crabs.:D

Blind Pue
It did have the doughnut on as I remember - I think that's why we were all pleasantly surprised when they managed to fit it in!
If you haven't been to the Sham for a while it's full speed ahead with the rebuild - another hangar is near completion leaving only 2 to do. There's buildings springing up all over the joint! The only nause is the constant shifting around of squadrons but it's a small price to pay to get shiny new flight offices!!

Thanks for the answer,
I flew over in my bright red condom last month to have a look but there was so much traffic I couldn't hang around.
(not that I was going fast anyway)
I know what you mean about changing Hangars when 63 first arrived we managed to occupy all 4 of the old Hangars and still ended up with the least office space.
Hope the rebuilds are worth it in the end, it's a very pleasent place in the summer.:)

Just Give Someone A Ring!
 

Guys and Girls,

Please do all those people a favour that are working their butts of fielding this awesome capability. It is all to do with priorities and maybe Airshows ain't one of them yet. If you are in any doubt about 'rumour control' or crew room gossip, then look in the Middle Wallop directory and phone the desk that is responsible for the issue etc. DAAvn, JHC, 651 and AHTU should all give you sensible answers.

Please do it before posting on PPRUNE as some of you look extremely naive. Some of you need a good kick up the butts as you are expecting to be spoon fed everything. Read around the subject, surf the net, phone a mate on the programme, phone a shiney bum who is working on an aspect of the project.....anything if it prevents you from engaging gob/fingers before brain.

It'll work, but just like Sopwith Pup, Lancaster, Harrier, Eurofighter, Chinook HC3 it will all take a bit of time. Only take risks and cut corners when Atilla the Hun is bearing down. When the capability is declared, lets make sure that we are in a position to fight it and not just fly it around LFA 1A!

Can I hand the soap box over to someone else!


;)

RFHO.

You talk about reverse cycle. Does this mean that just like the americans over in Boz/Kos any future deployment wont be rapid if the aircraft is to be operated safely at night? or is an 'Apache tour' another name for permenant nights?

rolandpull

If the way they work at Rucker is anything to go by, there are shedloads of nights, which doesn't please the "significant others"! The IPs there talk about suffering from AIDS ..... Apache Induced Divorce Syndrome!;) ;)

If its dark outside - call it night
 

rolandpull

Sorry I'm not the man to answer that question. You should ask a man in Green.

The point I was making was that all involved in training folks on the AH-64 are very busy doing just that and haven't time for 'showboating' elsewhere.

Those posts after mine sum it up well. If you have a question about Apache ask an expert.

2 of those fantastic machines arrived at Shawbury today - is this a subversive plot for the AAC to gain control of Shawbury....?

...oh no, just 2 very new and shiny machines going into storage!

Grey Man

Did indeed call someone at 651, this is where the bum info came from in the first place. If you are around there at all perhaps you could ask them not to over exaggerate, over promise under deliver etc.

No one doubts any of the hard work you are all putting in and noone is saying that an airshow takes a higher priority, I was merely voicing the opinions of a great many ex corp members who wondered why a cab could go for a demo down at Wattisham but not to a far more valuable event such as the two shows mentioned. I am sure in time to come the people at Wattisham will be sick and tired of seeing the thing, and will get to see the kit within time anyway.

Trying not to deviate from the track, I apologised and agreed that bum info had been given earlier and the question was answered in that there are only a few people qualified etc, thought the subject was closed, however when info is taken from the horses mouth you would expect it to be at least half right. Should have perhaps known better.

Some of the other info came from Yeovil itself.........

Grey Man

Correct me if I am wrong (and I am sure you will)
The R in PPRuNe stands for Rumour.

As doh-nut boy posted the Topic in what I would call a humourous fashion 'Wot no AH64' and not
"The uncertain future of the Anti-Tank Helicopter in Europe: Where are we now? and why are we not at Waddington".

I am sure he was happy with a simple reply and thought it would allow the post to expand on this Theme.

If you are going to step on your soapbox it might be an idea to do a bit of research and check your surroundings, otherwise you will sound like a Crab.

Not a good thing for a member of the 'Corps'

Yeah right, whatever........it may be 'R' but it still has an impact on morale me old china. There are some 'R'umours that are all good stuff etc etc.....but somehow I must question some of the 'R'umours that are not only damaging the Corp (just like Sun readers believe most of the print before them, the PPRUNERS regurgitate PPRUNE in the crewroom), but just makes people who are ballsout wonder why they don't phone. 651 can hardly give bum information......they are right at the coal face mate and the future Initial Operating Capability relies heavily on what they do and say. Either you were talking to the wrong person in the Sqn or there was a misunderstanding........why pass out bum information when they call the shots?

:confused: ;) :) :D

Grey Man

If you doubt my statement regarding where the information came from drop me an email and i will give you the names of the SSgt and the Capt who gave me the Bum info, quite right though why would they give bum info when they are as you say on the coalface.

Similarly the same info came from the team at Yeovil aswell.
Like Blind Pue said this thread was only raised with a little light hearted humour, how unlike certain members of the Corps to take things out of Context and jump on the bandwagon :confused:

Canberra,

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!!

I reckon the number of Army Aviators who would want to become CRABS is in single figures! As for merging all three services, just ask the Canadians how good an idea that was - they tried it for about 5 years and then de-merged back to where they started, a really useful exercise in wasting money!!

Couldn't agree more, would rather have my scrotum pulled up over my head & nailed there than be branded a crab.

Beaver old boy.

Hate to spoil a good bit of banter with facts, but on a point of information, at the last count there were 70+ Army Aviators (NOT necessarily AAC) asking to transfer to the RAF!

BTW, is that Beaver as in "Funny little aircraft to the south of XMG", or the more enjoyable sort??

There are now 5 AH64 Apaches rumoured to be in store at RAF Shawbury, what a waste:rolleyes:

Perhaps Shawbury should be known as the “Reservation.” Now, how do we take those blades off?