I think I read something about ship hanger sizes ages ago in relation to the Lynx so would apply to the Super Lynx, of course it could be total rubbish as well.

The Super Lynx order, for the RN atleast, is down to the fact that it’s so small (3 metres wide at the wheels, even narrower at the cabin) that a frigate or Destroyer can embark 2 in its hanger.

The AugustaWestland site doesn’t have dimensions for the AW149, but the smaller AW139, is 3.5m at it’s widest point (the tail plane).

Based on what I had read, about the hanger sizes on Frigates and Destroyers, I suspect that the extra width of even an AW139 would prevent embarking 2 aircraft, which would then beg the question of why bother with a single AW139/149 when a single Merlin already in service can be embarked.

The joint Army/Navy order I’m sure was a cost cutting measure, simply that to order a mix of SuperLynx for the RN and something bigger for the Army, would be vastly more expensive than the 70 SuperLynx that have been ordered.

It was restored at East Fortune (Museum of Flight) over a 5 year period 98-2003. Was housed temporarily at the Transport Museum until Kelvingrove’s own restoration was completed and ready to take the Spitfire in 2006.

I can almost see the end of the runway at Plant 42 from my front yard 🙂

And so was it a Senior Span as pictured above? or are we still trying to identify your U-2 ?

It’s not just Fleetlands, but DARA components in Perth too

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7228543.stm

wan’t there some mention of electifying the skin of the aircraft to create an “ionisation” field which would disrupt the radar waves?

Or was that some piece of comicbook propaganda that has stuck in my mind?

Name such occasions?

A warship has to go into port, does that make it an Army asset?

Thats why the US procured the B-1B and the B-2.

So by your own arguements for the Nimrod missle wagon being gifted to the Royal Navy, or indeed that that such a missle truck isn’t needed since the RN’s SSN can do the job.

Then yes a Warship should belong to the Army

The USAF has the B-1B and B-2 for just such occassions, but then again by you own arguement the USAF shouldn’t have B52s, B-1Bs or B-2s since SSNs are apparently so capable in your opinion.

Thats ‘all’ the need to do is it? Would you like to take a guess at how long a Nimrod derived bomber is going to last in defended air space?

Longer than it would when launching a Harpoon (AGM 84D) in a defended airspace over water, since the the current Storm Shadow has a stand off range quoted at 150km+ with an extended range Shadow Storm apparently in the works making it even more stand-off.

I refer of course to a Nimrod Missile truck rather than a bomb truck. Which thinking about it, limited recon-electronics to allow a duel role, an unrefueled range of 6000+ nm, a twin/triple pack of Storm Shadows on the MR4’s new wing hardpoint (depending on the loadings) plus apparently 4 more in the Bomb bay.
It suddenly becomes a formidable force multiplier, especially when the Typhoon and GR4 can only carry a pair of Shadow Storms each. And to me makes more sense than suggestions of a Herc or A400M missle truck.

Originally Posted by harryRIEDL
we are getting the pre productions F35B in 2009 and the F35B should be arriving to the USMC in 2011 and the first commission carrier is 2014 so there should at least a OCU unit of F35B so not quite true that we will JSF less

good news that the contracts should be start propping up soon

Yeah, we should have some. But it doesn’t look likely that we’ll have a carrier air group ready to go as soon as QE is.

I’m sure the government or one of the contractors will find a convenient delay so that QE and JSF timescales merge seamlessly both gaining operational around 2020 😮