I think the official line is that they are supposed to be sewn on rather than be velcroed on. Haven't seen anyone do that yet though!

Probably wouldn't do you any favours if you ended up behind enemy lines...

I do think the FAA needs to raise it's profile however. I think it's a major issue, at least they're trying!

Just for info my house on the Lizard peninsular has just been put on the market. PM me for details. Lovely family house and at a great price in order to get a sale.

Oggin

What the FAA needs to raise its profile is something like this

Well if you creative FAA types want to make one and send it to me I'm sure to able to publicise it.

:hmm:

Didnt 847 do a couple of videos recently?

Lets just cut this Prestwick line,

There is nothing happening with Prestwick for the foreseable future. The SAR stays put!


:hmm:

Aircrew Badges
 

Does it really matter what colour grow bags or what badges are worn, in a few years all the military tasks will be flown by UAVs and the remainder by either SqueesyJet or BA.

......

well thats cert then. Along with Yeovilton closing, there is the death nail in Prestwick too. Would the last one out please turn the lights out....

and I have to agree with Black Lab.... the end is nigh. Some years ago when I was tucked up in a wessy5 sqdn in darkest kernew the CO stood up at shares one morning and said...and these are his exact words...." There will be no women maintaining MY aircraft".....


how times change.

Oi, pinger filth....

I think you'll find that the future at the home of the FAA is bright. VL is open, stayin open and in fact expanding. The 4th wing on the wardroom is almost cert now, the Lynx guys are migratin south..(after migratin north just 5 yrs ago - you have to pity those guys, are they the FAA's whipping boys?) and the new tower is on its way up. Nope, the future of VL is very secure (which cannot be said of Prestwick)

Just heard engineering at PWK will go to civvy contract in Apr 2007. Change is Good:sad:

rafloo - How far south are you referring - just accross the runway is what I was led to believe....

>whats wrong with the sexy red one's that the Arrows wear ?<
FEBA, after a good night out in Cyprus those sexy red flying suits will clash with the flyboys' eyes.

Not only do we SAR types (rearseat) have lovely new orange and black multifab Goonsuits we have just been told there are orange flying ovies on their way for SAR crews (front and backseat)!!

Also heard that maintainers here will be civilianised... wonder when the aircrew will follow (only 2 years to go - should work out nicely)

Remember the futures bright ---- the futures orange (at least for SAR)

I took the opportunity to visit the Devon County show yesterday...along with HRH and his gorgeous new wife. Whilst there I had a bimble arouind the Military section. Imagine, an entire arena dedicated to the Armed Forces of this country. There were kids clambering over Chieftain Tanks, being demonstrated unarmed combat. The RAF parachute display team were there and the Crabs were doing a roaring trade in Red Arrows stickers...and the navy were......hang on, where are the Navy...? But I thought we had a recruitment and corporate identity problem? and this being a fantastic opportunity to put the Navy's image smack bang in the middle of the public eye....and the Navy were nowhere to be seen. My wife commented on the lack of any RN contribution. I hung my head in shame and avoided any further mention of being in the Navy.

I know what you mean, I was at the Plymouth military weekend last year and it was awesome!

The Army had
- A Challenger Tank crushing cars and putting on a display
- The Black Helmet Motorcycle Display Team
- Stalls from 3 or 4 different regiments designed for recruiting, all with soldiers milling around talking to the young people and answering questions

The RAF had
- A Hawk display
- A Harrier fly past
- A Tornado F3 display (which was bloody awesome!)
- A Red Arrows stand and numerous RAF recruiting stands with personnell in rig chatting to youngsters

The Navy had
- A knackered old stand with a fat scruffy matelot and a couple of leaflets.

It's okay venting frustration here, but we really need to push this to the people who matter. It is sometimes embarrassing!

Your dead right mate....so. here goes.

Dear Admiralships,

I have been a proud and loyal servant to Her Majesties senior service for many, many years but recently I have become saddened by the poor corporate image and poor state our service is portrayed. It depresses me to see the Army and Air Force out shine the RN by displaying most accomplished and professional displays at public events. Please, please can we re-establish the lead in these events and once again have my beloved Navy leading the way.

Dear vecvechookattack,

Conscious as you are of our proud naval heritage and fine traditions, you will be pleased to learn that, rather than waste the taxpayers' cash by attending numerous small local shows, we have made a corporate decision to review our recruiting methods.

After in-depth overarching strategy conferences of blue water out-of-the-box thought and some jolly fine lunches, we have concluded that the most cost-effective recruiting policy was that pioneered by the Impress Service in the late Eighteenth Century.

We shall, therefore, be establishing a Rendezvous in most major ports - OK, Plymouth and Portsmouth then - and appointing Regulating Officers to manage the Gangers who will enforce the new recruiting policy.

This policy will come into effect once we've worked out what the King's Shilling equates to in today's currency.....

Yours aye,

I M Press
Vice Admiral

VVHA
 

Some key facts for you (if your listening),

DNR are presently investing large sums of money in a brand new fleet of recruiting vehicles which will hit the roads later this year.

DNR have also asked for a major increase in funding to address some of the issues you allude to.

What you also forget is with a very limited number of resources, there has to be a priority call on all assets. I suppose you have investigated fully where our 3 trailers might have been yesterday on a national basis.

One thing that you're right about. Everyone must take notice of recruiting (from 1SL to AET2) because ALL the services are having problems.

:hmm:

Si Clik,

I guess from yr inputs you are the fine fellow who provided the funding for me to visit my old school, acompanied by the Local AFCO Bod and the Schools presentation team with my Mk 8 Lynx just before I handed over my final Flt Cdr responsibilities, net result; from an outlay of a couple of hundred quid in subs;

Hundreds of kids raving about the ROYAL NAVY operating helos, dozens of kids attending the RNSPT roadshow and an awakening in all of what we, the RN do. I would have quite happily worn a badge with a ROYAL NAVY logo on it if it meant educating a few more folk as to the role we actually achieve.

Also my flight lads had a damn good time building team work for my relief and trying to trap schoolkids, oops sorry trying to delete that last bit!

The moral of my rant is that we need to go back to the DNR flight and plenty of schools visits and get them young! The balderdash about insurance is just twaddle, there is a wonderful fella at VLN who will sort it all out on the basis of a school address and a contact number as well as providing all the stuff on risk assessment for the civvy worriers.

PS I would be very happy to visit anywhere and sound off about how much fun I have had in 15 years of FAA Aviation, shame current commitments will preclude, anyway wish you all the best for recruiting my relief although please do nbot rush as I quite fancy FRI 2 in 18 months!!

Regards DB

Had a Navy Lynx visit a local school last year, nice 1/3rd page write up in local rag with pic of said Lynx and driver, described as RAF.:rolleyes: