JonesyRE: Whats your favourite car?
Dazza I’m right with you there pal.
TVR Cerbera is one of the most beautiful pieces of automotive creation ever. Shame about the reliability problems but the exhaust note of the motor, when it does actually work, is soul stirring!
Attachments:
JonesyRE: Comments Please
I dont know about this Richard.
Consultancies are truly wonderful things and I wish you every luck with your chosen career but, lets face it, even a mere enthusiast could have come up with the Jetstream 31 and a quick scan of BAe’s asset management site could tell you that there are plenty out there, including two of the upgrade Jetstream 32EP hot n’high variants (which may be more applicable to Ja’s environment) available for lease.
Further more a quick net surf could pick out sites like http://www.airtrading.com which has a fairly wide scope of available aircraft like DHC-6’s, Shorts 330/360 or EMB-110/120’s in either passenger or cargo configs. A futher inquiry on the net can identify the offices, for example, of Embraer Australia. A lot of this a person with a bit of knowledge could cover without resorting to “potentially” costly consultants.
Regards,
Steve
JonesyRE: Comments Please
Brutal honesty here Ja, taking into consideration that my field isnt really civvy aircraft either, the Su-80 looks wonderfully smart, but, according to Flugrevue isnt going to be certified in mother Russia until sometime next year.
After that I think questions about spares and maintenance support would bother me a bit – how many Sukhoi affiliated maintainers are there in your part of the world pal?
What exactly are youre requirements in pax/payload/range?
cheers,
Steve
JonesyRE: Antonov OKB
Ja,
Had a look through a few sources I know and came up with nothing I’m afraid. I do know that the Antonov organisation is homeported in Kiev in the Ukraine, so, if you were to contact either of the below listed organisations they may be able to point you in the right direction:
Ministry of External Economic Relations
Pushkinska ul. 6, 252034 Kiev
Ukraine
Tel: +380 044 229 47 83
Fax: +380 044 229 26 10
Ukrinmash, State Scientific and Production Foreign Trade Association
30 Akademika Beletskoco Straat, 25156 Kiev
Ukraine
Tel: +380 044 483 8054
Fax: +380 044 483 3082
Hope this is of some use mate.
Steve
JonesyMany thanks……..
…..gents, for reassuring me that I’m not completely losing the plot! I had previously thought that the Electra’s were long since gone and thought that seeing one flying overhead may be a hint to go and get myself checked out.
I can rest a touch easier knowing that there are actually a few left here and any I see in future are not the products of work-related stress.
Regards,
Steve
JonesyRE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?
IMHO the best all-round Fighter-Bomber of WW2 was the Focke-Wulf Fw190.
It was versatile in the same way that the DH Mosquito was it was used as an fighter, bomber, interceptor/bomber destroyer, reconnaisance and even (in prototype form I believe) a torpedo bomber from the planned German aircraft carrier.
The Allies didnt have a superior fighter until the later mark Spitfires and Mustangs came out. Definitely the best in my book.
Regards,
Steve
JonesyRE: Gannet AEW Mk3 XL502 (G-BMYP)
LAST EDITED ON 06-11-01 AT 02:27Â PM (GMT)[p]David,
Thanks for the info even if it wasnt quite what I was hoping for! I would very much like to see a Gannet flying if only for the fact it might be noticed and remind some of the plant life in the Admiralty that a rotary wing platform just isnt sufficient to provide thorough, high endurance AEW coverage to the fleet…grrr!
Damien,
Thanks to you also. Thunder and Lightning is your site? You sir have my deepest appreciations on an excellent piece of work. I was looking for info on the Supermarine Swift a little while back and found everything I needed on your pages – thanks!
Warm regards,
Steve
JonesyGannet AEW Mk3 XL502 (G-BMYP)
Hello Gents,
I’ve been following the current FOAEW project being run by the DPA for the new UK CVF carriers fairly closely and it led me to have a look at the last fixed wing type to provide the service for the Fleet.
Naturally my first stop was the excellent Thunder and Lightning site and lo it provided enough detail to keep me happy for a while. Whilst reading I noticed a commentry on a near-airworthy example held by Imperial Aviation with a note suggesting that it may be returned to the display circuit sometime this year.
I was wondering if anyone knew whether this had happened or knew of the Gannets’ participation in any display’s next year?
Thanks and Regards,
Steve
JonesyRE: SAM Systems
Eclipse,
Thanks very much. I’d quite forgotten where I’d read that!.
I think that I must have skimmed over that article (the JDW one) far too quickly because it was far less sketchy and, in fact, quite a degree more thorough than I recalled.
My apologies to Janes!
Steve
JonesyRE: SAM Systems
“Some years ago the Russians actually demonstrated their system in UAE in front of a fairly distinguished international audience. Apparently many were left open-mouthed. The S300 can kick @rse”
You sure that was the S-300 that was demonstrated? I know they did a fairly tremendous demonstration of the Pantsyr SHORADS system that led to a UAE purchase of 50 units a year or so back.
I have read recently that the Israeli airforce was very bothered about the possibility of the S-300 being deployed by some of its neighbours and aquired at least a part system. The story they released is that theyve been able to conjure up a defensive system (presumably some form of active expendable decoy) to specifically defeat it? The article was remarkable in its sketchiness though!
