Start with Wiki, plenty of Phantoms here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ark_Royal_%28R09%29

So based upon todays news how many days will it take them to lash something up that works under some urgent operational requirement ? Or won’t they bother ? Their position would take some defending if more soldiers come out with criticisms re the RAF air support from the Harriers.

Many folks have predicted the end for guns in aircraft but it seems that they still have a major role to play.

Cost will be a major factor. I have heard it said that an AC-130 is the single most expensive aircraft there is. Is that actually the case ?

There has been significant advances in this area in recent years and indeed the whole Gas to liquids and Coal to liquids technology, particularly in simplifying the process and hence reducing the capital cost. The recent high oil prices have helped

Its more economic than it once was and commercial applications are not far away. With 15-25 years great supply of gas and more of coal available than oil it may give us the headroom needed, particularly if combined with the related biomass technologies

Was reading the other day that Afghanistan is actually doing part of the F35 program no harm. The Harriers out there are proving very useful indeed due to their ability to operate from unimproved short runways in forward deployments, and this is assisting with the sortie rate compared to other types as well as having other benefits around tactical flexibility. The RAF announced they were sending more in the last two weeks. As a consequnce there appears to be less temptation to cut back or cancel the F-35B than there was about a year ago as the powers that be are seeing real benefits to having this ability in theatre.

Now this won’t of course really affect the engine position unless one can be proven to be better for work in Forward deployments, but regardless I think most customers would prefer a choice when buying the F-35

The Rolls Royce web page still lists the F136 and says that it will be available from 2011, so clearly they still view it as an active program.

How large is very large ? Bigger than anything that has gone before ?

I have heard it said thta regardless of who the target is you can pretty well expect career ending ramifications if you knowingly attack a funeral or indeed any religious service without an executive order. I remember a UK politician say on the radio last year that it is because of these scruples that the west can claim the moral high ground against terrorists as it wages war in a civilised manner. I’m not saying that it has never happened though……………….