January 30, 2011 at 7:44 am
Given the prohibitive cost of modern aircraft design, construction and operations, is it time to think retro?
What historic aircraft could be redesigned and built with modern materials and and yet provide effective service?
By: merlin70 - 2nd February 2011 at 09:38
The combined airline/military service could be expanded to include C130’s flying cattle class direct to Australia with inflight re-fuelling shown live on the TV screens. All widebodies could perhaps be modded to include sidewinders for in-flight security and a tail ramp which would allow rowdy passengers or terrorists to be ejected from the plane enroute. Bring back the Belfasts.
So as not to allow a monopoly perhaps the airlines could operate a joint service.
Easy Virgin or perhaps Virgin Baby.
Shocking. I now have images of the cast of Come Fly with me.
By: EN830 - 2nd February 2011 at 07:29
I think they would look sexier and better in Virgin Atlantic adverts
I’m not so sure !

Ian you have far too much time on your hands.
You could be right !!!
By: Deskpilot - 2nd February 2011 at 05:35
Do you mind if I sit while I wait? 😀
Ah, that’s not nice. I may be an Aussie now but the UK has designed and built many GREAT aircraft. Or is it that you believe there’s no one left in the UK that could make a decent decision?
By: J Boyle - 2nd February 2011 at 01:15
BRING BACK THE TSR-2 and prove to the world that England can still design and build better aircraft than the yanks..
Do you mind if I sit while I wait? 😀
By: Deskpilot - 2nd February 2011 at 00:58
There’s quite a bit of ‘tongue in cheek’ suggestions here so I’ll add my 2 cents worth.
BRING BACK THE TSR-2 and prove to the world that England can still design and build better aircraft than the yanks. Christ, even Concorde would have been better without French involvement.
Love the thought of squadrons of Lightnings flying again but they’d need some serious updating, perhaps the swing wing version.
By: pobjoy pete - 2nd February 2011 at 00:46
Budget Battle Bus
ME 262 and a fleet of Victor Tankers.
262’s would be polished natural finish with very discrete markings so as not to spoil the lines.
In case of conflict the opposing forces would just stand there “mouth agog” and realise that further action would be futile.
If we needed more Tankers then we would build a “twice size” Super 262 to match the rest.
Job done, sack the crats and BAE can get on making white goods.
Actually i think we will have a rain check on the white goods but they could be started on OXO tins !!!
By: James D - 1st February 2011 at 21:18
XB 70 Valkyrie?
No…?
By: Shorty01 - 1st February 2011 at 20:15
There’s a fair bit on the Enforcer in the Osprey book “Mighty Mustang” if you fancy some more drooling.
By: EN830 - 1st February 2011 at 19:38
I guess the greatest benefit will be that instead of getting a cab back from the airport, you can simply bale out over your hometown.
You’d have supply your own parachute, you will be charged excess baggage for bringing one on board, or take a chance on surviving the drop without.
By: TwinOtter23 - 1st February 2011 at 18:18
😮 Compulsory purchase order on everything in preservation?? :diablo:
By: Firebex - 1st February 2011 at 17:59
The Government should sell the RAF to private enterprise and lease it back. I think Typhoons would look splendid in EasyJet Orange.
EASYRAF would be a superb new title and think of the advertising slogans to encourage recruitment !
I think they would look sexier and better in Virgin Atlantic adverts
By: lmisbtn - 1st February 2011 at 17:37
I’d have thought the expensive bit of modern aeroplanes would be all the boxes that go in them, rather than the airframe itself.
Therefore resurrecting old designs, surely wouldn’t save any significant costs if the avionics etc… still have to be developed and millions of lines of dodgy coding debugged???
Ok then, I’d love to see a few old British designs fly again and an obligatory wing of TSR-2s…:)
By: Blue_2 - 1st February 2011 at 16:56
…But where to get some bombers from, hmm Russia or China perhaps…?! 😉
By: paulmcmillan - 1st February 2011 at 16:18
No need to mas produce them
Theres a Sqn of Spitfires all ready to go in a mine in Australia. Furthermore you get a valentines weekend away at the ‘Stork Hotel’ thrown in when you collect them
By: merlin70 - 1st February 2011 at 15:54
The low viz markings work well:rolleyes: Ian you have far too much time on your hands.
I guess the greatest benefit will be that instead of getting a cab back from the airport, you can simply bale out over your hometown.
By: EN830 - 1st February 2011 at 12:10
Now don’t put ideas in Stelios’ head…………..;)
Too late ! 😮
Apparently this is the low vis livery !

By: Sky High - 1st February 2011 at 11:14
The Government should sell the RAF to private enterprise and lease it back. I think Typhoons would look splendid in EasyJet Orange.
EASYRAF would be a superb new title and think of the advertising slogans to encourage recruitment !
Now don’t put ideas in Stelios’ head…………..;)
By: |RLWP - 1st February 2011 at 09:39
There is a complete FW190 production line up for sale.
Or how about bringing back the Boeing Skyfox?
Brilliant! You could start a bidding war for sponsorship. Those media corporations have lots of money!
Richard
Mind you, do I want Fox or Sky to have their own airforce 😮