Top Guns Inside The RAF

[Sparts99]

I had a chat with a colleague at work who left the RAF a couple of years ago, he hasn't watched the series but we had a chat about the SWO. His opinion is that it was very toned down for the cameras. If you watch it, note how everyone he speaks to does exactly as he says and doesn't try to have a laugh or make any dismissive comment.

[Ghastly Whisper]

Ok so I've watched the first half of the first episode. 100% a recruitment drive. Nice to see they have not removed the banter!!!!

[Thunder]

Quote from tonight’s episode

“we’re so close to Russia that if you did the wrong woodland trail, you would probably cross the border”

Really, would ye? If so I wouldn’t want you navigating a Typhoon or anything else.

[Condor68]

On tonights programme they stated there was only one working Typhoon as the faulty one would need to be replaced.What about the rest of the Squadron aircraft?

[Thunder]

I thought that detachment was 4 jets? Maybe the others went left rather than right and ended up in Portugal

[jamyt123]

Quote from tonight’s episode

“we’re so close to Russia that if you did the wrong woodland trail, you would probably cross the border”

Really, would ye? If so I wouldn’t want you navigating a Typhoon or anything else.

Pretty decent woodland trail, considering Ämari is a 3 hour drive from the Russian border.

[Steven]

I think it is 4 jets and is probably a typical TV dramatization of how two jets are always on QRA standby (hence why they said down to 1 jet) with the other 2 requiring a little more prep to get them on standby.

[Snoop 95]

I suppose it makes good television for the majority, but to show two 'front-line' situations where missions were affected by aircraft unserviceability does not show the RAF's equipment well in my opinion. Maybe it is a fact of life with such high-tech aircraft, but do other nations suffer the same fate?

[bizfreeq]

Surely showing that the missions being affected by unserviceability is depicting the truth of every day RAF life, which is the whole point of the programme is it not? You can't have a so called 'in depth' docu-series and only show the good bits, where would be the point in that?

[mirage 2000]

I suppose it makes good television for the majority, but to show two 'front-line' situations where missions were affected by aircraft unserviceability does not show the RAF's equipment well in my opinion. Maybe it is a fact of life with such high-tech aircraft, but do other nations suffer the same fate?

Yes Military and Civil aircraft go tech all the time. You would be shocked how many aircraft in the Civil world go tech from a small computer issue to something bigger. Like you say modern tech doesn't always work or want to work on the day everyday.

[Snoop 95]

Surely showing that the missions being affected by unserviceability is depicting the truth of every day RAF life, which is the whole point of the programme is it not? You can't have a so called 'in depth' docu-series and only show the good bits, where would be the point in that?

Showing a 'warts-and-all' situation may well be accurate, but I see the programme as an advertisement for the RAF and for the UK's standing in the world (as those from other nations undoubtedly will).

[sschofield]

I suppose it makes good television for the majority, but to show two 'front-line' situations where missions were affected by aircraft unserviceability does not show the RAF's equipment well in my opinion. Maybe it is a fact of life with such high-tech aircraft, but do other nations suffer the same fate?

Yes, they do. The F-35 is terrible for it, due to its complexity.

[airtyphoon]

I thought that detachment was 4 jets? Maybe the others went left rather than right and ended up in Portugal

Didn’t the RAF and the German Air Force share a detachment last year providing two Airframes each?

[Red-Eye-Knight]

I thought that detachment was 4 jets? Maybe the others went left rather than right and ended up in Portugal

Didn’t the RAF and the German Air Force share a detachment last year providing two Airframes each?

Yes I am sure they mentioned this in a previous episode.

[jamesg23]

I thought that detachment was 4 jets? Maybe the others went left rather than right and ended up in Portugal

Didn’t the RAF and the German Air Force share a detachment last year providing two Airframes each?

Yes I am sure they mentioned this in a previous episode.

And would explain why ZK305 had been zapped with the Red "R" in its tail number and a german badge at the top of the fin.

[Rob666]

And would explain why ZK305 had been zapped with the Red "R" in its tail number and a german badge at the top of the fin.

Don’t see it now, but years ago it was not unusual for an aircraft while on detachment to be zapped by a visiting squadron with a stencil and spray can overnight with.something relating to the visiting nation/squadron some of which would fail todays PC brigade.

[Rugbyref]

Did I understand correctly that the station commander had not flown for 3 years and stepped straight into a single seat Typhoon? No twin stick or cheaper/slower craft as a first step?

[The Phantom]

Did I understand correctly that the station commander had not flown for 3 years and stepped straight into a single seat Typhoon? No twin stick or cheaper/slower craft as a first step?

Yes that's what was shown - which surprised me somewhat. Maybe they edit out the simulator parts, etc.

[Unknown74]

Couldn’t believe or understand that either RugbyRef…

[Sparts99]

He must've been in the simulator to be assessed on procedures and emergencies at least before flying surely?