The Apache order was one of the few good things the MoD has done in recent years, its just a shame, they have taken so long about it and allowed a private company to screw up the training programme.
The apache gives the army a quantam leap in capability and the ability to deploy massive fire power from HMS ocean. For the sort of wars that Britain tends to be involved today (sierra leone, iraq/afghanistan, etc) the apache is a great machine.

I disagree, the Apache is a nice thing to have but most of it’s missions can be done by other aircraft. HMS Ocean would be better off with Super Lynx 300 armed escorts with cannon and rockets and a flight of Harrier GR9s with Brimstone anti-armour missiles and Paveway IV bombs.

Super Lynx 300 info http://www.agustawestland.com/products01_01.asp?id_product=24
Future Lynx news http://www.agustawestland.com/communication08_01.asp?id_news=170&yy=2005

thats interesting..scrap to save money only to invest it to get something of the same..the F-35 completes the high – low mix..An f/a-22 fleet would be too expensive…

If the CTOL F-35A had 100% commonality with the F-35B accept for the lift system being replaced by fuel tanks and fixed structure, I’d keep it.

The F-35C has to be quite a lot different to the other two in terms of airframe and will present the high end of the USN JSF/F/A-18 mix. So if the US does develop the F/A-22 into something like the FB-22, I think they should design it to be carrier capable too.

Interesting proposals, here are some of my ideas.

1) Scrap F-35A and C variants and concentrate on STOVL F-35B for all operators (USAF, USN and USMC).

2) Develop a joint F/A-22 derivative for the USAF and USN.

3) Develop a affordable airframe to replace all the large aircraft such as transports, tankers, and AWACS type planes.

I stopped. I don’t think halting my life for two minutes to remember those who have had their lives taken away from them is too much to ask. My uncle was murdered a while ago. I think of him every day.

Still, Perhaps I’m just the sort of person who likes to make ’empty’ gestures.

That’s the point though, your Uncle and the dozens of other people murdered in recent weeks didn’t get a silence in their memory.

It seems like the media and politicians are only interested in dramatic murders.

No,I only ever stop for the war rememberance, all these others are political gimmicks everbody stood around wondering when the two minutes will be up.

I did stop but I have to agree with Swift. I thought the 2 minute silence for the death of Princess Diana was totally inappropriate too.

The Rememberance Day silence is a show of respect to those who fought for their country. The London bombing silence was a show of sympathy for the victims families who like many other families across the UK have their loved ones murdered everyday. It’s a kind gesture but a empty one in my opinion.

I’d like to see a attack helicopter version of the Sikorsky X2 armed with cannon, JCM missiles and APKWS rockets.

http://www.sikorsky.com/details/0,3036,CLI1_DIV69_ETI2088,00.html
The X2 demonstrator will feature a coaxial design (two rotors on the same axis) and a ‘pusher prop’ to supply auxiliary propulsion that will enable the aircraft to reach high speeds of 250 knots.