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Fedaykin

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January 15, 2013 at 12:46 am in reply to: French air campaign – Mali #2260463

Fedaykin
Participant

thobbes if you want to talk politics go to the general discussion! You have already had to edit a post due to its highly offensive content, that the mods didn’t instaban you beggars belief! Do you have anything to say about the air campaign?

😡

January 14, 2013 at 6:35 pm in reply to: French air campaign – Mali #2260680

Fedaykin
Participant

A rumour was circulating in the office today that one of the C-17s had gone tech in France prior to departure.

I haven’t seen any confirmation, so throwing it out there as possibly total nonsense.

It did but apparently it was only a minor issue and wasn’t delayed long, these things happen.

Canada is sending a C17 as well now.

I could see the UK deploying Sentinel as it was so useful over Libya, again they need to reverse the SSDR decision to drop it as the type is proving too useful! Looking at events in Mali the Sentinel R1 looks tailor made to help out, considering how mobile the rebel forces are proving Sentinel could greatly help the French strike bombers identify targets.

January 14, 2013 at 1:24 am in reply to: French air campaign – Mali #2260880

Fedaykin
Participant

That is because he has edited out the most offensive part suggesting French planes should be shot down and the pilots dragged through the streets by African rebels.

My mistake for not taking a screen shot.

January 13, 2013 at 10:35 pm in reply to: French air campaign – Mali #2260958

Fedaykin
Participant

Nobody reply to Thobbes please!

I have reported the previous comment to the MODS.

January 13, 2013 at 6:40 pm in reply to: French air campaign – Mali #2261070

Fedaykin
Participant

I wonder if David Cameron will get another cold shoulder anytime soon form a French leader after this helping hand?

I did not know the UK Govt. was considering increasing its C-17 fleet – an eminently sensible proposal.

The need to use RAF C-17s doesn’t say much for the FAF strategic lift capability.

Oh well, a friend in need is a friend indeed.

Well the rumour is going around, they got the eighth due to the MOD being allowed to roll over any budget surplus. The airframe was quickly taken out of the US build allocation. The serial numbers were allocated years ago for a possible nine and ten purchase:

ZZ179
ZZ180

Of course ten serial numbers were allocated as a speculative move and to allow any future purchase to fit into the sequence. It is not certain but the jungle drums I have being hearing from my contacts on the inside when it comes to procurement is they are going to try and swing it.

January 13, 2013 at 5:13 pm in reply to: French air campaign – Mali #2261090

Fedaykin
Participant

Well going on this report it was a direct request for use of the C17:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21004040

The first will do one trip taking armoured vehicles and equipment whilst the second will shuttle between France and Mali.

Presumably French planners decided to ask the President to request the C17 specifically as part of our defence treaty to help in this short notice deployment.

I wonder after having a chance to play with our C17 the French military will start getting eager for their own examples? The line is open and meeting orders or will A400M win out as the sole transport type in French service?

January 13, 2013 at 3:15 pm in reply to: French air campaign – Mali #2261144

Fedaykin
Participant

On another slant, if you allow me.. 😉

Don’t the French now wished they had bought some Super Tucanos from Embraer? For the cost of the Mirage’s fuel bill alone here they could get at least some 12 used A-29s from Brazil on the quick and dirty pending the eventual delivery of their own brand new Super Tucanos. 😉

Coments?

Hammer

Whilst the A-29 Super Tucano is an excellent type it wouldn’t be very useful in this scenario. The Mirage-2000 and Rafale involved self deployed from France using Tankers, the A-29 can’t do that. For the Super Tucano to deploy it would of taken a long complicated journey with many stops. The Mirage and Rafale at short notice were able to get into theatre with tanker support and commence operations. This is also why the French are borrowing British C17, the French have a very poor strategic airlift capability. That won’t change until they get their new A400M and a330 MRTT. The UK C17 are flying into Paris today and will carry the troops and equipment directly to Mali. To do the same with their limited C-130 and KC-135 transport fleet would take far longer. Not forgetting their KC-135 are needed to fuel the fighters going out so are not best placed to carry cargo.

