Harriers is this the reason we scrapped them?

[Lucas1860]

Does this make sense?

This government cant be trusted.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... anuts.html

[Hula-Hoop]

£34 million even though we spent over £1 billion. SHOCKING

[Xplumberlives]

And now to look at it from a different perspective, the Harriers were withdrawn from service! They could sit around waiting for someone to pay a higher price, THIS WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!

Alternatively, they could be scrapped, some enevitably will be, this would cost HMG and then US, the TAXPAYER an inordinately higher amount due to the vast amount of CARBON FIBRE in the airframe! The wing is 11 metres across, the ONLY firm in the UK that accepts CARBON FIBRE for SCRAPPING, will only accept in pieces up to 1 metre square!

Angry as I am about the premature demise of an aeroplane I spent a lot of my life with, raking up scare stories like this will not solve the problem, I am very disappointed in the Daily Telegraph for its attitude!

[Sooty655]

Agree 100% with XP.

Even the basic Telegraph argument is specious. Ever tried raising the price of the second hand car you are selling because of the amount you have spent running it?

[Mayfly]

^^^^^^^^^^

Ditto

Now thats two of us who agree with XP - now that is scary!!

[Dan4th]

This is the first I've heard of it, but I
do have to say on the face of things, it
really doesn't seem to make a lot of
sense (except for the USMC...).

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

But D4th, they weren't scrapped so that the USMC could benefit, they would have been withdrawn from service any way and then they were put out to tender!

[Dan4th]

My point, though, is why should the
US Marine Corps benefit at the expense
of the UK taxpayer???????

This, to me, is where it gets nonsensical.

Danf.

[Xplumberlives]

My point, though, is why should the
US Marine Corps benefit at the expense
of the UK taxpayer???????

This, to me, is where it gets nonsensical.

Danf.

How would you get the USMC to pay more, it's a BUYERS MARKET!

[Mayfly]

It matters little what has been spent on the Harriers in the past or their perceived worth, an item/object whatever it is, is only worth what someone will pay.


And knowing how things work in government if they simply decided to scrap them it would cost HMG a fortune!!

[Xplumberlives]

It matters little what has been spent on the Harriers in the past or their perceived worth, an item/object whatever it is, is only worth what someone will pay.


And knowing how things work in government if they simply decided to scrap them it would cost HMG a fortune!!

EXACTLY my point!

[Lucas1860]

Good debate, fire in the bellies.

Jim.

[Jigsaw]

Though it pains me to do so. I agree with XP

[MOD]

I can see both sides of this argument. At least after reading the Telegraph's article. My initial thoughts were along the same line as Jim's but after reading XPL's reply I had calmed down and came to agree with Dave, and no that is not an unusual situation!!

However after spending nearly 40 years in what came to be called Risk Management , what really does puzzle me is the 'perceived' idiocy in scrapping such an asset as the Harrier along with the only means of delivering that asset to theatres of operation outside home waters?

It worries me that this Government, and also the last one (I owe allegiance to no political party), never saw the Middle East unrest coming!! Was their conclusion that Gadhafi etc etc were going to be someone else's problem?

As Sandy Woodward said it is a 'crass' decision - but imho opinion not to sell them (at way above their scrap value) but why did we scrap them in the first place? Was it really a Strategic Risk Assessment or a short term cash saving exercise???

Obviously once they are struck off it makes sense to get the best deal for them..


ibw

[Dan4th]

Well, I'm certain the Jarheads of the USMC
will at the very least put them to good use
and be grateful for the spares.

I'm sure nothing will be wasted.

After our Coast Guard, the Marines are the
most admirable branch of our military.

Even though they are paying, you can count
on thanks and gratitude....

They have budget troubles, too!

Danf.

[MOD]

Yes at least we know they are going to a 'good home'..

It was,apparently, 2 Lt Cols from the USMC who invented 'VIFFING' ie Vectoring In Forward Flight. Apparently F4 jocks were told not to follow the AV8's if they dived for the deck as they had a habit of VIFFING so that they 'eventually' hung nose down, with zero IAS, and the following/attacking F4 Jocks ran out of room and 'piled in'.

I will miss the Harrier.

ibw

[Olicat]

What's the point in scrapping them if they are perfectly good enough for another nation?

[Xplumberlives]

What's the point in scrapping them if they are perfectly good enough for another nation?

What about the remaining 40?

[Olicat]

What happens to them?

[Xplumberlives]

What happens to them?

Start saving your pocket money!

[Olicat]

How long would that take

[Mayfly]

MOD denies Telegraph report..

http://www.defencemanagement.com/news_story.asp?id=16612

[Xplumberlives]

Thanks Pam

Some interesting comments coming in following that report!

As stated the DAILY TELEGRAPH is now regarded as a JOKE as far as DEFENCE REPORTING is concerned!

[Mayfly]

Don't read any now, but it was always my newspaper of choice!!

[Xplumberlives]

Don't read any now, but it was always my newspaper of choice!!

Yes, when I joined up in 1983 that was my daily read, them I moved accross to the Times and now as you say I don't read any now!