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  1. #1
    Not a Mod. Begbie's Avatar
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    The UK's Potemkin Navy

    Revealed: Plane at heart of aircraft carrier launch is a fake as real models are years behind schedule - Daily Record

    The UK navy has jumped ahead in the floating white elephant, aircraft carrier race.

    The UK has just launched a new aircraft carrier without real aircraft. It did however have a fibre glass replica of the plane they'd like to use, if they can afford it, in 2018.

  2. #2
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    ^ If the Septics can ever actually build it.....

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by Begbie View Post
    Revealed: Plane at heart of aircraft carrier launch is a fake as real models are years behind schedule - Daily Record

    The UK navy has jumped ahead in the floating white elephant, aircraft carrier race.

    The UK has just launched a new aircraft carrier without real aircraft. It did however have a fibre glass replica of the plane they'd like to use, if they can afford it, in 2018.
    Stroke of genius, a fibre glass airforce. I heard some Chinese bloke used the same tactic a while back but had to make do with terracotta.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat VocalNeal's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Necron99 View Post
    ^ If the Septics can ever actually build it.....
    Yeah. They've been using a British VTOL for years but so far can't build one of their own. Never mind the Chinese probably have one they could buy.

  5. #5
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    It's a British military tradition, we dropped parachutist dolls on the squareheads during the D-Day invasion.

  6. #6
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    keep the fake planes. save a fortune and be less tempted to start or join in illegal wars if we have a fleet made of balsa wood and a fleet air arm made of paper and cardboard.

  7. #7
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    Ridicule all you want, but the MoD is doing the best it can with its limited budget.
    The UK still needs a reliable potent navy as it is an island surrounded by countries that do not always share its views on trade or national security. The UK must be able to protect its trade routes and its far flung assets. Sometimes the benefits of freedom come with a cost, just ask the brave Falkland Island residents who live in the shadow of a the belligerent expansionist Argentinians who have no respect for international law or agreements. The UK has a vested interested in the Gulf region with tens of thousands of expats working there. UK nationals and legitimate longstanding financial interests rely on the UK being able to protect them. The Gulf lives on the edge of chaos and the ability to protect assets and people has been repeatedly tested over the years. The UK cannot rely on its Gulf "allies" for assistance when needed. One need only look at how the UAE knifed Canada in the back forcing Canada to close its base on short notice over an economic dispute related to UAE airlines wanting more access to Canada. Then end result was hundreds of millions of $$ incurred by Canada when it was forced to use alternative options. All this while the Canadian navy was protecting the UAE's shipping routes and oil exports. The UK is deployed in the Gulf region protecting the Gulf and it cannot do this without appropriate assets.
    Those who belittle the UK efforts remind me of those who said the Europeans would sort things out in the 30's. In the meantime, Putin looks to expand his borders with his aggression. To those who wish the UK to remain weak and defenceless, I say a pox on you.
    Kindness is spaying and neutering one's companion animals.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by pseudolus View Post
    keep the fake planes. save a fortune and be less tempted to start or join in illegal wars if we have a fleet made of balsa wood and a fleet air arm made of paper and cardboard.
    Took a while to figure it out but must say a stroke of genius to end wars once and for all. If our hardware is made of cardboard and balsa wood our leaders will certainly know that and won't be in such a hurry to send them into the line of fire where we might be found out when they fall apart. But they can still huff and puff, yes I think they should so as not to make it obvious.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by VocalNeal
    They've been using a British VTOL for years but so far can't build one of their own.
    The US has been building the Harrier in the US for years. You also must have never seen one of these;



    BTW the Osprey happens to be the most sophisticated VTOL ever built


    Quote Originally Posted by Necron99
    If the Septics can ever actually build it.....
    Well the military industrial complex must wring out every dollar they can out of the government before they actually release a fully functional plane. The thing is flying but is beset with constant gremlins. Very convenient for those trying to make money.
    Last edited by bsnub; 14-07-2014 at 09:50 AM.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by zygote1 View Post
    The UK still needs a reliable potent navy as it is an island surrounded by countries that do not always share its views on trade or national security.
    ROFL The UK is "surrounded" by Europe.

  11. #11
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    Could be he meant Scotland.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thormaturge View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by zygote1 View Post
    The UK still needs a reliable potent navy as it is an island surrounded by countries that do not always share its views on trade or national security.
    ROFL The UK is "surrounded" by Europe.
    And?
    The Continentals enact policies both diplomatic and economic without much concern to the well being of the UK. While all those lazy sods in the EU parliament cavort about on their bloated salaries, the battered and abused taxpayers labour hard to send their tribute to Brussels that will subsidize the Continentals and the plague of benefit seekers they will force upon the UK.
    The last time the UK relied on its European allies, the huns ended up picnicking on the other side of the channel.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by bsnub
    BTW the Osprey happens to be the most sophisticated VTOL ever built
    The Harrier/AV8-B for most successful

    The Dornier Do-31 for most sophisticated

    The P.1154 would have been a better starting point for a Harrier replacement IMO...rather than the F-35 excuse for a VTOL aircraft

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Troy
    The Dornier Do-31 for most sophisticated
    Nonsense it was an experimental aircraft beset with technical problems the Osprey is by lightyears a more complex and sophisticated aircraft. It is a complete one of a kind. There is nothing like it.

    Quote Originally Posted by Troy
    The P.1154 would have been a better starting point for a Harrier replacement IMO...rather than the F-35 excuse for a VTOL aircraft
    Today the P1154 would have been just as outdated as the Harrier is. I dont know what you are on about here. I would agree that the F-35 never should have had the VTOL option incorporated. It has made the plane too heavy and slow. The F-35 will be a colossal failure in my opinion. The US really needs to restart the F-22 program.

  15. #15
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    Well said and I agree it is all true

    Quote Originally Posted by zygote1
    the MoD is doing the best it can with its limited budget
    Quote Originally Posted by zygote1
    The UK still needs a reliable potent navy as it is an island surrounded by countries that do not always share its views on trade or national security
    Quote Originally Posted by zygote1
    Sometimes the benefits of freedom come with a cost, just ask the brave Falkland Island residents
    Quote Originally Posted by zygote1
    UAE knifed Canada in the back forcing Canada to close its base on short notice over an economic dispute related to UAE airlines wanting more access to Canada. Then end result was hundreds of millions of $$ incurred by Canada when it was forced to use alternative options
    And AV-8B is a beautiful machine I feel her.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Thormaturge View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by zygote1 View Post
    The UK still needs a reliable potent navy as it is an island surrounded by countries that do not always share its views on trade or national security.
    rds
    ROFL The UK is "surrounded" by Europe.
    See what goes on in diplomatic channels. UK is and has always been with the free world, now with US, Aus, NZ, Canada etc. Now continental euros hate the UK as much they hate the US. Their history...

    Euros are not very nice. Most of them are ok but the french and some Germans want to fuck up the world again. And again. Same same. I feel more secure with Awacs birds out there. We want to prevent all war. Don't we?

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by bsnub
    Osprey is by lightyears a more complex and sophisticated aircraft. It is a complete one of a kind. There is nothing like it.
    It's nothing more than a death-trap and has the sophistication of an overpriced plastic doll made in Hong Kong. Someone from the kindergarten could come up with a better design.

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