Royal Air Force and Military News.

I think it happened at 1300 yesterday? Wattisham wasn't everyone's cup of tea but it's still another sad occaission as our heritage and footprint reduces further. Any memories of Wattisham out there? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-33915323

Caught by a dedicated RAF Police Team - BZ fellas. This chap is still serving... Respect what the articles claims about holding back his details please...? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-33853766

Following the deaths on the Breacons of 3 SAS recruits from climatic injuries the MOD issued an apology (something it never does lightly) and has also implemented a number of controls. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11791451/SAS-will-soften-selection-tests-after-Brecon-Beacons-deaths.html These controls have lead to concerns of going soft...... The linked article states "The changes will apply to the aptitude test week for the regular and the reserve SAS from next year and will also include more water stops along routes through the Brecon Beacons and practice sessions allowing recruits to be come accustomed to the terrain before their selection week. Some fear this will mean a lowering of standards, making...

To mark 75 years of the BoB, the RAF are creating a Commemorative Mosaic. Simply go to the following link and upload a photo, and if it's deemed appropriate (they must know the sorts of photos we take in the line of duty!), it'll be included! Awesome project. http://www.raf.mod.uk/mosaic/

Anyone know how it's been going? (keeping to the site rules on OPSEC) anyone care to speculate on who's winning? Must be nice to have something else to do aside from airshows..... http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/indian-su-30s-start-joint-exercise-with-raf-typhoons-414909/

Unless the Boxheads or eye-tyes come to the rescue! And even more startling Can the Typhoon gang support two ops and all the air shows? http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/597046/RAF-to-run-out-of-bomber-parts

This time another nibble into the investing in people area of service life... Did some Fairbourne time...good laugh and a break from classroom training. http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/two-north-wales-raf-training-9746435?

Happy birthday to Akky! Anyone who has or indeed is staying in those transit blocks are now putting two and two together and realising the date they were last given a lick of paint..... http://www.bfbs.com/news/articles/raf/4359?

You know the score the CDT team rock up at your unit and do their thing. So we were visited by the CDT team today and as ever people were selected at random to perform the expected function while others were selected to observe proceedings. Nothing new there but some lucky bods returned to the section with a free pen with this witty ditty printed on IPD4CDT. Why? You can’t opt in or out of the process so there’s no need to advertise the service. No one is selling anything so it can’t be a marketing ploy It can’t be reward for doing the deed as you have to stay there until you do. So why provide advertising material for an event that is compulsory for service personnel?

No Prize for Second Place Test highlights F-35 maneuver limitations A Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) was outperformed in the type’s first basic fighter maneu- vering exercise by an F-16 more than 20 years old, according to a leaked Lockheed Martin report prepared by the pilot who flew the mission. Inferior energy maneuverability (EM), a limited pitch rate and flying qualities that were “not intuitive or favorable” in a major part of the air-combat regime gave the F-16 the tactical advantage and allowed its pilot to get into both missile-launch and gun parameters over the F-35. Another drawback was that the F-35’s large helmet and canopy design restricted the pilot’s rearward view. Lockheed Martin and the JSF Program...

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/11737135/RAF-Flight-Sergeant-admits-taking-videos-up-womens-skirts-at-Royal-Ascot.html

Oops what happened here then? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3162171/Two-Brimstone-missiles-FALL-British-Tornado-fighter-jet-comes-land-Cyprus-returning-ISIS-air-strikes.html

So thoughts on being promised a 1% pay rise for the next 4 years then? Are you taking it on the chin? Are you getting itchy feet?

Not sure if this place is close to civilisation...if so you could build a little ad of houses on such a plot... http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3150776/Don-t-let-bargain-slip-radar-RAF-Cold-War-base-sale-2-5million-complete-three-storey-scanning-tower.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

As a fresh out of the packet LAC in the early eighties we were in four man rooms in a grotty old barrack block at the elite helicopter base near Basingstoke. Well, I say four man rooms. It was actually an old 16 man room divided into three "four man rooms". Think it was called Whirlwind block or maybe Wessex. Well, we all know about communiy living. You just got on with it. Apart from the bull night every Monday when surprisingly enough us LAC's always had to clean the bogs it wasn't so bad. But, we had to endure a regular annoyance. Some older bloke in some sort of old uniform with and SD hat kept coming around the blocks and into our rooms and bedspaces. He was called the "Scripture Reader" and would insist on coming in and reading...

I think some of us who served in the 70's and 80's are staring down the barrel of something similar...those of us who sat in OF4 mopping out bays, who used trike for just about anything from stripping tank sealant to lighting the section BBQ...there was another similar to trike but the name escapes me...the hands still have issues because of it. http://www.sleafordtarget.co.uk/Man-s-death-caused-exposure-RAF-asbestos/story-26750513-detail/story.html?

It's drawing nearer...I've coughed for the family to go...and the flying display (confirmed list), and I know there is still time for others to be added, looks pretty fecking weak I have to say. In fact it looks si ilar to a Waddo line up. Where's the U.S. Stuff? Anyone else braving it? http://www.airtattoo.com/airshow/visiting/aircraft/aircraft-confirmed

WTF? Who hasn't done this or worse and not given it a second thought? http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/raf-officer-slammed-cool-runnings-blackface-costume?

Breaking news from the Mail, "As many as 20 military personnel have been injured in a collision involving three troop carriers on Salisbury Plain, police said. Two sustained 'life threatening injuries' in the incident and were flown to Southampton General Hospital for treatment, South Western Ambulance service said. Eight with serious injuries were taken by road to Salisbury District Hospital, while 'a number' of 'walking wounded' were treated at the scene. " http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3128696/Up-20-military-personnel-injured-collision-involving-three-troop-carriers-Salisbury-Plain.html Thoughts to all of those affected.

If there is any truth in this it could be messy...Its one thing to have stuff done to you (AIP mispayments for example) whilst you are still serving and a bit nervous about what action you have taken but if you've been dismissed unfairly its weapons free with nowt to lose Anyone on the site in this bracket? http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/584299/Ministry-of-Defence-British-Army-sacked-soldiers-UK-Britain