In 20-30 years the board will be filled with people reminiscing about what a fabulous aircraft the A400 was, why we MUST restart production and how Brize was the greatest airfield in the world......................

Hell - there are people posting on Pprune about bringing back the Hunter................

Great pic. What was the reason for so many Far East Hercs being at Lyneham at the same time (I presume they are, as looks more like a cold UK summer than the steaming tropics)?

In 20-30 years time they'll still be building the Herc, probably.

Bringing back? Did the Hunter ever leave? Hunter 2022

;)

I really, really doubt that...

I wonder how many people claiming that the Hunter would be a good fighter for today have ever flown one?

It was lovely to fly, but would need huge modifications in weapons and avionics to bring it even close to being useful today.

Those HHA chaps are lucky to have the T.72 though, as it has the 200-ser engine which our T7 / T8s didn't.

And now back to the A400M thread.

Spotter mode engaged:
The dark earth, mid-stone and black finish was the original colour scheme for RAF transport aircraft delivered in the 1960's.
They started to change colour to green, gray and light grey in the early 1970's. Perhaps that would help to date the picture?

Disengage spotter mode, get anorak dry cleaned.

Otherwise known as "Crud and Custard".

Could be because it's the better aircraft?

personally I prefer the C-47

:ok::ok: I never flew it, but one heck of an aircraft. 86 years since first flight, and counting.

Nice video.
I notice vapour trailing from the top of the fins at some points while they're hooked up.
Is that fuel related, or normal?

Fuel venting. Probably indicates tanks full.

Good news
 

“The RAF’s Atlas has successfully completed its first ‘mass parachuting sorties’ over Salisbury Plain. Troops from @16AirAssltBCT conducted low-level jumps, a vital skill for the UK’s Global response force.”

And the aircraft has only been in service for 8 years…!

Yes. By test pilots. The aircraft has been able to do it for yonks as we have watched the Europeans doing it. How many years until a frontline crew is able to do it and be competent enough to be trusted to do it operationally or even on a big exercise? Come to think of it how many frontline crews (not instructors) are dropping stores or high-altitude parachutists since those “capabilities” were announced? (Zero?)

"How many years until a frontline crew is able to do it and be competent enough to be trusted to do it operationally "

Not until the Test pilots et all have something else to test - if they sign off now they're asking to be cut..............

I flew in a Hawk a few weeks before flying in a T7. My impression was that the Hawk was more agile and slower (about 370 ias) but the Hunter was faster at about 460 ias and needed much greater control inputs.
But then I only had one flight in each type so I'm probably talking b0ll0cks.

Is that comment based on your experience of test flying or your experience of working in a pub?

Too true, in my particular area I recall a particular civvy standards team of around six. Back in the 70/80’s everybody got through their annual station visit which was a pretty rushed affair. As the RAF contracted the visits got longer and more complicated. After the pull back from RAFG and cutbacks stations started failing for the smallest thing requiring return visits which was becoming the norm.