2018 or 2020? Frankly that isn’t much of a difference. The FAA was VERY lucky to be able to place over 30 fixed wing pilots with the USN and Aeronavale plus several more on trials work for the F35 program. Whilst I don’t see the RAF as nefariously as some here the Air Marshals were probably assuming that SSDR would pretty much kill FAA fixed wing, that the FAA has been able to at least retain a significant amount of the pilots to fly with the Americans and French is a real coup!

Super Hornet would just be a luxury we can’t afford.

Taking delivery of 20 Super Hornet now would still mean a capability gap as we have no carrier to put them now. We could only operate them from land but they offer nothing new over what GR4 and Typhoon. The argument that they could be used to gain experience is mute as we would have to operate them off an American carrier anyway, this is far more expensive then what we are doing which is sending FAA pilots to fly with the USN and Aeronavale.

There just isn’t the money to mess around buying or even leasing Super Hornet at the moment.

it does seem to make sense for QE not to be converted till her first “service”,especially if oceans going in 2016,

Well this is where I have to disagree, if QE is going to be converted to CATOBAR configuration this is the best time to do it whilst she is still in build. There is no such thing as too late to start the conversion process, it would be far easier whilst the major blocks are still separate and she is in Rosyths dry dock with all the facilities and cranes. Converting during build is better then doing it after her first service as it would involve less penetrative cuts to her hull. The SDSR introduced a delay to build (again), something people seem to forget. This does allow CATOBAR conversion within the 2020 time frame of SDSR, especially considering the majority of the CATOBAR changes are required in the sponsons and flight deck.

Doubt they would of been paid for at that point if its true, probably would involve some form of loan agreement. New government…all previous deals null and void.

QE will be a LPH at entry in service, and PoW is the one getting the catapults, as i’ve been saying all along

That decision hasn’t be made yet Liger30, all there is lots of different people who are barely connected with the project making guesses. The official line is no decision will be made until design work and negotioations are complete in 2012. Until that point has been reached any decision on which carrier is fitted out is pure speculation.

It is certainly not too late to fit out QE with catapult and arrestor gear at this point in build. The plan was always to install any equipment for CATOBAR steam or EMALS operations in the sponsons as well as the required cuts into the deck. The deck is not finished and the sponsons are by far the easiest bit of the ship to cut into to install required equipment.

Maybe but the good thing of the last few months is the rebel forces have been forced to work together.

Aljazeera are now saying two South African planes are in Tripoli airport, looks like the AU are offering a way out….cretins!

NATO cap better be careful don’t want an embarrassing accident!

The question is where does his army stand now.