Hi Nick,

Referring back to the subject of future air shows at Leuchars, my personal view is they could happen, taking into consideration that it will still be a diversion airfield. The former RAF Abingdon would be a good example to follow, (with no based aircraft), it has an air show annually in May, with participating aircraft flying in and a small static display,-maybe a future scenario for Leuchars on a grander scale?.

I’d go further and to ensure that there was an airshow of some description to continue at Leuchars, change the format to a Joint forces show.

We know that it’s Heavy Armour that’s moving in, so no reason why they can’t have some of that charging around the display line (far enough away from active runway to avoid FOD) get some TA or active units to run around out of IFVs Apache or Lynx overhead a few diesel bombs and flash-bangs going off.. Couple that with a displays from the RAF and any visitors.

The static would be a mix of Army and RAF, possibly something like an IFV sitting at/on the loading ramp of a C17, showing of the capability. Different army units displaying what they do – Signals, Artillery intermixed with RAF types on static display and RAF Regiment.

So not only would we get to keep Leuchars as a show, but the Army gets a massive recruitment day out of it as well.

Maybe I’ve been reading too much sci-fi again, but would it be too much of a stretch for the Long Range Strike bomber, to be a mother ship carrying 5 or 6 relatively small stealthy UCAVs. The UCAVs would be armed with maybe 3 or 4 JDAMs type weapons carried internally.
After being piggy backed most of the way in, they are either remotely or autonomously flown to targets dropping weapons on various targets before returning back to a safe landing zone. Range shouldn’t be an issue as they got carried on the way in.

I suppose they would be multi target multi use weapons, rather than single target single use weapons like a tomahawk cruise missile.

The DOD say they want the new bomber to be multi-use… Rather than armed UCAVs, you put sensor packages in the bays, or a recon version of the same UCAVS. Perhaps a mixed flight, performing corridor clearance for a second strike.

If we really want to be Sci-Fi about it, some form of airborne recapture of the UCAVs would be the next step.

A MK26 is an 80% scale kit build. They originated out of Australia.

You mean

Couple-of-olduns

Well done,

Was down there a couple of years ago, well worth a visit. We combined it with Carlisle to make a full day trip.

Getting back to AA, she didn’t receive the “back to flight” modifications. So she is well and truly grounded.

the RN Seaking will indeed be replaced by the Merlin (at least the HC.4’s, dont know about the AsAC.7’s). the RAF and RN Sea Kings that currently fly the SAR role (the yellow and red/grey helo’s) are to be replaced by S-92 from private contractors and operated on behalf of the HM Coast Guard.

Excuse the slight drift in topic but there was an interesting article regarding the retirement of the RN and RAF Seakings and the impact the private sector will have in this piece from the Guardian on the 31st of January this Year.

Link

I’m only speculating that it is sealing tape – although that’s what it looks like.

I expect they were being ultra cautious as it was a Royal that was flying it.

Look at the police cars in the background – there was probably a whole SAR team hidden in the woods – with SAS on the shoreline.

I know – I’m an old cynic……

Ken

It was done as part of the Royal vist. Kate was watching from the shoreline. The police were u to this and other dignitaries present. Not to mention massive press presence