I work literally 3 minutes from MOSI and it has been allowed to decline since Col. Davis left. Money is spent on the most ridiculous things! For example there was recently advertised, an exhibition of photos of people smiling yet there is no exhibition space actually dedicated to the Station’s role in history. It is across the road from the terminus of the Bridgewater and Rochdale canals and Adjacent to the Manchester Bury and Bolton, Manchester and Salford Junction and the Manchester Ship Canal but there is no mention at all of the inland waterways of the area. When the staff are doing presentations they have to bellow to the visitors as there is no P.A. system. Most of the trained conservators and guides are being laid off and replaced with security guards. Network rail are proposing to cut off the rail access to MOSI and demolish the grade 1 listed viaduct in order to build a chord at Ordsall. The roof in the Air and Space building leaks all over the exhibits and many have tarps over them to protect them from damage. The main gates have been covered with advertising boards so the place looks permanently closed, this is an attempt to herd visitors in to the entrance hall where they get mugged by the ‘Chuggers’ employed to obtained donations. I probably donate about £20 a month to various projects there directly but I can see that stopping unless the rot is reversed.
On the flip side, the Planet recreation and Agecroft no2 are immaculate and the quality of work undertaken on the air and space exhibits is first class. A quick look around inside the Shack is a revelation and the Bristol Belverdere cockpit, still complete with mascot and period maps, is a delight!

Port of Amsterdam to….
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Port of London

Now this is a Pup

(First page in a few that I haven’t posted the first picture, how odd LOL!)

Thanks chaps – but, none of that answers my point. The three examples I gave, were very efficiently – according to reports – killed by the Police. There have been at least another three examples I could have given that reached the same conclusion – instant death.

What was it about the Woolwich killing that appeared to alter the situation?

Based upon my personal experiences of similar situations – although a long time ago, I do not think that Police judgment and skill with small arms is to be trusted. Far better to use selected Service units on permanent rotated standby to deal with any similar eventuality.

If, as I believe could be the case, the events of Woolwich, in time, become more frequent then, the use of Army units might become the norm.

Very straightforward answer to this, it is down to the perception of the situation at the time and the resource available. The words ‘Armed Police’ are key, they would be armed with Semi-Auto MP5s or a Glock 17, both loaded with 9mm dumdum rounds, designed to lose energy on penetration and therefore not carry through and wound passers by. One of those in the thigh will ruin any future chance of appearances on Strictly Come Dancing.
The Drunken Lawyer was, from memory, waving a shotgun around and had fired out of the window, the officer in this case is refered to as a Police Marksman who would have used a HK G3 with a 7.62mm un-jacketed round. Again, this round is an impact round, designed to cavitate inside the body and even an extremity hit by such ammunition is going to sign you off work permanently. This is a precision weapon, specifically intended to take out someone who represents a significant danger (as a man waving a shotgun a people does!) from a safe distance. In the desperately sad case on the tube, it was assumed that the back pack was a bomb, armed police (note, not Police Marksman/men) responded as they had been trained to do so, minimizing the perceived risks to the public.
I am not familiar with the case of the pensioner so cannot comment.

However

There is a general understanding that ‘Shoot to incapacitate’ is not a recommended procedure as a wounded person can still use a back up weapon or a suicide device. I think it is likely that the two men in London were very, very lucky.

Fighter Recon?

Supermarine Swift FR5

So Mr Oliver has got bored of his toys, has he?

Actually thinking about it, I thought that this was an asset of the Oliver Merlin Trust? Has he shut it down?

Smart a**e LOL!

Challenge accepted though,

Single engined Boeing with Mahogony main spars