Bear in the air
Discussion
Lurking Lawyer said:
Is it just Bears we getting coming for a sniff and a look? As much as I like the old bird, it's getting a bit humdrum now and it would be more interesting to see a Backfire, or even a Blackjack....
I vaguely recall reading something about a Blackjack conducting a "mock attack" on the East Coast of the UK a few years ago, and how it supposedly got to within 90 seconds of land before it was detected - I assume it was coming in low and fast.
The UK has seen Blackjacks in recent years but they are much less common. Tend not to be good news stories as they can get away before our jets can formate on them and get the photo op. I vaguely recall reading something about a Blackjack conducting a "mock attack" on the East Coast of the UK a few years ago, and how it supposedly got to within 90 seconds of land before it was detected - I assume it was coming in low and fast.
A single old looking prop bomber is fine, but what if they wanted to play a little more and have say a flight of 5 or 6 of their latest top fighter ( whatever that is ) flying around the east coast. I guess anything is possible, but presume it wouldn't be too hard to do with refueling ? That said, I guess they won't risk this incase of a refueling issue which means they'd have the embarrassment of landing in a European country ?
IanMorewood said:
What would you have them fly, most Tonka F3's got cut up.
That was my first question.The second was who 'them' could be. Personally I think the RAF should buy some F16s and train, say, overweight short sighted middle aged computer consultants to be fighter pilots. But given the govts usual lamentable lack of imagination they'd presumably have to redeploy from other aircraft. Or do they have some trained FJ pilots in ground jobs?
What did they do when the F4Js were bought as reinforcement in the 80s?
Edited by Dr Jekyll on Friday 20th February 15:16
Dr Jekyll said:
Would it be possible to raise another couple of air defence squadrons at short notice?
Not a hope.The Tiffie OCU would stand up as an active squadron in times of need (just as the Lightning, F4 and Tonka F3 OCU's would have done back in their days) Trouble is we had a few extra AD sqns anyway back then to begin with.
But other than that, and chucking a few Sidewinder on the few remaining Hawk T1's that have the missile fit that's about it.
Gargamel said:
I think they should outsource QRF anyway, put it out to private tender to G4S or Serco, bound to be cheaper, better aircraft and more reliable
A capital idea! We could have five independent privately-run air forces, each leasing runways from another privately-run company, and they could bid for a franchise every five years and meet targets and things.Well it worked for the railways, not.
If we got really desperate for defence fighters wouldn't it just be a case of having to ask the USAF for the Lakenheath F-15s to be part of it. In my eyes that seems the most logical idea.
As a side note, do the Russians do this with the Alaskan/Canadian borders? If I remember rightly the USAF have F-22s based somewhere in Alaska, would be a cool picture to see one of them with a Russian bomber.
As a side note, do the Russians do this with the Alaskan/Canadian borders? If I remember rightly the USAF have F-22s based somewhere in Alaska, would be a cool picture to see one of them with a Russian bomber.
Edited by Z06George on Friday 20th February 16:44
I think media-reporting of these occurances has become more regular, but I do genuinely believe it to be coincidental. Post 9/11 the West has had to step up its air defence capability and I recall one (fairly recent) QRA intercept where the pilots were given permission to go supersonic over land. This made the headlines which in turn alerted the general population that this sort of thing goes on. There was clearly a fairly big reaction to it and now it's seen as news, particularly when coupled with current events in Ukraine.
I don't think the frequency of these events has increased and I don't think the media has some hidden agenda of preparing the UK for war. I do think that the popularity of the internet has, however, turned us into our own worst enemy and we can now fairly easily make 5 out of 2+2 with plenty of evidence to support.
I don't think the frequency of these events has increased and I don't think the media has some hidden agenda of preparing the UK for war. I do think that the popularity of the internet has, however, turned us into our own worst enemy and we can now fairly easily make 5 out of 2+2 with plenty of evidence to support.
Z06George said:
If we got really desperate for defence fighters wouldn't it just be a case of having to ask the USAF for the Lakenheath F-15s to be part of it. In my eyes that seems the most logical idea.
As a side note, do the Russians do this with the Alaskan/Canadian borders? If I remember rightly the USAF have F-22s based somewhere in Alaska, would be a cool picture to see one of them with a Russian bomber.
The Canadian AF do a lot of practice up that way IIRC.As a side note, do the Russians do this with the Alaskan/Canadian borders? If I remember rightly the USAF have F-22s based somewhere in Alaska, would be a cool picture to see one of them with a Russian bomber.
Edited by Z06George on Friday 20th February 16:44
I remember a tv series of them doing gun runs in their versions of F18's.
FourWheelDrift said:
Simpo Two said:
The Bears are probably sucking all sorts of electronic info from the fighters. Perhaps we'd do better to stay on the ground?
They're abusing their wifi.stealing wifi while driving is of course very naughty and should not be done.
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