Tucano or Spitfire?

[JJC]

They are until the Boeing Airseaker Mk 1 enters service .................Yes that is to be the official British name for the Rivet Joint! As confirmed by a reliable IPMS Brampton/RAF officer source at Hendon yesterday. You would have thought they would have come up with a better name?

At this rate Waddington will look like Heathrow in the 60s, everything in sight a Boeing. 

I wouldn't mind so much but the Rivet Joints are OLDER than the R1s so why change?

isn't it because the RIVETJOINT's can take all the equipment that the RAF reckon our recon planes need?


i may have heard that 

[Weaver]

They are until the Boeing Airseaker Mk 1 enters service .................Yes that is to be the official British name for the Rivet Joint! As confirmed by a reliable IPMS Brampton/RAF officer source at Hendon yesterday. You would have thought they would have come up with a better name?

At this rate Waddington will look like Heathrow in the 60s, everything in sight a Boeing.  

I wouldn't mind so much but the Rivet Joints are OLDER than the R1s so why change?

The introduction of the MRA.4 would make the R.1s the last Spey-engined Nimrods in service: not good for the logistics. If they wanted to put the SPIRAL ELINT gear into new MRA.4 airframes (R.4s, effectively), then those airframes would have to take their share of the development costs for the shrunken MRA.4 programme, which currently make an MRA.4 cost out at over £600m per copy. Looked at in isolation, that makes them look very expensive compared to the Rivet Joints, but of course, those Nimrod development costs have got to be paid anyway, so not buying the R.4s just pushes it all onto the MRA.4s.....

Of course, what will really be interesting is when the Maintenance Man-Hours/Flight Hour figures start to come in for those 40 year-old Rivet Joints and get compared to those for the (effectively) brand-new MRA.4s. However, by the time they realise they've made a mistake, Woodford (and doubtless the jigs) will be long gone......

[PR19_Kit]

Of course, what will really be interesting is when the Maintenance Man-Hours/Flight Hour figures start to come in for those 40 year-old Rivet Joints and get compared to those for the (effectively) brand-new MRA.4s. However, by the time they realise they've made a mistake, Woodford (and doubtless the jigs) will be long gone......

Not to mention the fuel cost/hr compared to the MRA4s as well. AFAIK the Rivet Joint RC-135s still come with TF-33 engines at best, or do the RAF ones have CFM-56s? Even so I bet they aren't as fuel effcient as the BR710s.

[Taiidantomcat]

Enjoy your used Lemons  whenever I get upset about the American DOD I just think of the UK MOD and thank my lucky stars 

[The Wooksta!]

Whers Ollie in C-FWIT to act as a suitable target 

I may start charging royalties for my comedy material soon!

[Martin H]

Enjoy your used Lemons  whenever I get upset about the American DOD I just think of the UK MOD and thank my lucky stars 

Glad the MOD has been of service cheering you up LOL

[kitbasher]

They are until the Boeing Airseaker Mk 1 enters service .................

1. Maybe that' just the project name and something sensible might come up (crossables crossed!).
2. And SO misread what you wrote - thought it said Boeing 'Arseacher'!

[Martin H]

 

[Gondor]

Seeing the posting about the RAF and Rivet Joint aircraft made me order a KC-135FR from Hannants yesterday. I also have an RC-135V in my stash to use as a guide if necessary so I am looking forward to seeing what the actual aircraft look like and what they will look like.

Gondor

[lancer]

Enjoy your used Lemons  whenever I get upset about the American DOD I just think of the UK MOD and thank my lucky stars 

Glad the MOD has been of service cheering you up LOL

At least it's cheering someone up. It tends to make me tear my hair our when I jear it's latest little gem's. WHAT were they thinking when they decided to but 30 year old American kit?? Ah well I'm just a illiterate taxpayer so what do I know??