I have little interest in current aircraft development, but I would make two points here.

1) Wouldn’t expecting the FAA to face combat with an upgraded Harrier be something akin to expecting the WW2 FAA to be operating an upgraded Sea Gladiator rather than an F4U or similar?

2) It is not possible to state it was ‘the wrong choice’ when you haven’t a clue as to the capabilities and problems of an upgraded Harrier. That statement is just wishful guesswork.

Moggy

Hi All,
Moggy,
My point about the upgraded Harrier is simply that they had plans for this but as already mentioned but where persuaded to back the white elephant that has promised all to everybody who got sucked into the programme as I have said there was an option for a navalised Typhoon it’s not that I don’t think the forces didn’t need to upgrade but at what cost and where do you have a cut off point and say enough is enough if the F-35 was as good as was the fanfare why have they just voted the continuation of the A-10 after all close air support is one of it’s major roles supposedly ?
I agree that replacing an aircraft with a similar like aircraft is defeating the object and like I said I agree upgrades are needed but not at the expense that has been pumped into this money pit, my other problem is they where really just getting the hang of the VSTOL world operating the Harrier then instead of walking a bit faster with the developments they had those who control the budget decided to go for the 100mt Gold medal and thus resulting with all the problems of the F-35 I like you do not follow the infinitely intense world of all the ins and out but I can see where good money is being thrown after bad if the F-35 had completed all the tasks without the problems that I have noticed and the videos that I have watched were major players have said that it simply cannot do what was advertised by the salesman and before you say it that probably happens to most programmes no matter what they but it’s the sheer lunacy hat sees money being thrown at programmes like this when the whole of our armed forces in the U.K. at least could have upgraded weapons I suggest.

Geoff.

Hi All,
Moggy,
Many thanks :eagerness: You don’t happen to recall the last turn out figures do you as 66% seems a poor turn out to me or is that about average ?

Geoff.

Hi All,
Never heard of the chap but all the same RIP Mr Braithwaite. :angel:

Geoff.

Hi All,
Anybody know what the turn out was like ?

Geoff.

Hi All,
Well don to everybody’s effort for making the air day a success a big round of applause well deserved. :applause: The Dove actually flew directly over our house what lovely site and sound. I was able to visit WR963 not long after her delivery and still in the all grey scheme had a great tour around her and inside her along with my ex-brother in law and his son and no I cannot remember the name of the chap who accompanied us inside but what a treat, that main spar was a real struggle me being 6’4″ and not a slim build.:highly_amused: but none the less I would love to thank him whoever he was, at the time there was a Spitfire parked at the back of the hanger but that was out of bounds.
Rich any ideas who’s that was ? if it helps time line wise, there was still the B-25 on the other side of the airfield in pieces awaiting collection. :eagerness:

Geoff.

I am very interested of seeing a picture of a jet aircraft in level non supersonic flight which causes this water spray effect

Hi Pim Pouw,
I wonder if the photo are of a slow pass and it made a high speed pass before or after the photo’s were taken ? Your reaction was the same as mine the only other spray I can only imagine he may be on about is possibly the air was moist and the blast of wind that follows the pass generating any ?? having said that by the altitude of the B-52 being lower than the carrier it would hard to have it engulf the deck or the sailors ??
Stratofreighter,
Loved the video some of it I have never seen before. :eagerness:

Geoff.

Hi All,
Just somebody wanting to make money thieving I suppose unless the exhibit was monitored by CCTV then the pillocks have got away with it, such a shame that a so called enthusiast is nothing more than a scumbag thief who likes nothing more than his own retarded pleasure in stealing and preventing others from enjoying a visit to the Vulcan exhibition. 😡

Geoff.

Hi All,
silver fox,
Absolutely correct you are.
CD,
Sorry to bang on about the cost that is my main opposition, will this help you out then ? The money being spent on the F-35 could have been spent better but instead those in power keep pumping more into an obvious failing programme that to be honest money will not fix. How is it the opposite direction ? I realise that programmes need developing and the money to back that up but I say again could have been better spent elsewhere.
As for the Typhoon follow this link and download the PDF that is available pretty interesting reading. http://www.eurofighter.com/news-and-events/2011/02/eurofighter-naval-version-makes-debut-at-aero-india-2011
Even wiki has some info here (Scroll to bottom of page). :- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurofighter_Typhoon_variants
As you quite rightly point out the UK would probably be the sole customer but IMHO it would be money well spent all you have to do is adapt the rear of the airframe for a hook, the reason why the government changed their minds was simply the bean counters as always giving the UK cheaper kit and expecting the forces to keep the same readiness which as you know is a false economy cheaper is not always better.
It may be ludicrous to scrap the programme but like I said what do we do keep pumping money into this bottomless pit that is F-35 as you put it wasting billions, again I ask where do you draw the line or is it when the US Congress/Generals/Company C/O’s/Investors etc.etc. finally get fed up and want to cancel then everybody is allowed to ? How can this put us back decades ? If it accomplished tasks given that gave the aircraft advantages over every other apposing Fighter/Bomber then we wouldn’t be having this discussion, the very fact we are doesn’t that sound some alarm bells ringing for you ? as if the aircraft was performing as advertised we would all be patting Lockheed on the back the fact it is not doing what it says on the tin is an obvious red flag.
Why would you scrap all the development info surely they could be given to Boeing as a guide to what is possible and what is not and would aid them further with their decisions, while you say my idea is a bad one I would throw your own questions back How do you know it would worse than the money pit ? How do you know it would cost more ? As far as a guarantee that’s impossible as the F-35 is proving.

Geoff.