Sorry buddy but it is a waste of time! The coalition and David Cameron would lose far too much face reversing the decision.

A far better thing to do is press the coalition as hard as possible about how they intend to retain skills within the navy until the F35C become available for service.

Similar story here as well:

http://www.defencemanagement.com/news_story.asp?id=14597

Looks like they are weighing up the choice between EMALS and EMCAT for catapults and AAG and DAX-II for arrester gear engines.

This is the email and reply I got from the carrier alliance website about updated information:

Dear Sir/Madam,

When will the website be revised to take in account that the carriers will now be in CATOBAR configuration rather then STOVL.

The website at this moment is reflecting incorrect information and I among many would be interested in seeing how the carrier alliance intends to change build strategy to reflect these developments.

Many thanks

*********

And the reply:

Dear ***,

Thank you for your interest in the ACA and our website.

Following the SDSR, there will be changes made to the programme and the website will be updated once all the final outcomes are deemed suitable to be put in the public domain, specifically with regard to updated imagery, etc.

Thank you once again for your interest in the QEC programme.

Kind regards,

Catherine

Catherine Thurogood

Communications Manager

Aircraft Carrier Alliance

Queen Elizabeth Class Project Office

Building 100

Rosyth Business Park

Dunfermline

Fife

KY11 2YD.

01383 425 757

07801 717 860

http://www.aircraftcarrieralliance.co.uk

The problem is while there are new more compliant PS90 powered variants on offer western commercial transport companies have been happy to lease from the older D30 powered fleet.

There are certain barriers for Western transport companies going for IL76 including:

Certification

Lack of Wetstern systems and avionics

Loud engines

Another major issue is western companies and millitaries have been able to lease IL76 from Eastern companies as and when needed without having to go through the problems of buying and operating the type themselves.

There was a project a few years back for a westernised CFM56 powered IL76 but it never fully got off the ground.

Well at the moment the UK is getting the carriers so I would rather like many here look at what would be required to get them into service then focus on the negative. I don’t see that as particularly misplaced optimism…

As for Hawkeye as I stated in my earlier post I still think that the solution will be Merlin/Cerberus/Searchwater2000AEW for MASC and the only way Hawkeye will enter service is if its via some kind of pooling deal with the French.

Until the carrier alliance reschedule the build and declare what changes will be made to accomodate CATOBAR operations we are all stabbing in the dark.

All we do know is the RN have 12 pilots in the US doing a full CAT-1 and CAT-2 training syllabus for deck landings which gives me some hope that we will have some sort of corp of pilots available for the F35C testing program and a future reforming of either 800 or 801 NAS. Actually some of the pilots could be really busy as they will also have to go to test pilot school to help out with the development program.