PPRuNe Forums - RAF pilots get new G-force training centre

PPRuNe Forums (https://www.pprune.org/)

- Military Aviation (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation-57/)

- - RAF pilots get new G-force training centre (https://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/618016-raf-pilots-get-new-g-force-training-centre.html)

RAF pilots get new G-force training centre

Fast jet pilots have begun training at a brand new £44m test facility at RAF Cranwell to help them cope with the physical effects of acceleration forces at top speeds in mid-air manoeuvres.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47109716

Well over 30 years ago GLoc became a known condition within the USAF. The F16 community learnt the hard way about rapid onset G forces and the training required to fly a 9G jet.
Brooks AFB, the USAF equivalent to AMTC, had a modern centrifuge all those years ago.

Why did the RAF not source such Training Aids prior to the 9g Typhoon coming into service? After the initial training on how to combat rapid onset and high g forces, the best way to maintain proficiency is through practice. Two trips a day, 30+ hours a month, much of it flying ACT was how currency was achieved. Even in the F4 Phantom (not RAF) the RTS allowed 8g and it was pulled regularly, but only when required!

How come this news has received greater Press/TV/CAS coverage than the declaration of the RAF's first F35 Squadron?

We regularly used 8g in our F4Ms at Deci; can't vouch for the F4Ks, but suspect they were similar.

57mm,

You must have been lucky enough to have flown the jet in it's early years in RAF service. From the early 80s onwards both the FG1 and FRR2 were plagued with poor decisions which led to dire g limits being imposed. At least those on 74 Sqn were slightly better off!

Indeed, Dominator2 ! For most of the year in the early '80s, we flew in Charlie fit with a normal indicated limit of less than +5G - then for 2 weeks we went mad with the tanks off at Deci.

At an Aggressor debrief, I was asked why I didn't fly a guns jink. When I told the Aggressor mate of our pathetic G limits, he commented "What sort of an air force sends you to fight with one hand tied behind your back?". Quite so!

We also had dire fuel burn limits placed upon us due to the 'moratorium'. Hence we lumbered around at 350KIAS most of the time - what a way to operate such a powerful fighter.

AMTC/RAFCAM had use of the one at Farnborough, as their own multi million pound centrifuge at RAF Henlow was a complete cock up. Apparently.

Indeed over 20 years since the henlow plan!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dominator2 (Post 10380199)

Why did the RAF not source such Training Aids prior to the 9g Typhoon coming into service?

They did, it just never got delivered.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politi...asco-1-1396317

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stitchbitch (Post 10380638)

AMTC/RAFCAM had use of the one at Farnborough, as their own multi million pound centrifuge at RAF Henlow was a complete cock up. Apparently.

When the School of Aviation Medicine people moved from Farnborough to Pyestock, they said they would continue using the centrifuge in the old IAM building for a while as it would take several years for a new one to become operational because the concrete base when laid would need several years to stabilise.

Stuff,

Thanks for the article.

Quote:

THE TRUE cost of a hi-tech pilot training device that was never delivered to the RAF has risen to £12m, after red-faced defence ministers were finally forced to disclose the full amount of taxpayers’ money wasted on the botched project. Scotland on Sunday revealed last month that the Ministry of Defence had secretly paid an American company some 7m in compensation, despite the firm’s failure to meet a contract to build a human centrifuge to give fighter pilots vital training in handling "high G" forces during jet flights.

MoD chiefs pencilled in 1999 as the opening date for the facility, but cancelled the contract in 2001 after it became clear they had no chance of seeing the equipment delivered. A senior member of the defence committee last night warned ministers that the latest procurement fiasco would not go unnoticed at Westminster. "The most worrying thing is that they never seem to learn from big mistakes like this."

Why are those responsible for this c**kup not held to account. 20 years late on delivery and CAS pats himself on the back for a job well done! When will people be held to account for this waste of Public Money?

Guy Martin for OC AMTC

Much cheaper, so why no competitive tendering?

Stitchbitch.

Ah yes, the centrifuge debacle. It was bubbling under when I left in 01.
Never any suggestion of dissagreements between PE, AMTC and IAM hierarchy about the way ahead.
P*ss ups and brewerys come to mind.

Glad to see they finally have something even if it is 25 years late.