Semantics. If a radar is a development based on CAESAR, is it still CAESAR or something else? Who cares?

Those that know the differences. The AESA radar that is due for it’s maiden flight isn’t known as CAESAR (demonstrator), but Captor-E (operational product). Why is that so difficult for you to grasp… CAESAR ‘Dem-on-strat-or’ is based on the Captor ECR-90 and the AMSAR, which is based on the Blue Vixen, which is based on the Ferranti Blue Fox. So lets be pedantic and just call it the Blue Fox regardless of it’s type, mechanical or active electric, and regardless of them being very different radars.

What on Earth are you babbling about now? This all started when some Rafale-numpties broke into the thread and started raving on about drop tanks as if they were the be-all and end-all of everything. Give the whole drop tank thing a rest.

This so-called “Rafale-numbtie” Halloweene (a Rafale fan, yes. A numbty, no) came into the thread bringing up the valid point and questioning the carriage of cruise missiles on the inboard wing pylons of Typhoon by saying: I quote; “Point is that configuration is finally impraticable… due to pitch moment when loading is released that cannot be countered without TVC, sry i stand my point on that.”

No mention of drop tanks there.

Madrat made no mention of drop tanks, neither did Sintra and neither did I. However…

…There was one person to mention the now infamous drop tank babble first… You. I quote: “Going into defended airspace with three tanks and two 2800lb missiles isn’t something you’d get away with, anymore than refuelling in such airspace, so the issue is moot.”

Since then, I’ve not seen one Rafale-Enthusiast (or as you put it, “Rafale-Numbties”) claim that three drop tanks (or any number of drop tanks in general) is the “be all and end all” requirement. Or maybe I’ve missed it, in which case you could be jolly kind enough to quote anyone saying so.

Edit: If anyone’s to blame for initially bringing up drop tanks, or/and prompting a reply from a Rafale-Chap… It’s you.

I don’t think anyone has claimed that three external drop tanks is an essential requirement while carrying two Storm Shadow cruise missiles. If the ability is there then it’s going to be exploited should the need arise. What’s more, during the Libyan campaign aircraft were on CAP waiting to be called upon to deploy into the country or/and launch from outside it’s boarders. So yes, three drop tanks would come in rather handy in that regard thus easing the burden of tanker aircraft and their crews, however.

And when CAESAR and EW upgrades come online in the next 2 years…

You should mean Captor-E. There is a difference.

Rafale has no EW advantage either.

Do spare the pointless comparisons.

Interference with the landing gear aside, why should the launch of a 1300kg weapon from the shoulder hard-point of the EF, destabilize the aircraft? How is the Rafale any different in that regard?

I misquoted Halloweene, my mistake. I’m not sure how significantly different one would be from another for two reasons; I haven’t studied the airframe in great detail in this particular regard and I don’t have access to official data, and neither does Halloweene for that matter. However, if Eurofighter GmbH designed those pylons for such weights then they must be perfectly capable of launching such a weapon in that weight class, otherwise they wouldn’t be structured to launch such a weight and they most certainly wouldn’t waste their resources if they knew stabilizing issues would occur. I’d rather take that on board rather than someone stating it ‘just because.’

Lukos,

That is literally how far forward munitions are mounted on those inner pylons and don’t forget that Storm Shadow is a lot narrower:

Storm Shadow is indeed narrower but it is still a very long weapon. It would still be too close for comfort to the landing gear.

Once again, we’re not going to see any Storm Shadow or any other ‘current’ 2,000lb+ weapon carried on those stations. If anyone of the Typhoon operators decides to select a weapon from Diehl, should such weapons by them be introduced, then the 2,000lb HOSBO glide bomb/missile would most certainly be suitable for carriage on the inboard pylons as it’s approximately 11.5ft in length as opposed to approximately 12ft for the 1,000lb Paveway II type weapon.

Thank you, Charlie & Trumper. Much appreciated. 🙂

Charlie, yes it’s pretty small next time around in compared to the likes of the US/Canada and the first (well, my first) UK tour but is just as much as a laugh, and tough going too. New Zealand and Australia were tiny but the most we could do, everything down under I thought was so sparse, even major cities but that’s probably down to me being from and living in Newcastle upon Tyne where everything is within a few miles. Weird, but nice countries… And their customs are bigger ar*eholes than US customs.

