Sea Jet
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Originally Posted by southside
These days we don't fight the kind of wars where our ships need defending from enemy warplanes far out at sea. Aircraft Carriers are now mostly supporting shore operations by flying strike missions and it makes far better sense to spend our money on Harriers which can do that best. If necessary, we can rely on coalition forces to provide the outer air defence for surface ships.
"These days....."
What about the days ahead? Shame to lose a capability without the replacement in hand.
"Relying on coalition forces....."
What if we don't agree with the fight you are in and don't provide forces? Happened once in the Falklands, unfortunately, why couldn't it happen again elsewhere?
How do explain to families of dead ships' crews that you threw away an asset that might have prevented their loss?
I say again, shame to lose a capability without the replacement in hand.
BillHicksRules,
Sorry BHR, but the Fleet Air Arm is just a nickname, it does NOT exist. It started out as the Royal Naval Air Service, it was then merged with the RFC to form the RAF, who deigned to call the tiny rump of embarked airpower they retained the “Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force.” This is where the nickname originates.
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
The training organisation is joint and about to become the largely civilian operated MFTS, the training of technicians is about to become joint at either RAF St.Athan or RAF Cosford,
You have two airfields, one of which is about to be invaded by a large part of either the RAF SH force or the AAC to fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Sea Harrier units.
So, IF there is such a mythical thing as the FAA, it must consist of a couple of Merlin squadrons with 4 whirly things each, a small deployable Merlin outfit, the Lynx Squadron, and a Sqn flying some inflatable bags, some Fleet Air Arm!
Navaleye,
Of those 200+ “flying machines” the RN controls only those elements in the last para above. ALL of the rest are under either RAF or Army command.
Nurse,
You are living in the past, just where is the airborne threat to the Royal Navy today or in the foreseeable future? Look at the sort of campaigns we are fighting today, not one of them sees the need for a self defending aircraft carrier. Not one of them sees any kind of airborne threat whatsoever. What ALL of them need is the ability to mount precision attacks in support of land forces, hence the GR9/9A.
brickhistory,
The F-35 is for “days ahead” but in the foreseeable future there is NO conceivable scenario where we would be faced with a need for the SHAR, not one.
Sorry BHR, but the Fleet Air Arm is just a nickname, it does NOT exist. It started out as the Royal Naval Air Service, it was then merged with the RFC to form the RAF, who deigned to call the tiny rump of embarked airpower they retained the “Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force.” This is where the nickname originates.
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
The training organisation is joint and about to become the largely civilian operated MFTS, the training of technicians is about to become joint at either RAF St.Athan or RAF Cosford,
You have two airfields, one of which is about to be invaded by a large part of either the RAF SH force or the AAC to fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Sea Harrier units.
So, IF there is such a mythical thing as the FAA, it must consist of a couple of Merlin squadrons with 4 whirly things each, a small deployable Merlin outfit, the Lynx Squadron, and a Sqn flying some inflatable bags, some Fleet Air Arm!
Navaleye,
Of those 200+ “flying machines” the RN controls only those elements in the last para above. ALL of the rest are under either RAF or Army command.
Nurse,
You are living in the past, just where is the airborne threat to the Royal Navy today or in the foreseeable future? Look at the sort of campaigns we are fighting today, not one of them sees the need for a self defending aircraft carrier. Not one of them sees any kind of airborne threat whatsoever. What ALL of them need is the ability to mount precision attacks in support of land forces, hence the GR9/9A.
brickhistory,
The F-35 is for “days ahead” but in the foreseeable future there is NO conceivable scenario where we would be faced with a need for the SHAR, not one.
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PrOOne
You might want to check the following link and look closely towards the bottom of the page:
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/s...changeNav/3533
In case the link doesn't work, it's the RN website biography of Vice Admiral Adrian Johns, the current Second Sea Lord. According to his career history:
Looks remarkably like an RN appointment with 'Fleet Air Arm' in the title to me!
Just to correct any misconception, the Fleet Air Arm is alive and well. Some of us may be OPCOM LAND or STC as part of JHC or JFH, but I'm pretty sure you'll find that any Naval aviator is still under the Full Command of CINCFLEET. We are all still Naval personnel and proud of the fact that we are part of the FAA. It has an ethos and esprit-de-corps that has existed since the formation of the Royal Naval Air Service and is one of the reasons I joined this organisation rather than becoming a Crab. Our structures may have changed since SDR and we're a little more spread out, but we're still here!!
