But the Indians are known to pinch the pennies until they scream, take a peek at the Viraat (beast’s been there for almost half a century now). Also, if the Brits part with it at throwaway prices, it’ll be worth it just to relieve the Viraat for the next decade or so.

And you can bet a pound to a penny that as old as Invincible is and techinally in reserve, she is a thousand days plus closer to being availble for active service than the Viraat at this time, and may well be in better condition :rolleyes:

What are they getting in the announcements made by Washington in the last week or so ?

If money was not an issue, I would go and see NG and ask them to dust of the YF-23 and to hand build 2 or 3 more (for that is all that would be needed) with various mods to optimise them for high altitude photo-recon. Fast, high altitude, very stealthy and most importantly of all, it looked the part :diablo: 😉

Ed may well have a point, ending the US investigation could be one of the Saudi’s goals and offering a large carrot to uncle sam may be part of it

Swerve, Re the Rosyth Dock. Here is one of the current carriers going into dry dock and I think it will answer your question. Yes, work will be needed to be done to make it fit 😮

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/invincible/invincible13.html

I mentioned Google earth earlier, and I had a look. The current satellite image for the dockyard shows one of the carriers in there having a major refit (with the flight deck tented over) and it is a very tight fit as the photo above suggests, even the dock immediately to the right of that one while being longer will not be wide enough. I haven’t been able to post a link to the satellite piccy as I wasn’t able to work out how to do it.

Swerve, I reckon they have thought of the headroom issue, or shall we say they better have :diablo:

Google earth might answer the dry dock question, particularly if there is something of know length in the photo such as a car

To be built in Clyde, Barrow, Rosyth and Portsmouth. More to follow………

I have just checked the parliamentary website and a ‘statement’ about the aircraft carriers is due in a few minutes. Heres hoping………………