The Officer Down Memorial page lists 17,810 deaths of Policemen in service in the USA. This year there are 131 so far with 46 of those being killed by gunfire.

The better you arm the Police, the better armed the criminals will be. no-one knows the truth about what happened yesterday yet. It is an absolute tragedy, but would being armed have given them a better chance? If they were shot as they walked through the door it is very doubtful.

The British Police should remain unarmed except in exceptional circumstances. Arming every beat Bobby will just make the criminal element even more aggressive. If we have people as well trained as those guarding the Royal Family accidentally discharging their weapons accidentally in a Royal Palace, what could we expect of ordinary Bobbies?

Arming all Police Officers would be a retrograde step in my opinion. If a criminal expects the Police to be armed it will encourage them to have an attitude where they consider it prudent to shoot the Police Officer as they have nothing to lose.

Regards,

kev35

“Alpha One are pleased to announce…..”

Maybe someone like EN830 (wake up Ian!) can explain more about the implications of a change in Company name? Why was it changed again in the last few days from Alpha One Manx? I assume there is a reason and no doubt a certain cost attached to such a name.

With a revised??? start date of 14th December, on a revised??? route with no bookings accepted until 23rd November one has to ask exactly how this constant chopping and changing is going to inspire customer confidence? I would be interested to know what has happened regarding passengers booked on any of his previously advertised routes? (Assuming, of course, that there were any bookings.)

How are the routes being chosen? It seems like a pin is being stuck in a map and it’s a case of OK we’ll start from there. It would be interesting to see if flights do go from one fixed point to another, or whether or not it is possible that routes may actually change in flight? It would be a great gimmick, he could call it Martin’s Mystery Tours.

Sadly, the only mystery at the moment is how long this charade will continue before it all comes to a grinding halt and people find themselves very much out of pocket.

Regards,

kev35

I think you’ll fine that its those out there who still have a bit of good old British get up and go about their person, whom you will have to indoctrinate with your negative sentiments Lancman!

:diablo:

I still have a little get up and go and so spent Sunday helping out with a Historic aircraft. Needless to say it wasn’t the Vulcan.

Now, many supporters have invested in the project to restore 558 to the air. Correct me if I’m wrong, but is it true you no longer have access to the aircraft? But access can and will be provided for another £50? The aircraft is purchased for the ‘Nation’ but the Nation aren’t allowed to see the aircraft.

So, you’re going to buy a new house, but the rules are that you aren’t allowed to see progress of the work unless you pay, there is no guarantee that work will be completed, if you don’t pay more money the work already done will be demolished, and, Oh! By the way, we’re not exactly sure how much the final price will be.

If you invest in schemes like that one can only conclude that some people have more money than sense.

Regards,

kev35

Does anyone else find this constant begging for cash, especially from those who have supported the project most a little bit disturbing? Is it not more than a little irresponsible to encourage engineers to leave jobs to work for the project without being sure they have the money they need to ensure the security of those jobs? It’s really trying to tug at the heartstrings yet again. They talk about £350,000 in the short term as though it’s a mere trifle. They say they were assured that sponsorship was forthcoming. Doesn’t the fact that no-one has come forward with that sponsorship indicate that either:

a) Potential sponsors do not believe they will get adequate return on their investment.

b) The Vulcan is not the icon of the Cold War they claim it to be.

c) Potential sponsors do not have faith in the management of the project to see it through to fruition.

d) The sponsors do not believe that the project will earn enough revenue from airshows to make it viable.

I think, as I always have, that it is a non-starter and if the project fails I wonder whether or not VTTS will eventually scrap 558 as they have said in the past?

And if the project does fail I doubt that the HLF would ever look favourably on another aviation related project again.

Regards,

kev35

Seeing as I’m not very good, it won’t be an issue regarding publication. And as for passwords I personally don’t see the need for them to ‘protect’ my photographs. As for what happens when I’m dead I can’t really say it concerns me.

Regards,

kev35

Bruce.

Just the chance to visit is appreciated. Photographs would be an added bonus. I’m sure I can say that we are all grateful for the opportunity to visit at a time when you are normally closed.

Regards,

kev35

From Sauron.

“Apparently there have been recent clashes between ethnic factions in England as well.”

I take it you are referring to the recent well publicised clashes in Birmingham?

If so, I believe the cause is said to be an alleged gang rape of a schoolgirl of West Indian origin by a group of Asian youths. No rape was reported to the Police but the West Indian Community wanted some form of action. The Police are pretty much stuck in the middle here because as there is no crime reported they have nothing to investigate. This led to numbers of Black and Asian youths fighting over a period of several nights which resulted in the deaths of one young man in each Community. In the past few days a Muslim plot in a local Cemetery has been desecrated and the graves vandalised. Messages were left saying the attack was the work of a group called Black Nation. However, it has been reported that it is the work of a right wing group in an attempt to incite further hatred between the two communities.

Compared to Paris it is on a very small scale and for a very different reason. The area concerned was the venue for much more serious rioting and widespread looting twenty years ago, IIRC around the time of the Brixton, Toxteth and Bristol riots.

One thing that always puzzles me. If you live in a poor, run down area, much as I do, can anyone explain how the situation will improve by destroying the few resources that already exist?

Regards,

kev35