Fly Navy
Go Royal
Dig Army
Eat Crab
You might want to check the following link and look closely towards the bottom of the page:
http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/s...changeNav/3533
In case the link doesn't work, it's the RN website biography of Vice Admiral Adrian Johns, the current Second Sea Lord. According to his career history:
On relinquishing command and promotion to Flag Rank, he took up his appointment as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff in May 2003 and was selected as Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm in October 2003.
Just to correct any misconception, the Fleet Air Arm is alive and well. Some of us may be OPCOM LAND or STC as part of JHC or JFH, but I'm pretty sure you'll find that any Naval aviator is still under the Full Command of CINCFLEET. We are all still Naval personnel and proud of the fact that we are part of the FAA. It has an ethos and esprit-de-corps that has existed since the formation of the Royal Naval Air Service and is one of the reasons I joined this organisation rather than becoming a Crab. Our structures may have changed since SDR and we're a little more spread out, but we're still here!!
Fly Navy
Go Royal
Dig Army
Eat Crab
snafu,
I concede to your greater knowledge, BUT, from what I quote below, he appears to be a bit of a part timer, and does the post still exist?
""We previously thought very much in terms of naval aviation," says Rear Adm Adrian Johns, dual-hatted as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff and Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm. "This was an activity predominantly undertaken by people in a dark blue naval uniform, using aircraft with 'Royal Navy' stencilled on their side.
"Maritime aviation is a wider joint warfighting concept. It is aviation from the sea delivered by all three services, and recognises the carrier as a joint defence asset, not just a naval one."
Do you REALLY need a part time Rear Admiral to run your tiny Merlin squadrons and one Lynx squadron?
Fair play to you though, I asked and you replied.......................
I concede to your greater knowledge, BUT, from what I quote below, he appears to be a bit of a part timer, and does the post still exist?
""We previously thought very much in terms of naval aviation," says Rear Adm Adrian Johns, dual-hatted as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff and Rear Admiral Fleet Air Arm. "This was an activity predominantly undertaken by people in a dark blue naval uniform, using aircraft with 'Royal Navy' stencilled on their side.
"Maritime aviation is a wider joint warfighting concept. It is aviation from the sea delivered by all three services, and recognises the carrier as a joint defence asset, not just a naval one."
Do you REALLY need a part time Rear Admiral to run your tiny Merlin squadrons and one Lynx squadron?
Fair play to you though, I asked and you replied.......................
Pr00ne, you epitomise everything that was bad about the Royal Air Force of the 20th century, with your arrogant, light blue centric and blinkered vision. Thank god you are not still serving and your more enlightened, younger brethen are not poisoned by your rhetoric. The MOD has moved on. I am sorry to dis-appoint you, but we all get along fine, thanks very much and realise that we need each other to get the job done. Joint is what it says on the tin.
Stick to getting young thugs off the streets and leave the important stuff to those who are better informed!
Stick to getting young thugs off the streets and leave the important stuff to those who are better informed!
Widger,
Tee Hee!
What's it like in your banter free sterile little world?
Tee Hee!
What's it like in your banter free sterile little world?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Who bought the FA2:
Art Nals, real estate developer, owner of a L-39 Albatross and a Yak-3. Ex-USMC, 1800 hours on the Harrier. Graduate of the USAF test pilot school, AV-8A and AV-8B test pilot. Also served as an AV-8 Sqn maintenance officer and says there is no shortage of spares or experienced mechanics. Looks like it might be in good hands....
Art Nals, real estate developer, owner of a L-39 Albatross and a Yak-3. Ex-USMC, 1800 hours on the Harrier. Graduate of the USAF test pilot school, AV-8A and AV-8B test pilot. Also served as an AV-8 Sqn maintenance officer and says there is no shortage of spares or experienced mechanics. Looks like it might be in good hands....
Last edited by ORAC; 2nd Apr 2006 at 07:29.
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Originally Posted by pr00ne
BillHicksRules,
Sorry BHR, but the Fleet Air Arm is just a nickname, it does NOT exist. It started out as the Royal Naval Air Service, it was then merged with the RFC to form the RAF, who deigned to call the tiny rump of embarked airpower they retained the “Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force.” This is where the nickname originates.
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
The training organisation is joint and about to become the largely civilian operated MFTS, the training of technicians is about to become joint at either RAF St.Athan or RAF Cosford,
You have two airfields, one of which is about to be invaded by a large part of either the RAF SH force or the AAC to fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Sea Harrier units.
So, IF there is such a mythical thing as the FAA, it must consist of a couple of Merlin squadrons with 4 whirly things each, a small deployable Merlin outfit, the Lynx Squadron, and a Sqn flying some inflatable bags, some Fleet Air Arm!
