tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post7586338062985944480..comments2024-02-29T11:45:01.870+01:00Comments on UK Armed Forces Commentary: Flying training in the British Armed Forces Gabrielehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-63899666697452097512014-08-06T00:41:37.781+02:002014-08-06T00:41:37.781+02:00Never really liked the Puma to be honest, seen one...Never really liked the Puma to be honest, seen one too many bad reports from ex pilots saying it's a bit a pig to fly!<br /><br />However their will clearly be a medium sized troop carrier gap once Puma goes, what with Merlin already in the stages of being handed over to the RN as well. <br /><br />In my view the lost opportunity was when it came to replacing Lynx. Whilst Wildcat looks like it will turn out to be a decent recce and light utility helicopter it's troop carrying capacity of 7 (including a door gunner) is VERY light indeed. <br /><br />The AAC should have instead pursued a mid sized helo that was big enough to carry a dozen plus troops for insertion work in difficult locations and special forces ops but could also perform all of the general 'utility' and recce stuff the Lynx/Wildcat does at the same time. <br /><br />Everyone always seems to advocate the American Blackhawk when this question comes up, but it seems to me the AW149 would have provided for the needs of the service whilst also satisfying the inevitable political dimension by still providing work for Augusta-Westland. <br /><br />Challengernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-21948877737052345532014-08-05T22:08:12.223+02:002014-08-05T22:08:12.223+02:00As of now? Honestly, no. JHC seems to expect no re...As of now? Honestly, no. JHC seems to expect no replacement either, and they are making long term plans on numbers which suggest Puma goes and nothing comes in. But Puma does indeed deliver a capability in an interesting, middle range, carrying a decent number of troops and equipment while being small enough to fit into cramped landing zones and to fit inside a C-17 with relatively minimum dismantling: Merlin takes ages to be ready after being air-lifted to distant theatres, and so does Chinook. Puma can be ready in four hours after the C-17 lands. <br /><br />Merlin and Chinook can self-deploy, to a degree (Merlin did fly on its own to Iraq, for example), but Puma offers some things that they can't give. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-49624858025063872802014-08-05T20:34:42.240+02:002014-08-05T20:34:42.240+02:00Ideally we would see more Wildcats procured to rep...Ideally we would see more Wildcats procured to replace the 9A, even if not on a 1-1 basis, not holding my breath though!<br /><br />What about Puma? It seems pretty unquestionable that they will be scrapped by 2025 at the latest (despite a £500+ million upgrade!) and the SDSR called for only 4 main helicopter types in the future. However, overall numbers aside i've heard Puma provides a medium lift insertion capability that Chinook is too big and Wildcat too small to deliver. <br /><br />Do you think their is much hope of a dedicated replacement? Challengernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-68113821788235143492014-08-05T13:35:43.512+02:002014-08-05T13:35:43.512+02:00No real worries about that. I don't receive th...No real worries about that. I don't receive that many comments, so it is not a problem. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-62208366621070841282014-08-05T12:30:15.133+02:002014-08-05T12:30:15.133+02:00Gaby
Many thanks for your reply. I think I might...Gaby<br /><br />Many thanks for your reply. I think I might have put my question on the wrong thread, though. Thanks anyway.MikeWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-47256009150154790062014-08-05T12:13:03.770+02:002014-08-05T12:13:03.770+02:00The 9A hasn't much more than Wildcat to offer ...The 9A hasn't much more than Wildcat to offer in Light Utility role, but its loss will mean a gap, yes. At the very least, one squadron's worth of light assault helicopters is required for SF support, and the uncertain status of the announced Wildcat LAH variant, which did not go ahead for now, leaves a question mark on future plans. <br />A further extension of 9A is a possibility, but in the early 2020s the problem of absorbing the loss of Puma and 9A will again be at the top of the page. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-82479102127598625172014-08-05T12:00:40.910+02:002014-08-05T12:00:40.910+02:00Gaby
