dambuster

What the UK needs is a ‘solution’ that delivers appropriately trained and qualified aircrew in the right number to the Fast Jet front-line. That may or may not require the UK to purchase new aircraft if an adequate solution exists elsewhere. And I do not preclude the requirement for live flying as part if the solution. @kiseca It is extremely unlikely that Hawk T1 service life will be extended, it is the engines that are the limiting factor.

There is a difference though in having ‘mission systems’ that are software dependent, and a fly-by-wire aircraft. Adding a new weapon onto Nimrod, say, was a lot easier and quicker than doing it on Typhoon. Also consider how quickly Cluster munitions were cleared for use on Jaguars during GW1, success being limited initially by the time taken to get the OFP for weapon aiming upgraded. In the end it was done within 25 days; I would find it hard to believe that an upgrade to Typhoon could be achieved so quickly.

The Typhoon and F-35 suffer from one major disadvantage, they are software dependent. Particularly so with the Typhoon. The result is that the cost of integrating new systems is very expensive, and eventually the on-board processing power becomes limited and replacing the hardware adds additional cost as the original processors and architecture becomes obsolete. It is a lot more complex to have to reprogram the Flight Control software to cater for the weapon mass and aerodynamics than just doing weight/balance & drag calculations, integrating the targeting system and then bolting on the new weapon.

There is a bw photo in Air Britain Impressments Log Vol 4 of one of the two that wre used by Comm Flt Lydda. The caption says that ‘the aircraft was later camouflaged’, it has a cheat line on the lower nose but no titles or registration visible. It has fuselage and underwing roundels visible. The aircraft is not identified. There are only two Scion 2 listed as impressed VQ-PAA which became Z7189, and VQ-PAB which became Z7190. The photo is credited to Ministry of Defence (Air). I can send you a scan if you PM me your email. Peter

Put it all out to contract. Give some PR firm a contract to run an aerobatic team promoting the RAF, have them responsible for the pilot recruitment, aircraft procurement and maintenance, let them take some of the profit from merchandising. Does it matter if the aircraft aren’t operated by the RAF? Saves using RAF training assets, pilots - there is (allegedly) already a pilot shortage, groundcrew and support. Are the general public really bothered if the pilots aren’t RAF front line? When you think about it realistically there aren’t many airshows* at RAF/RN/USAF airfields where the public interact with the pilots - RIAT and Cosford are the only two that come to mind. Looking at the Reds calendar most displays are at ‘venues’ such as seaside resorts or similar. I suggest it is the formation stuff that gets the public excited. * We no longer have ‘At Home’ Days, Battle of Britain Open Days, USAFE Open Days, or many Families Days either. Standing by for incoming….. Peter

If Airfix wanted to be really bold and counter Revell’s push of new 1/32nd subjects, then how about a 1/24th scale Fairey Swordfish? Peter

Great model, well done..was that the Aerocraft models conversion? Peter

But they don’t make money for Revell, and aren’t up to modern standards.

Missed those, but how about 1/48th?

How about a 1/32 Hawk? Or even 1/48th? Has links with Dunsfold, and no really good offerings available?

Hmm, If I am correct the aircraft shown on Air Graphic packet is XS726, which was not converted to the long nose. This can be seen as the radome junction lines up with the end of the nose wheel door. If you look at the earlier photos, you can see that on the extended nose variants there is an extension between the front of the nosewheel door and the radome. Peter

If you look carefully at the photos of XS736 you can see where the extended nose joins the fuselage, it was not just a simple extension as the new nose had to be faired in. Moving the nose radome 12 inches forward effectively increased the cross section at that point as compared to the original. Peter

I did have a look for any contact info for Dowty but couldn’t find anything relevant. Maybe we need a FOI request to find out the exact specification for the paint colour and finish? Peter

@HL-10 great build. Mine arrived yesterday. Does it need any nose weight? Peter

From a source at BAe Systems, following recent email correspondence. ”With regards to the question below, in all my 30+ years involved on the Tornado programme including as the Engineering Manager for Tornado until retirement last year, I’m unaware of items such as the undercarriage, bays, etc ever having a colour change (always been a light grey colour). The only piece of equipment that did change colour was the ejection seat to support the MLU programme – the seat was repainted in a darker grey to support the introduction of the NVG compatible cockpit as part of the MLU/GR4 programme in the 90’s. The mod in question was mod 01487 from memory!” Peter