Navaleye,
Of those 200+ “flying machines” the RN controls only those elements in the last para above. ALL of the rest are under either RAF or Army command.
Nurse,
You are living in the past, just where is the airborne threat to the Royal Navy today or in the foreseeable future? Look at the sort of campaigns we are fighting today, not one of them sees the need for a self defending aircraft carrier. Not one of them sees any kind of airborne threat whatsoever. What ALL of them need is the ability to mount precision attacks in support of land forces, hence the GR9/9A.
brickhistory,
The F-35 is for “days ahead” but in the foreseeable future there is NO conceivable scenario where we would be faced with a need for the SHAR, not one.
Sorry BHR, but the Fleet Air Arm is just a nickname, it does NOT exist. It started out as the Royal Naval Air Service, it was then merged with the RFC to form the RAF, who deigned to call the tiny rump of embarked airpower they retained the “Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force.” This is where the nickname originates.
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
The training organisation is joint and about to become the largely civilian operated MFTS, the training of technicians is about to become joint at either RAF St.Athan or RAF Cosford,
You have two airfields, one of which is about to be invaded by a large part of either the RAF SH force or the AAC to fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Sea Harrier units.
So, IF there is such a mythical thing as the FAA, it must consist of a couple of Merlin squadrons with 4 whirly things each, a small deployable Merlin outfit, the Lynx Squadron, and a Sqn flying some inflatable bags, some Fleet Air Arm!
Navaleye,
Of those 200+ “flying machines” the RN controls only those elements in the last para above. ALL of the rest are under either RAF or Army command.
Nurse,
You are living in the past, just where is the airborne threat to the Royal Navy today or in the foreseeable future? Look at the sort of campaigns we are fighting today, not one of them sees the need for a self defending aircraft carrier. Not one of them sees any kind of airborne threat whatsoever. What ALL of them need is the ability to mount precision attacks in support of land forces, hence the GR9/9A.
brickhistory,
The F-35 is for “days ahead” but in the foreseeable future there is NO conceivable scenario where we would be faced with a need for the SHAR, not one.
And Yes The UK may have to send a Task Group to some god forsaken corner of the world to look after our citizens or our national interest. Relying on others has been shown in the past and the present to be a very dangerous thing to do. Where was the international support for the Royal Navy and the Army in Sierra Leone. The Next area we may have to intervene in an area by our selves may they have a credible air force and if it don't suit Uncle Sam he won't be there and the same can be said for our EU allies. And if we can't get dip clearences to base the RAF close by our sailors and soldiers and now airmen will be left vulnerable ( yes i know there were air force personel with the task force in 82)
And This may all happen before F35 and the CVF's are in service (If they ever get into service).
And Yes Naval Air and Army air assets now fall into the RAF because it make Finical sense some of the comments on this forum show that both serving and retired of the RAF don't appear to understand what the Other services need certain equipments for or how they use them in the battlespace. The sooner that thease orginisations are either made properly Joint or the RAF looses descision making control over them the better. I was at a mess function where I heard an RAF officer lamenting the ground attack abilities of sea harrier pilots when pushed on the point he failed to remember their primary role was airdefence. And in my workings with the RAF I have tended to find this Light Blue First mentality.
Spent a cold, frustrating, sometimes scary and frequently very, very drunk week in Moscow with Art and some other hired help some years ago in order to rummage in the bins of a certain well-known producer of V/STOL jets. I took a photo of him behaving in a most dodgy manner in Gorky park but since he's not bought a T8 there's no point in threatening to share it with anyone. Please can we move this thread to AH&N?
NoHoverStop there are still a few loose ends to be tidied up. Incidentally, today is the anniversary of Argentina invading the Falklands, another Government had said "we won't need to do anything unexpected....."
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Originally Posted by pr00ne
BillHicksRules,
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
You seem to be way off track. The FAA is alive and well. Whilst VA Johns may be Rear Adm FAA there is a 1* in the Fleet HQ who is Commodore FAA as his full time job.
Joint Force harrier and Joint Helicopter Command are as they say on the box - Joint forces, answerable to VCDS. The people in them still come under their own Service for Full command. 800 Naval Air Squadron stood up on Friday as 801 will later in the year. The RAF have lost 2 squadrons in the process - what is more joint than that! In JHC I do not think the RAF SH Sqns see themselves as any less RAF than before any more than the Junglies do.
I seem to recall that the results of the cuts a couple of years ago that scythed through the RAF and hacked at the AAC, left the FAA alone because it proved itself to be lean, efficient and effective. And I do believe that the Merlin is being upgraded and the Lynx replaced with a new version - what happened to SH?????
