Iconic Aircraft Aviation Forum

by **Delhud** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 6:33 am

Saw the RAF flypast during Willies wedding do
After reading about all the cutbacks to the UK military
Im wondering if thats all you have left to fly ?

Still good to listen to you experts

Dehttp://www.iconicaircraft.co.uk/forum ... 3eaf1#lhud ( downunder )

by **Mayfly** » Tue May 03, 2011 8:58 am

Well the Reds are still training in Cyprus so apart from transport a/c pretty much!!

by **Nickolas** » Tue May 03, 2011 9:54 am

Pretty poor show isn't it!!
But this is typical of the UK Gov'ts.
After any conflict, the first thing that is done is cut back on defence.
We will then sit on our political arses and watch the storm clouds rise over the horizon and make their way towards us.
Only when there is the bloody big flash and crash of the storm arriving does HMG decide that's it's time to do something............ All hands to the pumps etc............

Defence is the ability to sit on your side of your fence suitably 'tooled up' and carefully advising any one on the other side of your fence, 'Don't bother'.

It's been said hundreds of times before, that is what the V-Force was all about. Standing on your side of the fence with a big stick advising others not to climb over the fence.

by **Last Lightning** » Tue May 03, 2011 11:46 am

Mainly its because when squadrons are at war as part of NATO they are not allowed to do serimonial duties...hence the aircraft taking part are not front line...

41 are mainly a test Squadron
6 Squadron have not been declared to Nato yet

Hence they could take part in the flypast

I think every Squadron we have in some form or another is at war.....

by **Yorkie** » Wed May 04, 2011 1:42 pm

I think i am right in saying that 2 tornado's and 2 typhoons flew over BP and the BBMF

they took more than that off from coningsby, why were only two of each used?

They could have used the Tucano's and Hawks from Linton (Training sqn) with a display setup already in place there (for the tucanos), team merlin from Benson and i'm sure that RAF Valley would have provided some aircraft to make it a real big flypast.

Dare I say it that the reds could/should have come back from cyprus for this one! as for bases being closed weekends, put them all in conigsby on the friday before.

I hope they get it right before the olympics and the Diamond Jubilee as the Condems said that the wedding was a dry run for these......

by **Mayfly** » Wed May 04, 2011 1:51 pm

I wouldn't think the Government knows it arse from it's elbow when talking about flypasts!!

I believe 4 Typhoons took off -

2 x BH Flypast 1 X St Andrews 1 x Spare and
3 x Tornados 2 X BH Flypast 1x spare.

Do training squadrons do London Flypasts? can't say as I remember them doing so.

by **Yorkie** » Wed May 04, 2011 2:01 pm

Mayfly wrote::)) I wouldn't think the Government knows it arse from it's elbow when talking about flypasts!!

I believe 4 Typhoons took off -

2 x BH Flypast 1 X St Andrews 1 x Spare and
3 x Tornados 2 X BH Flypast 1x spare.

Do training squadrons do London Flypasts? can't say as I remember them doing so.

I'm not sure either, but the display team/pilot is based at Linton for the tucano's (i watch him training) and i think the hawks (although they may be at valley now). but if it's all we have, then short of asking the USAF to borrow some, we should use them. other than a few hundred thousand southerners whats the difference between flying over any city or flying over London? they are all RAF pilots, I would hasten to say that the officers would have first dibs on it anyway

An old friend of mine used to be a display pilot, I may drop him an email and see about restrictions etc. not sure how much he's flying as they don't have many Nimrods up at kinloss anymore do they?

(I was going to edit this out, but you can have a good laugh..... anyone else know an ex display pilot?)

would have been nice to see the dac up with the BBMF

by **Nickolas** » Wed May 04, 2011 2:11 pm

There is a no single engine rule over London. he spits and Hurries were from an age of simple aircraft that could also glide to some degree.
Hawks ,Harriers etc don't glide too well. So that's it really.

Maybe Pam can cozy up to the BBMF and ask why they are allowed to fly single engine piston engined A/c over London. I'm fairly sure that it's to do with reliability and glide characteristics.

by **Yorkie** » Wed May 04, 2011 2:21 pm

Theres no problem flying hawks over London, ask the reds

I was just asking regarding a small turnout from the RAF for one of their own. they should have been pulling out all of the stops for it. perhaps even using 'active' squadrons (one aircraft from each would have been awesome)

by **Nickolas** » Wed May 04, 2011 2:28 pm

Yorkie wrote:Theres no problem flying hawks over London, ask the reds

I was just asking regarding a small turnout from the RAF for one of their own. they should have been pulling out all of the stops for it. perhaps even using 'active' squadrons (one aircraft from each would have been awesome)

Reds have a dispensation though.

Have you SEEN the price of fuel these days???????????????