Videos of the boats showed the FCRs ‘nodding’ when trying to acquire the helis. Dare one say multipathing? Or perhaps it’s just my opinion?

If you don’t have a 3d search radar the FCR has to nod to height find the target, not having seen the video I’m wondering if it was also to counter ship motion?

I seem to recall in the ASuW role it took four GR1Bs to do the job of one Buccaneer. There’s also the Gulf War 1 story recounted on Pprune recently where the Tornados had to depart the target area due to being low on fuel while the Bucc hung around, lased a target and dropped its bomb. It then climbed up and overtook the Tornado refuelling below it to land on at base first. Not to mention the planned round the world flight without air to air refuelling on the Bucc’s retirement from RAFG, that was queitly shelved as the Tornado wouldn’t have been able to do it. More here
I’m not saying the Tornado wasn’t better than the Buccaneer, but it wasn’t a real leap in capability.

I think there are photos of the recovery in the Fleet Air Arm musuem if it’s the one I’m thinking of. There’s also an explanation of the difficulties involved in the recovery which I think is why nothing was attempted in 1944. You could try contacting them.

I think a lot of larger aircraft use hydraulics because it’s only recently been possible to get electric actuators man enough to do the job but light enough to be used in an aircraft. I’m certain the Hercules has hydraulic flight controls, actually having just googled it they do along with the flaps u/c etc. with two hydraulics systems. There may be some sort of electric reversion mode but I think that refers to a back up pump.
The other problem is generating the required levels of power.
Westlands have been trying to replace the hydraulic controls on a Merlin with electric actuators but they’ve been having reliability problems.

Just a thought, I know there’s an RR Eagle left, but are there any Armstrong Siddeley Pythons extant?

Excellent stuff, your own work?
Any other versions such as TF.1 and T.3 on the way at all?

Thank you, I did the 3D modelling, while a couple of friends did the textures and the flight modelling. So the shade of Sky Type S is nothing to do with me!
No real plans for a TF.1 or 3 at this stage, being located close to the museum example it’s become apparent that there are a lot more differences between it and the S.4 than similarities so it’d be essentially a new model. As the S.4 took around 18 months from start to finish it’d be quite an undertaking, I have done stupider things though!

I can’t believe they’re at establishment! Must be a world first!
I’m curious as to whether those numbers are for those doing the job only, or includes those qualified but currently driving a desk etc. somewhere, I’m guessing the former as 33 seems about right to man two squadrons which is the intention.

Harriers having the glide performance of a brick are restricted in where they can operate over built up areas or only at a height that’s pointless for a flypast. I’d have to check the geography but I think if a Hawk has an engine failure in the vicinity of Buckingham Palace it should be able to divert to Northolt/a Park. A Harrier would probably land on the Palace, I think the only person to dead stick a Harrier was one of the test pilots whose response was along the lines of ‘******* that for a lark’.