Harry to fly Apache-good idea?
Discussion
Could see more of this happening:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBJ8e_IVOO0
I believe they're shouting, "Praise be to Allah."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBJ8e_IVOO0
I believe they're shouting, "Praise be to Allah."
coanda said:
Castrol Craig said:
Guam said:
Four Cofffee said:
I see Prince Harry has been 'selected' to train to fly Apache helicopters.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37017036/ns/world_news...
May as well paint a big cross hair on the side of every apache and on the uniform of every apache crew member?
Realstically, is he ever going to justify that investment for the time he spends on active service or would the training be better spent on someone who can actually be sent for more than one tour?
Mind you the course will no doubt be fun, perhaps he could pop to polo matches in it?
Yeah these Apaches are so easy to target and take down just ask the ex Iraqi army http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37017036/ns/world_news...
May as well paint a big cross hair on the side of every apache and on the uniform of every apache crew member?
Realstically, is he ever going to justify that investment for the time he spends on active service or would the training be better spent on someone who can actually be sent for more than one tour?
Mind you the course will no doubt be fun, perhaps he could pop to polo matches in it?
........................oh wait seeming as the average apache pops up a few clicks away from the target, blows it to smitherines then ducks back down and f
ks off, i doubt we will be seeing many more apaches added to the, er, non existant list of losses.I see no reason why Harry should not have his shot at the Apache so long as he isn't 'helped' along and is there under his own merit. I am led to believe that training for the Apache is one of the hardest things you can do. If he stays there and succeeds on merit then he will have done very well.
Was it Andrew or Edward that flew Helicopters in the Falklands war?
Lost soul said:
Skywalker said:
If he has got the gig on merit for his flying skills then good on him.
I doubt it , i would think he could pick what ever he wanted to do no matter how crap he might be 
Lost soul said:
Skywalker said:
If he has got the gig on merit for his flying skills then good on him.
I doubt it , i would think he could pick what ever he wanted to do no matter how crap he might be ks, do you really think the Army would let him fly a multi-million pound helicopter, with the responsilbility of other soldiers lives in his hands, just because he wanted to? If anything I would think it would be harder for him because he would have to prove he is that good, not just given any oppourtunity he wanted.Any could you imagine the b
king that his CO would get if he let the 3rd in line to the throne fly about whilst not good and he crashed and burned, yeah I can really see that going down well.staceyb said:
Lost soul said:
Skywalker said:
If he has got the gig on merit for his flying skills then good on him.
I doubt it , i would think he could pick what ever he wanted to do no matter how crap he might be ks, do you really think the Army would let him fly a multi-million pound helicopter, with the responsilbility of other soldiers lives in his hands, just because he wanted to? If anything I would think it would be harder for him because he would have to prove he is that good, not just given any oppourtunity he wanted.Any could you imagine the b
king that his CO would get if he let the 3rd in line to the throne fly about whilst not good and he crashed and burned, yeah I can really see that going down well.
The fact is that given unlimited resources and training you can train most people to fly an AH64 or a Sea King etc. The military doesn't usually have that luxury and so they set high standards which must be reached at many points or the pilot simply gets "chopped"
Most other military pilots have faced huge competition to get the job and high standards in training and checking. Huge numbers who have the aptitude to start training don't get through.
The royals are simply given unlimited training until they get there.
Most other military pilots have faced huge competition to get the job and high standards in training and checking. Huge numbers who have the aptitude to start training don't get through.
The royals are simply given unlimited training until they get there.
dreamz said:
whilst its admirable that he does want to do this
i do think this will end up being some great PR for the army and the royals whereby he'll serve for a few weeks though not on aggressive killing missions - just patrol's and escort duties.
Or it could be like every other generation and royal family across the world. Where he just goes on a normal tour.i do think this will end up being some great PR for the army and the royals whereby he'll serve for a few weeks though not on aggressive killing missions - just patrol's and escort duties.
el stovey said:
The fact is that given unlimited resources and training you can train most people to fly an AH64 or a Sea King etc. The military doesn't usually have that luxury and so they set high standards which must be reached at many points or the pilot simply gets "chopped"
Most other military pilots have faced huge competition to get the job and high standards in training and checking. Huge numbers who have the aptitude to start training don't get through.
The royals are simply given unlimited training until they get there.
The last bit, do you know this for a fact or just conjecture on your part? He seemed to pass flight training in the same period as non-royals as far as i could tell, for example.Most other military pilots have faced huge competition to get the job and high standards in training and checking. Huge numbers who have the aptitude to start training don't get through.
The royals are simply given unlimited training until they get there.
fk me he can't do right for doing wrong can he?
