Lovely BBC programme about the Sea King helicopter as it comes to retirement:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01r1z3g/The_Sea_King_Britains_Flying_Past/
I really enjoyed it - what a work horse!
My mum recorded it for me to watch later, she used to do something money related for them and said she was sad they were going.
The Sea King has saved a lot of lives over the years and like the Wessex before it has done a great job absolutely every task that has been asked
of it.
I used live on Cumrae on the West Bay opposite the football field that was used by the Sea Kings from HMS Gannet for pickups from the island , after
the ferry guys decided they weren't getting paid enough for emergency overnight call outs (which were quite frequent because of the number of
old folks homes in Millport) getting woken up in the wee small hours by a Sea King landing was quite frequent .
Great programme.
I assumed during the show John Sergeant meant they were retiring the aircraft to replace with Merlins but then he said the squadrons were being
disbanded and the Air Sea Rescue service would be privatised! Hadn't realised that...and thought it a bit shocking tbh Not sure how that's
going to work!
I must have been living under. Rock for the last 2 years!
Link to proposed privatised SAR
Rich
[Edited on 2/3/13 by rb968]
Basically, people who don't know what they're talking about complain about government spending so they stop doing things as in this case. It came out of MOD budgets so a really easy way to meet the targets for cuts was to cut them. The problem is they'll then pay a private company more money to do less work (Ok that might not happen) but because it comes from a different budget it looks better on paper. I'd be bricking it if I worked at the MET office, I reckon they'll be high up on the list of things the MOD cuts.
quote:
Originally posted by morcus
Basically, people who don't know what they're talking about complain about government spending so they stop doing things as in this case. It came out of MOD budgets so a really easy way to meet the targets for cuts was to cut them. The problem is they'll then pay a private company more money to do less work (Ok that might not happen) but because it comes from a different budget it looks better on paper. I'd be bricking it if I worked at the MET office, I reckon they'll be high up on the list of things the MOD cuts.
This started in 2005 so it's not just the current lot. Only delayed due to irregularities in the bidding process!
It goes back further than that to 91. It all stems from the idea that we don't need something right now so we shouldn't bother having
despite the fact that it cost alot less to keep it than it does to scrap it and start again from scratch should we need it. The budget looks better on
paper and thats all it's about, like when they harp on about charging less income tax but at the same time put up NI so your paying the same
money.
On the plus side we've almost reached the point where a war between major powers is impossible because it would cost too much money as noone
could risk putting equipment up against anything capable of hurting it. This does however make nuclear war more likly.
All of the current military PFIs (Airtanker, MFTS, SAR to name a few) are the responsibility of the last lot, the economics are quite frankly
baffling, but no surprise as they come from the same school that sold of the national gold reserve at the lowest price in decades and in 2 years ran
up a greater national debt than the whole of WW2 cost! All of the PFIs are troubled - Australia dabbled with the Airtanker model for a while then
went to a straight purchase instead as it was cheaper! MFTS is dead in the water and, as was said earlier, the SAR deal had to be re-bid.
It will be sad to see the Sea King go, sad to see the expertise leave the military, however, it is almost a dead cert that many of the crews will
leave the forces and be employed by the civilian contractor! Fine now, but the Costs will go up in the future when the private company has to train
it's own pilots. Still, that will be on another governments watch....
My point? Politicians - shoot em all!!! (Note. This is in no way meant to be an incitment to violence or to go out and actually shoot politicians)
quote:
Originally posted by morcus
It goes back further than that to 91. It all stems from the idea that we don't need something right now so we shouldn't bother having despite the fact that it cost alot less to keep it than it does to scrap it and start again from scratch should we need it. The budget looks better on paper and thats all it's about, like when they harp on about charging less income tax but at the same time put up NI so your paying the same money.
On the plus side we've almost reached the point where a war between major powers is impossible because it would cost too much money as noone could risk putting equipment up against anything capable of hurting it. This does however make nuclear war more likly.
The situation in the Sea of Japan area is getting worrying, not just because of North Korea but Japan, and China and Taiwan.
back to thr OP watched it transfixed. I liked the milatry version shat had a blade shot throught so the flew a spare out fited it and off they went.
ATb agriv8
Just watched this program last night, very good. The RAF/RN expertise is without competition, the depth of their training is amazing. The two RN guys
on the sinking ship was complete selfless duty.
My first re-collection of a yellow rescue helicopter was a Westland Whirlwind winch training at Tynemouth Coastguard site, they actually dropped the
winchy into the old Priory where I was standing with my mum (age 7).
Not long after they landed and the crewman took me onboard the helicopter for a look round, Ive been fascinated with helicopters ever since.
Now the Coastguard site is closed, and so shortly will the SAR site at Boulmer. I wouldnt like to think where the accountants will decide where to
base the civvy aircraft on the North east coast, if at all. Its all about risk management, and it goes without saying that less is most obviously
more, and the advances in technology allow less aircraft to cover bigger areas, for less money.
Like everything in this Great country managed by fat blokes in suits, they all get fatter, continue getting elected and continue selling us plebs
turds
ps - for anyone after an excellent helicopter read for their holidays, much better than any of the Apache type books, give this one a go.
http://www.amazon.com/Low-Level-Hell-Hugh-Mills/dp/0891417192
[Edited on 4/3/13 by T66]
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
The situation in the Sea of Japan area is getting worrying, not just because of North Korea but Japan, and China and Taiwan.