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Top Guns Inside The RAF

A forum for discussing all things related to MILITARY AVIATION including Military Aviation news. No off-topic discussions here please.
Sparts99
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Sparts99 » Sun Sep 10, 2023 10:41 am

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.
In this world there's two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig.

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Ghastly Whisper
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Ghastly Whisper » Sun Sep 10, 2023 6:22 pm

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!!!!

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Thunder
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Thunder » Mon Sep 11, 2023 8:27 pm

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
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Condor68 » Mon Sep 11, 2023 8:55 pm

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?

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Thunder
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Thunder » Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:05 pm

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

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jamyt123
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by jamyt123 » Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:08 pm

Thunder wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2023 8:27 pm
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.

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Steven
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Steven » Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:09 pm

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
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Snoop 95 » Tue Sep 12, 2023 7:33 am

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?

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bizfreeq
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by bizfreeq » Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:53 am

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?
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mirage 2000
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by mirage 2000 » Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:02 am

Snoop 95 wrote:
Tue Sep 12, 2023 7:33 am
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
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Snoop 95 » Tue Sep 12, 2023 1:03 pm

bizfreeq wrote:
Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:53 am
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).

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sschofield
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by sschofield » Tue Sep 12, 2023 6:44 pm

Snoop 95 wrote:
Tue Sep 12, 2023 7:33 am
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
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by airtyphoon » Thu Sep 14, 2023 7:51 pm

Thunder wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:05 pm
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?
Nathan From Trowbridge.
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Red-Eye-Knight
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Red-Eye-Knight » Fri Sep 15, 2023 6:39 pm

airtyphoon wrote:
Thu Sep 14, 2023 7:51 pm
Thunder wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:05 pm
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
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by jamesg23 » Fri Sep 15, 2023 10:18 pm

Red-Eye-Knight wrote:
Fri Sep 15, 2023 6:39 pm
airtyphoon wrote:
Thu Sep 14, 2023 7:51 pm
Thunder wrote:
Mon Sep 11, 2023 9:05 pm
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
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Rob666 » Sat Sep 16, 2023 5:57 am

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
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Rugbyref » Tue Sep 19, 2023 10:29 am

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?

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The Phantom
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by The Phantom » Tue Sep 19, 2023 11:44 am

Rugbyref wrote:
Tue Sep 19, 2023 10:29 am
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
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Unknown74 » Tue Sep 19, 2023 11:44 am

Couldn’t believe or understand that either RugbyRef…

Sparts99
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Re: Top Guns Inside The RAF

Post by Sparts99 » Tue Sep 19, 2023 12:51 pm

He must've been in the simulator to be assessed on procedures and emergencies at least before flying surely?
In this world there's two kinds of people, my friend. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig.

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