And I do not see much of a vacuum at Yeovilton when I drive past.
Fly Navy, Fly Fleet Air Arm
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Originally Posted by Bismark
BHR,
You seem to be way off track. The FAA is alive and well. Whilst VA Johns may be Rear Adm FAA there is a 1* in the Fleet HQ who is Commodore FAA as his full time job.
Joint Force harrier and Joint Helicopter Command are as they say on the box - Joint forces, answerable to VCDS. The people in them still come under their own Service for Full command. 800 Naval Air Squadron stood up on Friday as 801 will later in the year. The RAF have lost 2 squadrons in the process - what is more joint than that! In JHC I do not think the RAF SH Sqns see themselves as any less RAF than before any more than the Junglies do.
I seem to recall that the results of the cuts a couple of years ago that scythed through the RAF and hacked at the AAC, left the FAA alone because it proved itself to be lean, efficient and effective. And I do believe that the Merlin is being upgraded and the Lynx replaced with a new version - what happened to SH?????
And I do not see much of a vacuum at Yeovilton when I drive past.
Fly Navy, Fly Fleet Air Arm
You seem to be way off track. The FAA is alive and well. Whilst VA Johns may be Rear Adm FAA there is a 1* in the Fleet HQ who is Commodore FAA as his full time job.
Joint Force harrier and Joint Helicopter Command are as they say on the box - Joint forces, answerable to VCDS. The people in them still come under their own Service for Full command. 800 Naval Air Squadron stood up on Friday as 801 will later in the year. The RAF have lost 2 squadrons in the process - what is more joint than that! In JHC I do not think the RAF SH Sqns see themselves as any less RAF than before any more than the Junglies do.
I seem to recall that the results of the cuts a couple of years ago that scythed through the RAF and hacked at the AAC, left the FAA alone because it proved itself to be lean, efficient and effective. And I do believe that the Merlin is being upgraded and the Lynx replaced with a new version - what happened to SH?????
And I do not see much of a vacuum at Yeovilton when I drive past.
Fly Navy, Fly Fleet Air Arm
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Bismark,
I think you will find the quote was from prOOne not me. He was responding to my link showing the current existence of the FAA.
I will accept your apology in the form of a crisp, new £10 note.
Cheers
BHR
I think you will find the quote was from prOOne not me. He was responding to my link showing the current existence of the FAA.
I will accept your apology in the form of a crisp, new £10 note.
Cheers
BHR
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Originally Posted by pr00ne
BillHicksRules,
brickhistory,
The F-35 is for “days ahead” but in the foreseeable future there is NO conceivable scenario where we would be faced with a need for the SHAR, not one.
brickhistory,
The F-35 is for “days ahead” but in the foreseeable future there is NO conceivable scenario where we would be faced with a need for the SHAR, not one.
Clairvoyant, are we? Any good lottery numbers coming up you'd care to share?
Best of luck (hope one of our 11 ((maybe 12 if they keep the JFK)) CV's is available should you need it.)!
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prOOne Sorry BHR, but the Fleet Air Arm is just a nickname, it does NOT exist. It started out as the Royal Naval Air Service, it was then merged with the RFC to form the RAF, who deigned to call the tiny rump of embarked airpower they retained the “Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force.” This is where the nickname originates.
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
The training organisation is joint and about to become the largely civilian operated MFTS, the training of technicians is about to become joint at either RAF St.Athan or RAF Cosford,
You have two airfields, one of which is about to be invaded by a large part of either the RAF SH force or the AAC to fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Sea Harrier units.
So, IF there is such a mythical thing as the FAA, it must consist of a couple of Merlin squadrons with 4 whirly things each, a small deployable Merlin outfit, the Lynx Squadron, and a Sqn flying some inflatable bags, some Fleet Air Arm!
prOOne - if this is a bite then you've well and truly hooked me. If this is what you really believe, then aside from being just really sad, you're plain wrong and miles off target with today's current thinking and serving personnel.