I am slightly concerned by the fact that the...Gaby<br /><br />I am slightly concerned by the fact that the Lynx AH9 is scheduled for retirement by 2018. I feel that the Army will be left without, for want a of a better term, a utility helicopter. I do not consider the Wildcat to be a genuine utility aircraft, it being more suited to reconnaissance etc.<br /><br />Extending the Lynx A9's service for a few years would give the Army chance to have a look at a few possible successors. Perhaps you disagree? MikeWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-20744779926679268792014-08-04T19:36:09.398+02:002014-08-04T19:36:09.398+02:00No suggestion so far about trouble coming up on th...No suggestion so far about trouble coming up on that front, at least that i know of. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-68673138324510284662014-08-04T19:16:19.662+02:002014-08-04T19:16:19.662+02:00Hello Gabby, very informative as ever, a different...Hello Gabby, very informative as ever, a different subject to training but will the current situation in Ukraine / Russia have any effect on on the NATO SALIS agreement?, many thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-55770952454823178102014-07-30T22:14:08.576+02:002014-07-30T22:14:08.576+02:00It was announced in 2012 that the plan would not g...It was announced in 2012 that the plan would not go ahead. The idea had been to transfer the Red Arrows in Waddington during 2014, but it was assessed that their impact on the use of air space would be negative. Besides, closing Scampton hinged on being able to move the Air Surveillance and Control System (No 1 Air Control Centre) to another base, and it was concluded that this would be too complex and expensive. <br />The idea was scrapped, and the runway resurfaced and renewed later in 2012, with the Reds temporarily moving into Cranwell. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-70566802266844283402014-07-30T21:06:18.501+02:002014-07-30T21:06:18.501+02:00What about Scampton? Wasn't their a plan a whi...What about Scampton? Wasn't their a plan a while back to move the Red Arrows to Leeming and thus close the base? Or was that pre SDSR and long since scrapped?Challengernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-73583475173114909872014-07-30T20:19:49.577+02:002014-07-30T20:19:49.577+02:00Gaby
Thanks very much for the reply.Gaby<br /><br />Thanks very much for the reply.MikeWnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-1569761000888919202014-07-30T20:08:14.488+02:002014-07-30T20:08:14.488+02:00Weird, i replied to this post the other day, but n...Weird, i replied to this post the other day, but now i can't seem my post. Blogger must have screwed up again. <br /><br />As i said earlier, the Army will definitely be trying to resist the call for closing Middle Wallop, but there are some questions to be answered regarding its future use, as i explain in the article. It looks pretty likely that, asked for sacrifices, the army might have to move away to avoid worse losses elsewhere. <br /><br />That will have to be seen, though. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-2854951251152174342014-07-30T20:05:35.966+02:002014-07-30T20:05:35.966+02:00Although it is not clearly said, i read the move o...Although it is not clearly said, i read the move of flying training to Valley as the signal that Linton will be closed, so there will certainly be a fair amount of change. Gabrielehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623558391676151582noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-43005495699642972042014-07-30T18:37:54.600+02:002014-07-30T18:37:54.600+02:00Excellent post Gaby, a real wealth of information,...Excellent post Gaby, a real wealth of information, thank you!<br /><br />Correct me if i'm wrong but RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Scampton and Leeming all seem to be quite sparsely populated for fully operating bases (as apposed to St Mawgan, Wittering and many others that have ceased flying operations and now only host ground units). <br /><br />If 72 squadron moves to RAF Valley as you predict then do you think we will see a much overdue rationalization of these 3 sites into 2 or even 1 instead?<br />Challengernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-442909239199162925.post-61082076452760651422014-07-29T20:08:07.133+02:002014-07-29T20:08:07.133+02:00Gaby
Surely they can't close Midldle Wallop! ...Gaby<br /><br />Surely they can't close Midldle Wallop! It's the unofficial spiritual home of the Army Air Corps. Their museum is there and there are all the emotional asociations with the WWII fighter station. Still, I don't suppose sentiment counts for much in the present ruthless age.<br /><br />I have left another post for you under the heading FCAS, if you can spare the time to answer. MikeWnoreply@blogger.com