Just an afterthought but, is there a risk that the RAF could see an exodus of experienced pilots heading to join a private company if the hours pay and conditions are better?

I did read that several joint ventures had formed with a view to bidding for ASDOT contracts with the MOD (Textron/QinetiQ/Thales, Leonardo/Discovery Air/Inzpire and Draken/Cobham. The articles seemed to suggest that contracts could be awarded to begin in 2020. So it sounds like all options are open...

Does that mean that when 100 squadron is disbanded and their role is handed to a private contractor, that the contractor will (regardless of type) be based and operate from a UK airfield? I just figured that based on the lack of exercises that take place in the UK and that the most cost effective so...

Is it not more likely that the solution will either be non-afterburning jets on the civil register, or even more likely that it will all be done overseas?

As an enthusiast I'm all for as many different types as possible, but I do question the wisdom of the RAF buying A400's. I'd have thought that retaining/replacing/adding some C-130's and possibly purchasing one or two of those last C-17's would have been a better option. Does the Atlas really fill a...

I was just thinking about the JW exercises for this year and thought I'd check the dates and for any early rumours of participation and discovered that this year there will only be one exercise, the Spring one and no Autumn exercise as we're apparently heading to Oman for exercise SAIF SAREEA 3 and ...

These are terrific photos. They ooze an atmosphere that clear blue skies can never convey. I think there's maybe a bit too much store put in clear blue skies sometimes (although they are nice of course).

I'm also loving #3 out of a terrific set. Just wondering, what was your photo-ship as I'm trying to imagine how you got that nice head on shot for #3. I'm also fascinated by the lopsided load-out. Is one of them a luggage pod rather than a fuel tank? Does the sniper pod weigh so much it needs counte...

Topping all of this ATC have appeared to be chasing away any passing traffic for lack of fire cover etc. That's interesting. I had noticed over the last few years that there are increasing numbers of photos being posted of military aircraft using non-military airfields such as Prestwick, Dundee, Ne...

Will Lossiemouth have space for 1, 2, 6, 29, 120, 201 and potentially another Typhoon squadron? Strategically, it seems like far too many eggs in one basket, but obviously great for the local enthusiasts. That's true, but perhaps not so great for some of the local residents with increased noise. I ...

It took me a couple of passes to spot it. It was the air brake that did it. Would have made an awesome air show spectacular if they had staged a dogfight. Having said that, with the turning circles of Tornado's and F-111's it'd have performed it at St Mawgan and Leuchars air displays at the same time!

Really miss the ADV and lovely schemes on the display aircraft too. I don't remember the display ever including a dogfight with an Aardvark though

Hi all. I don't really post photos as I don't take many and they aren't usually up to much. But yesterday as I moved between the shuttle bus and the steps to the Jet2 757 that was to bring me home from a week in Croatia, I spotted an unusual Boeing 757 beyond the BA jet beside us. I quickly pulled o...

Thanks for the info guys. I'm about to be away for a few days, but once I'm back I might be back in touch after a bit more information - if you don't mind. Thanks again, Phil.

Hello all, I thought I'd tag onto MRTT's thread as I'm hoping to get to Hyakuri at the start of 2018 too. My question primarily is; does anyone know of a source that can tell me if there is likely to be any flying possible on Tuesday 9th of January? I ask because I'm aware that in Japan New Year is ...

I guess this means relativity little again as with so few of them operating from the one base, surely they'll carry no squadron markings and be pooled anyway. Looking at the delivery schedule, it's also hard to imagine that there will ever be nine in service at any one time. And with the news that i...

And Boscombe Down had good a few aircraft of its own based there at the time and generally more going on. Isn't their only fast jet now resident in Sweden?

Crikey, things are really speeding up in the killing off of this hobby (from a photography point of view at least). Mound removal at Coningsby, talk of new bigger fences at Lossie and Marham for P-8 and F-35 arrivals, Mildenhall for the chop, a lot less to photograph generally, reducing numbers of a...

That's certainly one of the reasons in my mind why it seems very odd. That is assuming that RAF Valley don't send the French air force or RAF Brize Norton a huge bill for some overshoots. And I'm pretty sure that on an average day, most RAF bases see much less activity than East Midlands airport.

Not easy to sum this up in the thread title. Anyway, I have noticed over time that a lot of military aircraft seem to be photographed at civilain airfields. Just now I looked at this thread and Bobbster noted how Culdrose is quiet and visitors have been using Newquay. I expect that it's a silly ques...