Anyway, some dates for your Light Blue diary:
7 May 1909 - Admiralty signed tender for first aircraft
25 Apr 1911 - First 4 RN pilots completed flying training at Eastchurch
10 Jan 1912 - First aircraft launch from a British warship
13 Apr 1912 - RFC, comprising Naval and Military Wings constituted by Royal Warrant
1 Apr 1914 - All Army airships transferred to Naval Wing of RFC
1 Jul 1914 - Royal Naval Air Service formed out of the Naval Wing of the RFC
7 Jun 1915 - Sub Lt Warneford awarded VC (first RNAS VC)
16 Feb 1916 - Army took over air defence of the UK from the RNAS
2 Aug 1917 - First deck landing, Sqn Cdr Dunning HMS FURIOUS
1 Apr 1918 - RNAS and RFC amalgamated to create RAF
1 Apr 1924 - Ship borne element of RAF given the name Fleet Air Arm
2 Apr 1931 - Rear Admiral Henderson appointed as first Aviation Flag Officer
30 Jul 1937 - Cabinet approved Inskip Award, return of FAA to the Admiralty
24 May 1939 - Full control of FAA restored to Admiralty from Air Ministry
15 Apr 1941 - RAF Coastal Command placed under Admiralty command
15 Aug 1945 - Aircraft from HMS INDEFATIGABLE flew the last operational mission of WW2 and shot down the last enemy aircraft
Perhaps, having reviewed the FACTS above, you'd like to apologise to the families and friends and members of the FAA, past, present and future, for denying the existence of a service they have been proud to serve in and in some cases paid the ultimate sacrifice?
Show me an “Officer Commanding FAA” or a “Senior Flag Officer FAA”, or indeed ANY RN command slot with the letters FAA in it. What is the title of the professional head of this mythical Fleet Air Arm? Isn’t it something like Commodore Maritime Aviation? There isn’t even a Naval Air Command anymore for a Flag Officer Naval Air Command to lord it over.
Your fixed wing airpower is an integral part of No.1 Group, which is an integral part of ROYAL AIR FORCE Strike Command, stationed at ROYAL AIR FORCE Cottesmore, flying ex-RAF aircraft in Squadrons containing RAF air and ground crew, it’s called Joint Force Harrier.
4 of your helicopter squadrons are part of the JOINT Helicopter Command, which is an integral part of the British Army Land Command, with a tri-service HQ stationed at an Army barracks in Wiltshire.
The training organisation is joint and about to become the largely civilian operated MFTS, the training of technicians is about to become joint at either RAF St.Athan or RAF Cosford,
You have two airfields, one of which is about to be invaded by a large part of either the RAF SH force or the AAC to fill the vacuum created by the departure of the Sea Harrier units.
So, IF there is such a mythical thing as the FAA, it must consist of a couple of Merlin squadrons with 4 whirly things each, a small deployable Merlin outfit, the Lynx Squadron, and a Sqn flying some inflatable bags, some Fleet Air Arm!
prOOne - if this is a bite then you've well and truly hooked me. If this is what you really believe, then aside from being just really sad, you're plain wrong and miles off target with today's current thinking and serving personnel.
Anyway, some dates for your Light Blue diary:
7 May 1909 - Admiralty signed tender for first aircraft
25 Apr 1911 - First 4 RN pilots completed flying training at Eastchurch
10 Jan 1912 - First aircraft launch from a British warship
13 Apr 1912 - RFC, comprising Naval and Military Wings constituted by Royal Warrant
1 Apr 1914 - All Army airships transferred to Naval Wing of RFC
1 Jul 1914 - Royal Naval Air Service formed out of the Naval Wing of the RFC
7 Jun 1915 - Sub Lt Warneford awarded VC (first RNAS VC)
16 Feb 1916 - Army took over air defence of the UK from the RNAS
2 Aug 1917 - First deck landing, Sqn Cdr Dunning HMS FURIOUS
1 Apr 1918 - RNAS and RFC amalgamated to create RAF
1 Apr 1924 - Ship borne element of RAF given the name Fleet Air Arm
2 Apr 1931 - Rear Admiral Henderson appointed as first Aviation Flag Officer
30 Jul 1937 - Cabinet approved Inskip Award, return of FAA to the Admiralty
24 May 1939 - Full control of FAA restored to Admiralty from Air Ministry
15 Apr 1941 - RAF Coastal Command placed under Admiralty command
15 Aug 1945 - Aircraft from HMS INDEFATIGABLE flew the last operational mission of WW2 and shot down the last enemy aircraft
Perhaps, having reviewed the FACTS above, you'd like to apologise to the families and friends and members of the FAA, past, present and future, for denying the existence of a service they have been proud to serve in and in some cases paid the ultimate sacrifice?
Tracey Island,
To quote you;
"1 Apr 1924 - Ship borne element of RAF given the name Fleet Air Arm"
Game set and match!
Oh, and................
GOTCHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To quote you;
"1 Apr 1924 - Ship borne element of RAF given the name Fleet Air Arm"
Game set and match!
Oh, and................
GOTCHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!