If this was for any other unit within the Armed Forces yes, but this is the SAS we are talking about.

Dave

It won’t be the SAS operating them though and due to the helicopters size I’d be expecting the RAF to lay claim to them and since they likely won’t want them them in the supply chain this is likely a non-story. Specialised variants of the AW101 or EC725 would make more sense.

13th May 1985 the police in Philidelphia dropped a bomb from a Pennsylvania State police helicopter in an attempt to dislodge some militant types from their compound after they had fired on police serving a warrant. Resulted in 11 dead and dozens of destroyed buildings due to the fire it started.

Another aspect of the gunships evolution- has any consideration ever been given to the construction of a modern AC-130 “Lite” ?

The AC-47 is still popular in South America and the RAF did a study into conversion of some of it Hercs to gunships. The expense of a full AC130 conversion is to much for anyone other than the USAF, even the US Marines probably wont be able to fund the AC130s it wanted after its recent experiences in the Gulf War.

So would a modern conversion of a CN235, C295 or C-27J to an “AC” standard with only a couple of 20-30mm cannon on board plus a suitable sensor suite be capable of providing a persistant fire support weapon for mission were an AC130 is too much but some of its capabilities are prefered such as being able to engage targets close to friendly troops?

Ireland
8 EH101 Merlins
12 AB139 Wolfhounds
5 C27J Spartans
6 Cessna Caravans
24/6 MiG-35A/Bs
2more CN235MPAs
8more PC9Ms
4more EC135s

thats about it!oh and he IAC has been given the honour of selecting the name for the AB139 and whispers coming from the IAC suggst the name is more than liely to b wolfhound!

Hm, liked it till I seen the MiGs! How about-
8 Merlins
12 AB 139s
4 C295s
2 C130 (not Js but updated Hs)
4 extra CN235MPA
6 PC12s
4 extra EC135s
12 EF Typhoons (pay for use of NFTC to do the jet training)

And to keep military aircraft flying military missions a civil air service of
5 AB139 air ambulances
1 Bombardier Challenger 800 VIP
2 PC12 VIP
2 AB139 VIP
Garda air assests become Garda manned and maintained
and get the CG contract to include something a bit sexier than 30 years old S61Ns

The only time I have ever heard about an anti-sub Sea Harrier was in The Hunt for Red October (the book). I have a major bone to pick with the movie adaption of that book-wheres the Royal Navy?!

Anyhow. I have seen the helicopter launch start even being proposed for Hornets but that was back in the ’80s. The concept of launching planes from destroyers, submarines etc has been mooted frequently but is generally held back due to the problems of space and maintainence.

Looks about 15 ft max, which makes an average sized beastie. Biggest recorded live snake, a Reticulated Python, 32ft 9.5in, shot dead in Indonesia in 1912. Geberally anacondas are up to 25 feet in lenght but are generally bulkier and outweigh pythons of the same lenght.

If a 33 foot snake isn’t the stuff of nightmares for you the heaviest snake ever recorded was an Anaconda shot in Brazil in 1960. This snake was never officially weighed, but at 27 feet 9 inches long with a 44 inch girth it was estimated to weigh over 500 lbs.

Rumours persist of bigger snakes being spotted with 40-60 footer reports not being entirely uncommon and there have been reports from reliable and some not so reliable sources that anacondas twice that size have been encountered.

Fastest snake is the Black Mamba which will run you down at 12mph

Brand new F5s are potentialy the best option then.

Possibly as silly as it sounds.

Well, since the production of the plane ceased jet fighters have grown to become more expensive and complex and if you want a cheap supersonic jet you end up with used F16s or Russian and Chinese stuff. The infrastructure for the F5 is there in Mexico, as it is for many other countries round the world.

I’m not suggesting even building F20s. A dirt cheap, clear weather, supersonic fighter, with a decent gun and WVR missiles, and in Mexicos case it doesn’t even need a decent radar with the great AEW aircraft avaiable. Countries with clear weather and no need of anything more complex that an F5 should have a shiny new 0 hour airframe available for purchase rather than used F16s, F18, Kfirs or what ever, or having to go out and build infrastructure for overly complex Russian or Chinese designs. If intercepting airliners or drug smugglers, in Central or South America, or in the Middle East when you need a dirt cheap jet whilst rebuilding your airforce, is your main concern surely an F5 is all u need.

Any support for that concept.

I’ll take this story to the Fortean Times board if thats ok with you. I have an account there myself.