Keep your head up, AE. We’ve all been hit with something at some point in our lives, positive things always happen sooner or later.

Regarding John Surtees; indeed, the only racer to have ever won the MotoGP and Formula 1 championships.

Nice to be back home, spent a few days in New Zealand, then spent a long time in Japan on holiday, amazing country, then back to New Zealand and Australia for a few gigs. Great time, great live shows, great people. Even went to those little Hobbit homes… places… village thingy-places where they were filmed during a day off. Back to work, proper day job, then a short UK tour next month. Shattered, but wonderful times.

The connection here is a bit dodgy, it’s a little difficult to work a Samsung Galaxy S using a Japanese internet provider, apologies if some weird objects pop up.

He said it twice to camera; do you know how many times he rehearsed it?

Do you? He mumbled it twice and clearly said something totally different for the final cut.

A natural reaction, surely, if they wish to protect their jobs too. But how can you make an assumption that he is not a racist when his past record shows he is frequently happy to say things that others – but, oh no, not him – regard as offensive. I am quite aware that I am making assumptions because he doesn’t (it appears) make these outbursts very often – maybe a part time racist?;o)

How can I make assumptions he’s not a racist? Well, firstly, you’re focusing on the controversial things he’s stated in the past and ignoring the things he’s well known for, such as, his admiration for the Gurkhas, his praising of the Indian Armed Forces during WWII, as is with the same with the Fijians, Canadians, New Zealanders and others that have fought along side the British. He’s also very admirable of what the Australian SAS had achieved during the Vietnam War… Surely if he was a “Racist” why would he show respect, admiration and write books and TV programs about those guys?

And why would he be proud of having a T-Shirt that simply says, ‘Albania’ on it? Or, how about this one, why would he proudly wear a Vietnamese Flag T-Shirt on the Top Gear Vietnam Special and state near the end of the show, what an amazing country it is? Again, surely if he was a “Racist” he wouldn’t show such an admiration?

The dogs name is a new one on me. What is it?

He named his black dog Didier Dogba, whom is apparently a black football player. (See his Twitter account). He’s well known for naming his pets after sports personalities, of all colours.

Think you mean Tintin?

… There’s a white dog in the Tin-Tin series called Snowy…

Surely, if it’s “Racist” to name a black dog after a black person then surely it’s “Racist” to call a white dog ‘Snowy’, yes? I’ve jokingly been called ‘Snowy’ from Tin-Tin by a Pakistani friend, is that “Racist”, was I hurt by that, did I accuse him of being ‘Racist’? Ehm, no.

Understand?…

I believe Sooty was named for his ears (he is yellow, his ears are black and his friend is Sweep – go figure), but I can’t imagine they’ll target that show at America since their having a hard enough time getting kids here to watch it! When you say name do you actually mean racial slur? Just how badly is it regarded – better or worse than the ‘n’ word when said by caucasians?

It doesn’t matter what colour he is, the point is, ‘Sooty’ is (according to the Political Correct mob) a racial slur, Sooty was/is what is described as black person in the US. If, as you say, Sooty was named for his [black] ears, then… Go figure it out!

Pretty much done here. Back to holiday, me thinks.

This is even being reported in Japan where I am now, for heavens sake…

Jeremy said something he shouldn’t have, going by the video it was an innocent slip of the tongue albeit a very mumbled sing-song, it wasn’t directed to anyone and it was a malicious verbal attack towards anyone. We’ve all said things we shouldn’t have. That does not make him a racist.

As James and Richard stated, and I’m sure there’s so many others that would say the same too. He’s a lot of things, but he’s not a racist!

Just to point out, a few weeks ago he named his black dog after a black sports person and was branded a “racist”, not sure what’s racist about that, in the same way it’s not racist to name a white dog ‘Snowy’ (Tit-Tin, anyone?), oh and you know that puppet ‘Sooty’? (The Sooty Show, anyone?), ‘Sooty’ is another name for a black person in the US.

The Mirror are the ones that have blown this whole thing out of proportion… The same paper, along with the other papers that are not worthy to wipe one’s ar$e on, that got found out about that little thing not so long ago, oh what was it, just a small thing… that phone-hacking business that ruined many people’s lives. They’re obviously butt-hurt about that still, so it’s little wonder they’re trying to bring others down to their level scumness.

Looking forward to seeing Jeremy and guys back on Top Gear soon!

Back to holiday.*