Hi All,
Very sad news again another star to shine above us all. RIP Mr Sledge.

Geoff.

Hi All,
CD,
The A-10 was designed purely as a reaction of an aircraft that the US could have done with in Vietnam, The Harrier was as far as I am aware he RAF’S answer to a similar need for the European theatre and an aircraft that was VSTOL in design in need of WW3 being fought in Europe and envisaging that most airfields would be damaged halting fixed wing operations.
I may not know much about what the foreseen capabilities of the F-35 as apposed to the Harrier but IMO and that is all it is don’t forget, what benefits has the F-35 over the Harrier ? The F-35 still carries outside weapons stores on pylons just like the Harrier thus making what supposedly stealthy quality it allegedly has useless.
The Harrier had one engine doing the work of the F-35’s two I have said before about another post saying it’s lugging dead wait around until landing or take off, so in my mind given all the money that has been spent on the F-35 it could have been spent in more development of either a better Pegasus or new design engine with the same layout if you have to have a second engine then the layout of the Harrier engine and it’s thrust vectoring with wing puffer jets is the way to go, I just cannot understand why they went with a separate lift engine when the Russians gave up on their lift engines in the yaks I don’t know I am not an engine designer.
What was wrong with upgrading the radar on the Harrier ? Everything you mentioned could have been achieved for the Pilot’s workload just the same as the maintenance every aircraft has these issues not until it’s in service and the maintenance crews can actually field test these aircraft can any sense be truly made out of the flight per Hr’s of maintenance it’s one thing to do maintenance and fly the aircraft in test conditions they will never realistically produce the same results as when in theatre or everyday on the line use all the tests are for when said and done is to do A/B/C or D and if a tester thinks it can be done then it gets the nod.
Yes I remember all the negative story’s about the Typhoon and yes I realise that this country cannot produce aircraft anymore but let’s not forget all the design from paper to first flight changes depending on Who wins elections,Who benefits from whoevers involvement the political side of the coin so to speak etc.etc. all these little moves come into play and of coarse those who are against whatever will always use it as ammunition against the apposing side of any argument even if it’s not true all said and done what is wanted and what is needed are pitted against each other and affecting the design of any aircraft, for example (Please correct if wrong :eagerness:) Didn’t the RAF want guns in the Typhoon but politics got in the way as it did with other designs in the past ? Wasn’t there story going around that they had weights in the aircraft to balance the COG out ? To my mind it would make sense that all the Typhoons constructed be the same including guns as if I am not mistaken Germany/Italy and Spain all had them and we were the only ones that never or was that issue resolved ?
My main opposition o the F-35 is the cost and that the job it was designed for it cannot do as example some weapons are to large for the internal bays allegedly, in an exercise with Pacific area partners it was found not to be as stealthy as promised being shot down by lesser aircraft allegedly because it’s not a very good dog fighter, to my mind they have just given this aircraft to much to do in the first place along with adding extras on to it’s mission profile.
My alternative is develop the current aircraft and base designs on an evolutionary curve rather than cobble a mission then design an aircraft in this day and age, don’t forget the more this aircraft is delayed the more chance there is of an apposing programme to negate the so called advanced characteristics of this wonder weapon that can be developed, as with every advance in attack weapons it’s inevitable that defensive weapons are being designed at the same pace if not faster to counter any offensive weapon.

Geoff.

Hi All,
Love this shot of a bear.:eagerness:

Geoff.

Hi All,
I have just been thinking of what to write since reading this very sad news, I never new the man or met him and from what those who did have said here on this forum he was a true Gentleman my heart really goes out to his Family.
I have mixed emotions writing this on the one hand I feel like I have been punched in the gut and winded very badly total shock is what I felt when reading Moggys post but along with this sadness for the news of his passing and the trauma his Family have been caused is one of anger at the Woman/Criminal/Coward who selfishly drove away leaving Mr Gregory on the flaw in the road and can’t but hope that she will be charged with manslaughter at the least with her despicable act in this atrocious of all acts committed the two opposite ends of the spectrum One a Hero who would have sacrificed his own life for the better good the other a selfish callous killer whose only thought of the act was self preservation only to slink back after a guilty conscious has taken hold.
Good bye Mr Gregory never was the word Hero uttered in the same sentence as a pilots name deserved RIP and to his Family and close friends my thoughts are with you all.

Geoff.

Hi All,
Paul,
I thought at first you were on about the DVLA selling UK drivers license details to other country’s who are trying to track down drivers who rented vehicles abroad and allegedly committed vehicle and road offences. As for that video a time and a place for everything IMPO but if they had to do it say at a disused airfield it would not be so cool, doing in the streets and giving the authorities the finger is seen as being very cool, well until one of the retards has an accident.
My bit of anger is with an Amazon seller after ordering and paying for a book they decided to cancel the order without any reason, book was Spirit Of Britain First as recommended by Texas Tomcat, to top that both sellers have same books on EBAY at exactly the same time and one has now pushed his price up I dunno some days you just cant win. 🙁

Geoff.

Geoff.

Hi All,
Paul,
I thought at first you were on about the DVLA selling UK drivers license details to other country’s who are trying to track down drivers who rented vehicles abroad and allegedly committed vehicle and road offences. As for that video a time and a place for everything IMPO but if they had to do it say at a disused airfield it would not be so cool, doing in the streets and giving the authorities the finger is seen as being very cool, well until one of the retards has an accident.

Geoff.

Hi All,
I can think of several and not just because he is employed by a rival company, all in all the F-35 is taking so long to deliver on what was promised and still after having many millions more spent on it the job it was designed for has moved on now they are trying to play catch up at the rate it is going they will be into the development phase of the 6th Gen aircraft that some are now talking about.
To my mind they should quit and go back to basics take notice of what is realistic, there is no way on earth that this aircraft can become the successor to the Harrier or the A-10 just cannot escape the fact that it is a failed programme already and will only continue to eat money until somebody up the chain decides they want something different. To me it like reinventing the wheel yes it’s round but just look at the Spokes,The wood we used,Look it has this that and the other it’s well worth spending the extra money when it does the same job as the old one. I have said it before (Or words to that effect) they have tried to run before they could walk and should have spent the money more wisely on development of aircraft that are still capable of doing the job at hand.

Geoff.

Geoff.

Hi All,
Many thanks Nib100 and Wokka Bob.

Geoff.