RAF C-130 (ZH870) Retirement Tail

[TonyO]

Pathetic! Bear in mind though that anything too elaborate may upset someone, somewhere in this Wokedom?

What on god's green f***ing earth does being aware of social inequality, i.e. being "woke" have to do with the tail of an aeroplane. Jesus Christ

[andrewn]

Pathetic! Bear in mind though that anything too elaborate may upset someone, somewhere in this Wokedom?

Rubbish, and that isn't what "woke" means. Only reason we're bad at special schemes is unlike Germany, France, Belgium etc. we farm out our maintenance to private companies who try to do as little as possible for the most money, i.e. Serco. Anyone with a passion for this now doesn't have the authority to make it happen.

Agreed Kevin, that was my thinking as well - real shame as the Herc, and all associated with her over the years, deserve better than this poor effort in my opinion.

[Sparts99]

Pathetic! Bear in mind though that anything too elaborate may upset someone, somewhere in this Wokedom?

Eh?

Anyway, see the 40th anniversary scheme in the Warbirds and Nostalgia photo section. Considering the length of service and the events and missions the Hercules, its crews and support staff have been involved with in RAF service that really is abysmal.

[Finty]

Pathetic! Bear in mind though that anything too elaborate may upset someone, somewhere in this Wokedom?

What on god's green f***ing earth does being aware of social inequality, i.e. being "woke" have to do with the tail of an aeroplane. Jesus Christ

Indeed. Just more of the usual over the top sh*te I’ve come to expect from spotters when there’s paint involved!

[Malcolm H]

Apologies for upsetting anyone - which I clearly did.

[GaryS]

i make it 57 years !!

That's what i thought.
But the Herc came into service in October 1966 so I guess it falls just short of the 57..

[Stug298]

i make it 57 years !!

That's what i thought.
But the Herc came into service in October 1966 so I guess it falls just short of the 57..

yes it was actually december but it just doesn't add up on face value.they haven't done a very good job of this at all..

[Thunder]

The more I look at it, the more p*** poor it looks. Someone high up signed this off, which questions how on earth can someone that gets to such a position have no imagination or self esteem, let alone no respect for what the aircraft and it’s crews have done for this country.

This is shockingly embarrassing not just for the RAF, but the UK. Sir Michael Wigston and Sir Richard Knighton should hang his head in shame.

[Finty]

Apologies for upsetting anyone - which I clearly did.

No one’s upset, but they are confused by your incoherent drivel.

[SeaFuryFan]

I quite agree Thunder, the state of the RAF currently is well...some what embarrassing ! How hard would it be to paint a retirement tail on one of the aircraft if a full repaint is to costly!

[KevinJ]

If there were two RAF Hercules' parked next to each other I would actively avoid photographing the ugly stickered one and would be annoyed if I went to Cosford and they sent that one, that's how much I hate this pi$$ poor effort. I'd love to know how much the tax payer paid Serco for this as I bet it was 10x the market rate!

[Col Nago]

Now if they'd given me the contract and budget for a retirement scheme, I'd have done one side tan/brown cammo and one side green/grey. Sadly they didn't. Their loss.

[Finty]

Now if they'd given me the contract and budget for a retirement scheme, I'd have done one side tan/brown cammo and one side green/grey. Sadly they didn't. Their loss.

That would’ve been good. I’m generally not in favour of special paint schemes, most look sh*t (tiger meets etc) and you can’t beat standard operational
Paint jobs, but I am in favour of heritage repaints, even if the model of aircraft isn’t exactly the same.

[James Cutting]

Makes us realise how extremely lucky we got with the GR4's when they left...2 special tails and a full redo of one.

[Cyberfox]

Regardless of an underwhelming tail scheme, I’m just disappointed that we’re losing the Hercs with no capable replacement while our old cold war enemy wages war in Europe.

Another ridiculous decision by the government just to save money while they continue to waste it on HS2, overpaid contractors and civil servants, etc.

[tornado17]

Regardless of an underwhelming tail scheme, I’m just disappointed that we’re losing the Hercs with no capable replacement while our old cold war enemy wages war in Europe.

Another ridiculous decision by the government just to save money while they continue to waste it on HS2, overpaid contractors and civil servants, etc.

I’m a civil servant and believe me when I say we’re not overpaid, the lower grades anyway. We’re on the national minimum wage!!

[Drinkmat]

How about some of the scheme critics publishing their own artwork and ideas of what this retirement scheme should have been?

[KevinJ]

How about some of the scheme critics publishing their own artwork and ideas of what this retirement scheme should have been?

It's not a "scheme" though, it's a unimaginative bland sticker, that's the (justified) criticism.

[Blackcat1]

I’ve seen drink mats look better than that

[Rob666]

I’ve seen drink mats look better than that

Like that, made me laugh thank you.

Not much more can be excepted beyond a sticker, just look at the efforts of the RAF for 100 and compare that with the US Navy 100 years I rest my case.
Rob