ScottC Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Just heard from a friend that the Station Commander at Cottesmore has announced over the station tannoy that all non essential flying is to cease and Cottermore and Wittering are to close !!! Bye Bye Harrier Scott C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango 1 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 A very sad day indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ursa_major Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 The closure sounds like it'll be the same across every station - just for this afternoon. There's a briefing on all stations this afternoon about SDSR & its implications which I believe all personnel are attending, so the stations will be closed to flying as the ATC staff will be there too at a guess. The flying-cease will be for flight-safety reasons - with the impending announcement of bad news for the RAF and potential job-losses across the piece, a decision will have been made to cease flying for the day so they remove the risk of people being distracted from safety-critical tasks like pre-flight prep, engineering or flying by worries about their future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbuna Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I should imagine Winston will be turning in his grave right now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim T Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Makes next year's planned Harrier GB something of a tribute. I think we should also remember the human side of this as well. Namely the inevitable job losses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan the rabbit Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Lunacy... Still, think of how much more ring fenced money for plowing into the EU sinkhole, sending abroad and educating immigrant kids the "Government" will be able to earmark as a result of slicing up our Armed Forces.. But then, most people shrug it off and go back to watching X-Factor.... Sorry. Politiks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedy Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 The cut backs have already started. I've got 5 weeks left and that's me out, we (some 500 RAF) were told at the end of May (6 months notice). Its the same at Odiham, 15.30 a briefing for ALL personnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thx6667 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Scrap the most versatile aircraft we've ever had and removed the Navy's fixed wing capability. Yup, that makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbuna Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Lunacy...Still, think of how much more ring fenced money for plowing into the EU sinkhole, sending abroad and educating immigrant kids the "Government" will be able to earmark as a result of slicing up our Armed Forces.. But then, most people shrug it off and go back to watching X-Factor.... Sorry. Politiks. Actually, I think you may be suprised just how many people will share and support your view Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kev67 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Actually, I think you may be suprised just how many people will share and support your view I second that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob P Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Nimrod has gone too... Will there be ANYTHING left? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan the rabbit Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I hear they're retrofitting the BBMF.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocksAway Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 In a word ... bizarre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasman71 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I did have this image of French Rafales landing on the carriers (or at least the one that won't be sold), but then how long would it be before the French pilots went on strike and blockaded the flightdeck? Sad day indeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 I hear they're retrofitting the BBMF.. How much do you want to bet BBMF will actually survive..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz greenwood Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Will the Red Arrows survive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan the rabbit Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Will the Red Arrows survive? They're being fitted with hooks and armed to fly off the carriers as well.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlet Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 BBC News just reported that the Nimrod MRA4's have been canned and Kinloss will close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 BBC News just reported that the Nimrod MRA4's have been canned and Kinloss will close. The statement isn't being made until 3:30. Until then all "reporting" is speculation. I'm not saying they're wrong, mind; just that there's no certainty. Incidentally, the Parliament website is illustrating* the announcement with a rather nice picture of an M551, of all things. * why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike7451 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 It's f*****g heartbreaking & makes me so angry that the service I love has/is being cut to the bone! The tw@ts in the previous government should be f****g shot for treason!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenko Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 It's f*****g heartbreaking & makes me so angry that the service I love has/is being cut to the bone! The tw@ts in the previous government should be f****g shot for treason!! While I think there is no one here who would disagree with you; I think it's a case of think it, don't say it; as it's sailing too close to the wind and the topic might get locked down. (political) Lets hope they do not chuck the baby out with the bath water. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 It's f*****g heartbreaking & makes me so angry that the service I love has/is being cut to the bone! The tw@ts in the previous government should be f****g shot for treason!! Along with the bankers..... I feel exactly the same as you Spike, dreadful, isn't it...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasman71 Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Hmm, surely we could keep the Harriers AND have JSF if the MP's got half their wages and the bankers got 10% of theirs (and both were banned from bonuses for 10 years!).. now that's my idea of public cutbacks I have the strong desire to dig out a lot of the Harriers in the stash and do a commemorative lineup now; probably been done already but it's something I've been putting off for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigsty Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 While I think there is no one here who would disagree with you Er, not so. I profoundly disagree with the current mob over whether we need to cut spending, how much we need to cut, and what should be cut. Because of that I don't think it's possible glibly to blame the other lot as thought this lot were doing the only possible thing. Nor do I think it's right to say that every problem we're experiencing is entirely and only attributable to the last lot and not, say, the global financial services industry, or their customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dylan the rabbit Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 Nor do I think it's right to say that every problem we're experiencing is entirely and only attributable to the last lot and not, say, the global financial services industry, or their customers. I agree.. But the bankers seem to be almost untouchable in this whole mess, despite the promise of levies and taxes on them.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts