Much ado about nothing.

I know of a tower where kids (dad was an ATCr) have been instructed to talk. The instructions were simple ones.

The term “SAY AGAIN” is used when the pilot feels he needs to hear it again IF HE HAS A PROBLEM.
Basically those jumping up and down think that the pilots are a bunch of ignorent morons who need their hands held constantly by ATC.

No where has it been reported that any pilot complained about the guys son giving a clearance. All the recordings you can clearly hear the pilots in good spirits and god dammit, heaven help everyone, actually having a laugh.

If the child gave an incorrect clearance im almost certain 100% the pilots would ask for confirmation and that dad would repeat the correct clearance.
Its not as if the kid was left to his own devices !!!!

What better way to foster a father/ son relationship?

Any of you guys pilots out there?
Never taken you son / daughter for a fly and let them handle the controls?

OMG panic now people…. lets all cotten ball everyone. Lets all keep the stick up our asses….

This is a non-event.. beaten up the by the usual media frenzy.

RAAF did not seriously consider an Su-30 purchase for even a second. Reason = politics and you know it, too.

.

WRONG!

The SU-30 series was on the short list of aircraft slated to replace the F-111/ F-18 Legacy fighters in 2001…….. It made it down to 4 aircraft, when the Request For Tender was thrown out the door and decided to buy into the F-35 program which was NEVER offered to Australia or even made a bid on the RFT.

Having seen them up close and personal… (MRH90 and Blackhawk)

My two bits:

■Cabin seats are considered capable of accommodating only soldiers who weigh less than 110 kilograms with their gear

The seats “look” more comfortable and stronger then those in the blackhawk.

■Clearance is so limited that soldiers have trouble getting in and out of the helicopter

Clearance is limited on the rear loading ramp yes, but the main cabin doors are taller then the Blackhawk… and just as wide.

■Cannot carry heavier infantry weapons, such as the Stinger man-portable surface-to-air missile

The cabin area is much larger then the blackhawk, so im at a loss as to what they mean by this.

■Floor is so sensitive that it can be cracked by boots

Hmmm, yes im sure the floor is made with .32 thou skins?!?!?

■The helicopter’s winch is not powerful enough for the fast-roping of commando teams.

This one is a corker!!!! Er.. if Commandos are going to fast rope…. they use a ROPE! DUH…. not the winch…

Who writes this stuff seriously?????

Here is yet another moron reported in the same paper….

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2009/02/24/30161_local-news.html

What is worse is the advert of so-called “popular” TV shows like Airport…. Which the UK, NZ and Australia all have their own version off running on TV.

These types of shows actually encourage people to act like total animals as far as im concerned.
Some of the staff also appear ill-equiped to handle drunks and obnoxious people.
Its simple, tell them to wait while i call sercurity to escort you out of the terminal.

Im amazed to read the the Kopp “bashing” has gone and now we actually discussing his views insteading of tearing them to shreads!!!!!

Guys I applaud you!!!!

On the subject of Australia, it has been mentioned many times over that the SU-30 series was on the short list for Australia back in 2000. We were even offered a licence to build!!!

The F35 was never offered or even made a bid during the request for tender. The Government simply scrapped the whole tender process and said, we are buying into the F-35 program…..

If he went to Afghanistan and was captured mixing with terrorists, sorry but he deserves all he gets. What other legitimate reason could he have for being there? It’s not like he can claim he just popped out for some fresh air, after all…

It amazes me how history is distorted and forgotten….

1) The Taliban was the GOVERNMENT of Afghanistan, it never has been a “terrorist” organisation, nor has it ever been delcared one by the USA.

2) The USA provided hundreds of millions of dollars to the Taliban run government for humanitarian aide prior the invasion.

3) The USA INVADED Afghanistan to supposedly find “Osama”… remember him?

4) The Taliban is fighting an invading force… and as such can fight it anyway it pleases…

Thats right WE INVADED THEM…. The holier then thou attitude is amazing.

Do we also forget that the USSR invaded Afghanistan in the late 1970s/ early 80s (at the request of the Afghan government) and that the USA then provided money and weapons to them (those wanting to throw out the afghan government) to repel “those commie *******s”….

So please explain who the terrorist supporters were? The USSR or the USA ?

Its evident that the main wheel retracts into the air intake almost vertically and only a small amount fits past (into) the wing root…

As for the weapons bay under the wing, the small fairing is the only “logical” choice, though it “looks” only large enough for one AAM.
As you can clearly see that the fairing, there is not actual join with the wing.
So it must open somehow….