Interesting Blog about MoD Procurement

[VC10]

Even if half of it is true it is a sorry tale

Stonehenge II and THEY-1
http://forbesblog.dailymail.co.uk/2012/ ... -one-.html

The Apache/Chinook/Phantom story
http://forbesblog.dailymail.co.uk/2012/ ... art-2.html

The Tornado
http://forbesblog.dailymail.co.uk/2012/ ... art-3.html

Typhoon Tribulation
http://forbesblog.dailymail.co.uk/2012/ ... -four.html

The Nimrod Saga
http://forbesblog.dailymail.co.uk/2012/ ... -five.html

Any readers who find the implied criticism here too harsh should reflect on this –

The greatest military power the world has ever known (the alliance of NATO and the United States and other friendly countries), possessing vast treasure, high technology, magic eyes in the sky, steeds galloping faster than the speed of sound, immense firepower, and instant communication between its soldiers, has at the end of a period twice as long as that of World War II failed to defeat the uneducated, impoverished, and ill-armed tribesmen they vastly outnumber.


Paul

[clavel9]

Even if half of it is true it is a sorry tale

I suspect it's only half the story...

[TobyV]

I read the one about the Tornado. Probably about right. I'm actually quite glad the ADV is out of service. I have a nasty feeling that had that been called upon to defend us, it would have been the proverbial chocolate fireguard. I think canning the Harrier GR.9 and keeping the Tornado IDS probably wasn't the slickest move either if we really couldn't afford both any more.

Not convinced that swing wings were really the best idea in the end. Boeing dropped them from the B2707 supersonic airliner before that was cancelled altogether. T-8he French didn't proceed with either AFVG or Mirage G. From Western nations, the most successful aircraft featuring them was probably the F-14 Tomcat. I think the Russians went for them more in the end, with the Sukhoi-17, 24, MiG-23 and MiG-27 and the Tu-22 and Tu-160 bombers. I don't think anyone would consider designing a new swing-wing aircraft nowadays, not least for the fact that the covers around the "hinges" produce an enormous radar signature and modern combat aircraft are all about trying to reduce their radar signature.

[VC10]

Re the swing wings, the author attributes them to the Americans, I thought it was our very own Barnes Wallis started the swing wing idea

Paul

[TobyV]

Yes it was Barnes Wallis. Still doesn't necessarily mean it was a brilliant idea though. From a purely aerodynamic perspective I can see its appeal, but as soon as you think about engineering them for anything larger than an r/c model, we're into serious hinges.

[AllanL]

Well, it must be true, that's Dave Moly's Orster on the first blog.

Didn't realise he made so much out of his MOD contracts, beer's on you Sunday Dave!

[Molyned]

Well blow me down Allan it is too ! It's my MK1 model for FS9 flying in my scenery offering for the A.T.A. base at Ratcliffe X2LC just checked it out.
Fancy me making the big time by getting a model in the Daily Mail
You're right, it's only fair that you get half of what I'll be payed for the shot which amounts to ...
Cheers
Dave M(oly)

[VC10]

Yes it was Barnes Wallis. Still doesn't necessarily mean it was a brilliant idea though.

Hi Toby,

I wasn't suggesting it was a good idea, I was just pointing out that the author had got his facts wrong.

Paul

[Paul K]

A very interesting read, though I'm always a bit wary of anything that comes via the Mail.

From the section dealing with the Tornado;

Quote; "The principal benefit of variable geometry, first developed by the Americans for the unimpressive F-111..."

The F-111 unimpressive ? From what I've heard, this aircraft was always first on the Soviet Union's wish-list at arms limitation talks in the eighties. They hated the thing.

[TSR2]

The 1-11 had a very bad rep, all sorts of problems with it from what I've read