David Burke, Hi,
Q: “Did it play a role in shorterning the Falklands War?”
A: “Sure as hell it did”.
The Argies knew, at the moment that we bombed the Stanley runway from Ascension, that the Brits were very serious (as long as Maggie Thatcher was in charge).
They (and the Americans) knew that if push came to shove we could bomb Buenos Aires. And had the ability to do so. It sharpened minds – and brought a small degree of reality into Argentine military/political thinking. What the Argie politicos, and macho militarists, had envisaged as taking the Argentine civil population’s minds off their home inadequate civil government (i.e. the invasion of the Falklands) was suddenly shown to be highly dangerous. High pensions, and landed estates, for the Generals/Admirals/Air-Marshals suddenly became very dodgy! They packed it in fairly quickly. Not entirely unknown for politicos/military in them parts when confronted with decisions that make their comfortable retirements slightly suspect!
I need say no more
Resmoroh

What Odds?

At the height of the Cold War it was often said that the Optimist learns Russian, but the Pessimist learns Chinese – and so it has transpired.
I have enjoyed this thread, with all its supporters and denigrators hurling verbal hand-grenades at each other from the safety of their reinforced computer trenches.
I have just read the good Dr Pleming’s CV. Much of his experience (including his PhD) is about as much use as a chocolate fire-guard when it comes to aviation project (and person) management. It shows! I wonder who appointed him?
To add some spice to the debate how about some brave soul contacting William Hill (or similar) and asking for odds on whether 558 will ever fly again, or become a ground-runner, or go to the USA, or just rot and become Pots ‘n Pans! These could be updated weekly, or daily, as FACTS (rather than mere opinions or suppositions) emerge. The Mods on this Forum could have a little window with the current odds displayed. Bookies hate to lose money!
And you might like to put your own money where your mouths have been!!
HTH
Resmoroh

Met Recce Shacks

Hello All,
Two questions about Shacks:
1 Were any more Shacks modded for Met Recce on Grapple other than MR 1 VP263? Seems odd that if that was the case then if that a/c goes u/s then yr Met Recce capability has gone Tango Uniform (and Grapple was a fairly big Operation!!!).
2 Does ‘special fitment’ mean the installation of Autolycus? I know what that did – but was there any other piece of kit that had to be referred to by some code phrase of the day?
TIA
Resmoroh

Bruggen 130, Hi,
I suspect that if and/or when the UK Govt changes it’s colour then the Branson munificence may also change its colour?!! That letter in the Daily Telegraph is, in my opinion, no more than drowning men clutching at straws. I wonder who put them up to it?
But to more immediate matters. The TVOC site won’t answer. The Pprune site is quoting XH558 as being “grounded”, and the staff having been given 1 month’s notice (I presume this latter is done when a company is about to go Tango Uniform in order to avoid costly litigation (wish I was a lawyer)).
Does anybody (a) know what is really going on, and (b) be prepared to utter reality to the Press and The Net? Or are they all running around like chickens with their heads cut off wishing somebody had shouted “Somebody do something” before the head was removed.
Makes the current banking ego/greed/disaster look like a spat at a children’s tea-party.
Appalled
Resmoroh