“Years ago AFM ran an article about the RAF Police and their use of captured Argentinian AA systems to “trap” low flying RAF pilots. They mentioned that the Rapier system is so unreliable that a joke did the rounds that RAPIER is actually an anagram for REPAIR”
I’ve not heard about the RAF Police using what I’d assume to be the Skyguard AAA guidance radars to monitor aircraft flight parameters (a lad I know in RAFP doesnt even think that is within his job description!) as airfield defence, and as such those systems and the 35mm AAA pieces appropriated at the same time, fall under the control of the RAF Regiment?
One thing that is definitely right on was the unreliability and “modest” effectiveness of the original Rapier system. In 1982 things were so bad that the Royal Artillery units stationed around San Carlos found that the alloy retaining pins holding the missiles on the rails would shear and dump the missiles onto the ground with a very uncomfortable frequency.
Like many systems though, most notably Patriot in 91, it is putting a system in an operational environment that can bring these deficiencies into sharp relief so that they can be resolved. The current version of the system Rapier2000 or Field Standard C has evolved from that into, allegedly, a very capable system.
Not that I expect you, with your delusional French sympathies, to give any Brit gear a fair break though Puffadder!!! }>:D
Regards,
Steve
JonesyRE: SAM Systems
Not going to shout too loudly for the US corner as I think that a lot of what theyve said is probably fair comment!
(hope you didnt hurt yourself when you fell off your chair then Garry!)
The effectiveness of the later Strela and Igla MANPADS was testified to very clearly with the setting of the 15000ft height restriction in Allied Force. Individually the latest Stinger RMP block I’s and II’s and Shorts Starstreak’s maybe more capable than Igla but, at this end of the spectrum, I’d assume that numbers in the field are more important for the virtual attrition effect on an attacker. I’m making the assumption here of course that Igla would be cheaper than either of the other two systems but I feel relatively comfortable that that would be the case. My choice would therefore be for the Russian Igla system.
If the night/adverse weather capabilities are all there with the Pantsyr-S1 I’d not expect to be looking anywhere other than Russia for a point defence system either. I dont quite see where the Tor-M1 fits into the integrated air defence picture really as its too short ranged to be a battlefied system and very powerful and complex to be a point defence system.
The Buk-M1 if it is half as good as the figures alone state would be very high on my wish list for a medium SAM system. The new US HUMRAAM system, as bought by the Egyptians and one of the Scandinavian countries (Norway?) sounds interesting though. The theory I’ve heard states that the missiles can take direction from a local AWACS platform and thus not illuminate theyre own position with a radiating search/track radar. The ramifications of this are quite enormous really as it means a SAM trap could be almost completely undetectable until it was sprung.
Eurosam have rolled out a ground based variant of the Aster naval SAM in this category which has all the attributes of the ship based system. Its recently come to light that I am a big fan of this system, BUT, I dont think that the same guidance limitations exist in the land based application that warrant the extra expenditure on an active missile.
In absence of confirmation of the HUMRAAM system I’d have to opt for the Buk-M1 for a medium range, battlefield, area defence weapon.
As to the long range strategic and sub-strategic systems I dont think theyre is much better out there, for land-based applications, than a few batteries of S-300’s. OK the Patriot system can engage 9 concurrent targets against the S-300/Flap Lid 6, but, when you can simply just deploy another battery or adjunct tracking radar what does that really matter anyway. Also as Garry pointed out on the Gorshkov thread there is a developing range of actual missiles that fit into the S-300 system for extra flexibility.
Probably worthy of mention here is the Taiwanese Tien Kung theatre SAM system. This seems to be both powerful (Mach 4 and 100km range) and accurate according to released specs and test data but I’d say that there are questions that would have to be asked about long term support, resupply etc
What I dont agree with, and its a relatively small nitpick just to bring Garry back to the real world, is the cr@p about the Tor-M1. Rapier/Jernas, Crotale NG and the Swedish BAMSE are all every bit as capable at engaging PGM’s and cruise missiles as Tor albeit at shorter ranges (about 8km for Rapier/Crotale and 12km for BAMSE) and with lesser mobility. Whinge over 😀
Steve
JonesyRE: SAM Systems
Any chance you could give us a few more specifics Frank? 🙂
What size is my country, what is the terrain like, how advanced are my communications links i.e good roads, rail infrastructure, telecomms etc. and importantly what threats am I likely to face?
Do I have to worry about seaborne strikes from cruise missiles or does my aggressive landward neighbour have 1500 MiG-19’s and an attitude problem!!!
This all changes the equation on what sort of defence is a) possible and b) necessary.
Regs,
Steve
JonesyRE: Is Concorde fit???
Precisely right Phil,
The big question is how come an engine fire on take off developed into the terrible events that transpired.
Isnt the standard procedure in such an event to ditch the fuel, apply full opposite rudder, modify the power to the equivalent opposite engine and try for a go-round and emergency landing?
A former Concorde Capt. was interviewed on BBC and he stated quite clearly that the type has a lot of available thrust and that the engine out on t/o, whilst being one of the most severe calamaties that can befall an aircraft, possibly was a recoverable situation.
It will be interesting to see what the air data recorders and ATC transcripts come back with.
JonesyRE: Is Concorde fit???
Precisely right Phil,
The big question is how come an engine fire on take off developed into the terrible events that transpired.
Isnt the standard procedure in such an event to ditch the fuel, apply full opposite rudder, modify the power to the equivalent opposite engine and try for a go-round and emergency landing?
A former Concorde Capt. was interviewed on BBC and he stated quite clearly that the type has a lot of available thrust and that the engine out on t/o, whilst being one of the most severe calamaties that can befall an aircraft, possibly was a recoverable situation.
It will be interesting to see what the air data recorders and ATC transcripts come back with.
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