I’ve been looking for a picture of an RAF nimrod with a full weapons load.

Seconded

My Google-Fu is too weak on this one (I’ve found a couple of nice pics of plastic kits but as a very angry poster here points out, that’s not quite the same; there’s also a good alternative history build of Nimrod as stand off nuke carrier)

I’d be amazed (but happy I love the looks of the design) if the Yak 141 had a better range than the Mig29k

There are absolutely areas where its performance would/would have beaten the various maritime Harriers

IF (and I do not have any data to hand to tell me yay or nay) it could launch and land like the Harrier then the ability to conduct air ops in horrible conditions would have been far better than the Mig. That may have made it the better alternative for the USSR all by itself. For India I’m not so sure.

My knowledge is dated but I thought that in terms of troup capacity it was in round figures

Blackhawk 10
Puma 15 to 20
Mi-8 25

The bizarre irony of military procurement continues: EAP would have been a better fit for German, Italian and Spanish Eurofighter needs. Whilst the Typhoon as it is better fits the RAF’s needs. Politically and economically that is not the case for either. And the reasons are all political and economic.

TSR.2. Can say about the same things as the XB-70, but still some lament its cancellation some 50 years later. More neutral analysis suggests it may have not been so great in service, and it’s slab sided fuselage and forward crew stations would have made for a brutal ride and jarred the black boxes. Again I love the plane, but it’s time for folks to let it go.

I am very much in the ‘a plague on both your houses‘ camp when it comes to UK politicians and (especially) defence spending, procurement and decisions. So emotionally I’m tied to the TSR would have been great if we’d only bought the damned thing (and it does look gorgeous). But having spoken to friends of my Dad (which tells us just how long ago the whole debacle was) who told me that the crabfats were REALLY worried about the maintenance issues with TSR2 I tend to agree: bullet dodged

I’ll add F14. Engines didn’t work as advertised, US DoD refused to address this (even though the fix was conceptually so simple it was arguably harder NOT to fix than to fix). The multi-target interception capability was very carefully stage-managed. That said: if the purpose of a Cold War Fleet Interceptor is to prevent anybody attacking your flat top then hype is probably an important part of the weapon system.

F35 is in the words of the Chinese premier asked about the consequences of the French Revolution ‘too early to judge‘. The initially offering WAS ridiculously over-hyped. What we will get IS disappointing. However it may be that the basket of capabilities we get does genuinely change the way that air wars are fought*. Ask me again in another decade.

*or even better; avoided

What has been once the M$ question is now the Million time repeated answer.

The first time I’ve seen it answered (although I’m sure that others follow JSF more closely than I do)

If that is the official genuine answer then it is very good news for many nations

Lovely

May be even deserving of a cross post to the ‘just a nice pic’ thread?

But in this case, there will be no-one else to intrigue. I am probably the only visitor she will have had, or is ever likely to have.

That latter is rather sad and melancholic but don’t be too sure of the former.

Many years ago (over a decade) I took my eldest son (then but a toddler) for a walk in what turned out to be delightfully British weather so we took shelter in the local church yard. Number one son was fascinated by all of the gravestones, flowers and inscriptions (even unable to read most of the words). And spent ages hunched over studying one in particular. Whilst he was looking I noticed an elderly lady hanging around near the entrance/exit. When finally my boy had had enough we left. As we did so (and bear in mind horizontal rain on the South Coast of England on a foul November day and she had been waiting for at least 30 minutes all ingredients for exposure and enough I would suggest to send most people packing) said lady tapped me on the arm and asked oh so sweetly ‘Was it sudden? They boy’s mother did she suffer? I’m so sorry for your loss‘ Cue: me having to explain the actual situation. I’ve always taken great comfort from such stoicism and humanity from that old lady. And regret to this day not having had the presence of mind to ask about her loss.

I suspect that at least one other regular visitor will notice your new token and have their life brightened by the associated mystery. Even if none of her family or (other) friends) will be able to.