When HRH William Wales did it in Canada, I recall the news reports saying that Canada were the only operators still doing it.

Wow resurrection of a 9 year old thread

A few cargo C295s to go with an order of MPA variants would make more sense, might even bring down overall unit costs.

But I’ve argued this combination to death in other threads

With Multi-role, there is also the element of Swing role,

An F16 for example can still fly a COIN orbit, loaded mostly for ATG, but still has it’s radar and enough hard-points to carry enough AAM to keep any potential airborne threat at a distance.

Urinals are, from what the USN says and from what those who have done plumbing maintenance aboard ship say, more frequently plugged-up or otherwise defective… to the level of requiring nearly twice the man-hours per urinal as per toilet.

Can be summed up and blamed all in a single word …. Gum.

I’m confused by that article. I understood and previous images showed the MT30s in place as the blocks were built around them.

For these to be lifted onto the ship as described, they must sit very high up, and in an area not yet covered by hanger or deck structure?

Excuse the thread hijack but the Caravelles, why do some have the extended spine running down from the tail when others of apparently the same version don’t.

THe Luxair and the Sterling are both listed as 6s

I agree with Nicolas about the consolidation of the US industry, but I also blame the US DOD constantly looking for a one size fits all answer.

Previously the inventory had perhaps too many role specific aircraft, but the worked coherently with a structure. For example: A10 (ground attack), F16 (light bomber/fighter), F15 fighter interceptor.
There are other types that could be mentioned F14, F18 (original), EA6/A6.

While I understand the need to drawdown the number of types, I think there is still a place for specific role aircraft.

Where industry has helped itself, is that current types such as F16 now have so many “after market” options – extended range with conformal tanks, radar tweaks, weapons integration that was paid for by a foreign user, – All things that a replacement now needs to have as standard.

Now a days, industry seem to have a design on their drawing boards, and then try to make it fit into what the DOD are asking for. The F35 might have begun as a good like for like replacement for the F16, but it’s got to replace the USM and RN Harrier, so they had to cut a whole vertically through it for a lift fan. Oh and it’s to be fired off an aircraft carrier as well, requiring further redesign … Where do we put the tail hook?

Another example was the tanker contract, Boeing had an idea and thought the could talk the DOD around to what they were offering, but were caught out by Airbus actually offering more than the original requirement

As I said at the start both DOD and Industry are as bad as one another in my view