If he sat around doing nothing everyone would be on his case about him being a parasite.
He's training to fly combat missions and everyone is saying it's preferential treatment. I very much doubt the army would let him fly around in millions of pounds worth of kit for sts and giggles because he's a royal 
k me he can't do right for doing wrong can he?If he sat around doing nothing everyone would be on his case about him being a parasite.
He's training to fly combat missions and everyone is saying it's preferential treatment. I very much doubt the army would let him fly around in millions of pounds worth of kit for s
ts and giggles because he's a royal 
Guam said:
el stovey said:
Skywalker said:
If he has got the gig on merit for his flying skills then good on him.
It's amazing that all these royal show such great aptitude. Those flying jobs in the forces are incredibly hard to get but the all the royals seem to just have the knack for it. 
dreamz said:
whilst its admirable that he does want to do this
i do think this will end up being some great PR for the army and the royals whereby he'll serve for a few weeks though not on aggressive killing missions - just patrol's and escort duties.
Like Andrew in the Falklands war? Ask anyone who served there if his acting as a target for missiles so they didn't hit ships, or flying into dense smoke from the burning RFAs to rescue Welsh Guards was just PR.i do think this will end up being some great PR for the army and the royals whereby he'll serve for a few weeks though not on aggressive killing missions - just patrol's and escort duties.
I don't care if he's a royal or the son of a Burger King worker - if he volunteers to do the job good for him.
Edited by Dixie68 on Sunday 9th May 11:24
Doors may have been opened and opportunities given to him that others may have to wait for or miss, just one of the perks of Mum having an army, but I don't doubt that he'd have to pass the same selection/training curve as any other. Why? It's a multi-million platform firstly, secondly they won't pass him if he's just going to go off and kill himself - not good PR, thirdly troops will depend heavily on his support, if he fecks up, people will die.
Good on him - a boys toy we'd all love a shot at (sorry), I've no doubting his courage or commitment, along with all the other chaps working out there.
Good on him - a boys toy we'd all love a shot at (sorry), I've no doubting his courage or commitment, along with all the other chaps working out there.
Lost soul said:
el stovey said:
The royals are simply given unlimited training until they get there.
As i thought , the only other explanation is that they all have the super pilot gene The risk of a PR disaster outweighs the potential benefits.
Remember the recent Wiki leak?
An Apache gun camera showed the killing of what turned out to be a ‘Press cameraman’ plus others with him. The incident was debated here. It wasn’t possible to prove the rights or wrongs of the shooting. When ground forces arrived no weapons were found. There were periods when those killed were out of sight due either to the dust or the Apache changing position and a wall obscuring view. Weapons could have been present and removed during these intervals. Close examination of the film showed that what had been perceived as an RPG was a big camera lens poking around a wall. However less distinct photo frames show what may have been small arms.
My son was Infantry until recently and knows what it’s like in Iraq. I showed him the film without him previously knowing anything about the film. I asked him to call what he saw and if/when to fire. He made about the same call as the Apache crew.
All in all it turned into a PR disaster because some previously unknown Apache crew made the best decision they could under difficult circumstances and it was later impossible to prove if they had been in the right, or made a mistake.
Now imagine the PR if a Prince had been the pilot.
If a Prince serves well then it attracts a small amount of positive credibility to the monarchy. If he becomes involved in a right royal faux pas then it will massively outweigh any possible benefits.
I admire his spirit and wish him well, but I question the wisdom of allowing it.
Remember the recent Wiki leak?
An Apache gun camera showed the killing of what turned out to be a ‘Press cameraman’ plus others with him. The incident was debated here. It wasn’t possible to prove the rights or wrongs of the shooting. When ground forces arrived no weapons were found. There were periods when those killed were out of sight due either to the dust or the Apache changing position and a wall obscuring view. Weapons could have been present and removed during these intervals. Close examination of the film showed that what had been perceived as an RPG was a big camera lens poking around a wall. However less distinct photo frames show what may have been small arms.
My son was Infantry until recently and knows what it’s like in Iraq. I showed him the film without him previously knowing anything about the film. I asked him to call what he saw and if/when to fire. He made about the same call as the Apache crew.
All in all it turned into a PR disaster because some previously unknown Apache crew made the best decision they could under difficult circumstances and it was later impossible to prove if they had been in the right, or made a mistake.
Now imagine the PR if a Prince had been the pilot.
If a Prince serves well then it attracts a small amount of positive credibility to the monarchy. If he becomes involved in a right royal faux pas then it will massively outweigh any possible benefits.
I admire his spirit and wish him well, but I question the wisdom of allowing it.
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