January 13, 2013 at 12:24 pm in reply to: French air campaign – Mali #2261255

Fedaykin
Participant

I don’t think more C17s is really in the pipeline, there is already the NATO C17 group which could provide more planes if needed, there may be constant demand for them from Afghanistan, but that means they are ferrying cargo between Europe and A-stan, so if a higher priority mission comes up they can be switched. Enough A400M are coming online soon between UK, FR, DE,and others that more expensive C17 isn’t needed. Also more refueling to match. Perhaps ideally, but with budget crunch, no.

The RAF has made some very clear noises about acquiring another two C17 in the last few weeks Snow Monkey. The reason is not about increasing capacity (albeit that is a nice side bonus), it is to balance the life of the fleet and extend the out of service date. The first C17 in RAF service have used a serious amount of their fatigue life, by buying more C17 those older examples can remain in service longer. You also have to remember the RAF is losing the Hercules once the A400M comes into service, the more C17 the less A400M are tied up doing strategic airlift.

January 12, 2013 at 8:35 pm in reply to: Oldest combat aircraft still in service #2261644

Fedaykin
Participant

Who owns the BBMF aircraft?

Answer: The Tax Payers of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

January 12, 2013 at 5:19 pm in reply to: Oldest combat aircraft still in service #2261693

Fedaykin
Participant

I prefer being pedantic personally…

January 12, 2013 at 4:04 pm in reply to: Future UK MPA/ASW aircraft #2261743

Fedaykin
Participant

Thing is if we start talking about AEW and the like we start getting program creep with all the associated problems and costs.

If we are talking about providing an MPA solution just for the Falkland Islands then a totally turn-key power by the hour leased industry solution makes most sense. Also by making it a civil component of the Falkland Islands Governments fisheries protection and resource management it avoids the political embarrassment that is stopping the current government considering the idea.

January 12, 2013 at 3:58 pm in reply to: Oldest combat aircraft still in service #2261751

Fedaykin
Participant

If we don’t count historic flights or trials work then the C-47 is probably the oldest in service combat type. My favourite being the AC-47 Fantasma of the Columbian air force:

January 12, 2013 at 3:53 pm in reply to: Oldest combat aircraft still in service #2261754

Fedaykin
Participant

Lifted from Wikki to save typing! 🙂

The Tupolev Tu-95 (Russian: Туполев Ту–95 NATO reporting name: Bear) is a large, four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform. First flown in 1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040! Potential 88 years service ! amazing 😮

.

Only if you count the date the platform came into service not airframe life. The variant currently in service is the Tu-95MS which was built from the 1980’s into the 90’s making them some of the youngest strategic bombers currently in service. So it isn’t a potential 88 years at all. I believe new engines and propellers are being built for them or being considered, for its cruise missile launch platform work it is perfect.

January 12, 2013 at 3:16 pm in reply to: Future UK MPA/ASW aircraft #2261764

Fedaykin
Participant

If we are talking about a twin engine turbo prop type to operate in the Falklands, out of the MPA available I wouldn’t be looking at a Jetstream variant. It is not a bad idea especially as I see things getting a bit more tense when oil and gas start pumping.

In that scenario I would argue that the best solution is tendering to industry for a turnkey lease solution. Something like a Dash-8 or ATR-72 MPA, nice cheap to operate regional turboprops that have a number of companies offering solutions. Another thing this turn key MPA asset should not be an RAF or RN opperated type, far more logically it should be a Falkland Islands Government asset. Operating under the banner of a coastguard associated with fisheries protection and the FIDF.

In that scenario there might even be logic operating them out of Stanley rather then MPA.

For example Cobham provide the Dash-8 for the Australian Coastguard, I bet they would bid to supply such a turnkey solution:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEG0_gRbNBk
http://www.cobham.com.au/mission.htm
From the inside with some pumping sounds 😉

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nibgpHBkrog

January 11, 2013 at 6:31 pm in reply to: UK Sea King retirement will leave gaps #2007141

Fedaykin
Participant

The Sea King when it entered UK service in 1969 was state of the art for the era. It was an all weather ASW type that could prosecute a target in the seas of the North Atlantic. It’s auto hover capability was apparently amazing at the time! It had a superior systems fit to American SH-3D and was chosen over the Chinook for the role by the RN.

So I don’t quite see what you are getting at Alan. Is the carrier over budget…yes. Will an ASaC be there when the start sea trials…no. But it will take several years to work the ship up into a fully effective weapon system.
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