When we had an air force......

[Mojocvh]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 04 December 2010 at 23:38

[Eric Mc]

No - THIS is when we had an air force -

[PaulHogan]

According to Wiki the UK has just under 1,600 aircraft (RAF, Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps) giving us the fifth largest force in the world [after US, Russia, China and India].

[Eric Mc]

PaulHogan said:

According to Wiki the UK has just under 1,600 aircraft (RAF, Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps) giving us the fifth largest force in the world [after US, Russia, China and India].

How up to date is that - and what will the numbers be after December?

[thatone1967]

Eric Mc said:

No - THIS is when we had an air force -

Are they B29's?

[Eric Mc]

Yes - used operationally by the RAF in the early 1950s pending the arrival of Canberras. They were referred to as Washingtons in RAF service.

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 30th November 15:02

[Simpo Two]

When I was at school we had an A-frame glider launched by two teams of cadets pulling bungee cords. If they still have it, they may now be in a position to launch a military coup

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

PaulHogan said:

According to Wiki the UK has just under 1,600 aircraft (RAF, Fleet Air Arm and Army Air Corps) giving us the fifth largest force in the world [after US, Russia, China and India].

How up to date is that - and what will the numbers be after December?

Not very I would guess..... as of Oct this year, I recall seeing the figure of 760 being the total for the RAF, (and that's before the loss of the Harrier fleet and the 20 odd Tornado F.3's still in use) and there's no way the RN and Army totals of helo's combined came to the same amount...??

[Yertis]

Is it not the case that the aircraft being retired can be effectively replaced by RPV/drones?

[Eric Mc]

Yertis said:

Is it not the case that the aircraft being retired can be effectively replaced by RPV/drones?

Yes - it is not the case.

[Fittster]

Out of interest how many drones do we have and what are their capabilities?

[Eric Mc]

Fittster said:

Out of interest how many drones do we have and what are their capabilities?

Not many.

Not much.

[Yertis]

Eric Mc said:

Yertis said:

Is it not the case that the aircraft being retired can be effectively replaced by RPV/drones?

Yes - it is not the case.

But they do seem to be being used a fair bit for blowing things up, where previously they'd have used an aeroplane. Maybe we don't need as many conventional aircraft because they're obsolete, except in situations where it is imperative a man in the air makes the final decision to fire.

[Eric Mc]

Lots of maybes.

Most drone useage is carried out by the USAF. The RAF, Army and the Royal Navy do not have much in the way of drones and, as far as I know, do not have any significant orders for any of the really capable ones, such as the Global Hawk or Predator.

Nor am I aware of any massive training programme for drone operators.

[stevemiller]

A little quote -

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten."
- Calvin Coolidge, (1872-1933)

[Eric Mc]

Mojocvh said:

Eric Mc said:

No - THIS is when we had an air force -

Hmm indeed, but they needed that many to cover the losses

Four Meteors in one day on one occasion.

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 30th November 19:19

[anonymous-user]

Eric Mc said:

Fittster said:

Out of interest how many drones do we have and what are their capabilities?

Not many.

Not much.

...that you know of.

It's probably a case of:
More than you realise.

and...

Better than you're aware of.

[eccles]

Crossflow Kid said:

Eric Mc said:

Fittster said:

Out of interest how many drones do we have and what are their capabilities?

Not many.

Not much.

...that you know of.

It's probably a case of:
More than you realise.

and...

Better than you're aware of.

Indeed!

[anonymous-user]

eccles said:

Crossflow Kid said:

Eric Mc said:

Fittster said:

Out of interest how many drones do we have and what are their capabilities?

Not many.

Not much.

...that you know of.

It's probably a case of:
More than you realise.

and...

Better than you're aware of.

Indeed!

[bitwrx]

Eric Mc said:

Fittster said:

Out of interest how many drones do we have and what are their capabilities?

Not many.

Not much.

How many reconnaissance platforms can stay on station for upwards of 40 hours? Just Reaper is it. Thought so.