Originally Posted by sunnoficarus

AIRBUS MPA does not exist. ANy future MPA we buy will be an OTS solution - we've done the blue sky bit and turned it into £4 Billion quids worth of high grade alluminium scrap.

Now, about 'poison' to buy Boeings with AIRBUS next door…

We have Boeing E-3's, Boeing C-17's

We have E-3's because of Nimrod AEW, C17's because Airbus didn't "DO" massive freight at the time.

Originally Posted by llech

We have E-3's because of Nimrod AEW, C17's because Airbus didn't "DO" massive freight at the time.

And IF we get new MPA's, this is the ONLY hand of cards on the table.

We're only getting A400's because europhile Ministers want them. The RAF was perfectly happy with more C-17's and new C-130's.
Same with Nimrod AEW, RAF was perfectly happy to have bought the E-3 from the get go rather than spunk away £1 Billion qiud of 1980's money making another small batch of hugely expensive Nimrods that also ended up as very expensive scrap.

Originally Posted by llech

Irrelevant, politically it would be poison to buy Boeing 737's with Airbus available on or doorstep. Doesn't matter if it's anorther Nimrod AEW spinning bow tie in the making.

Buy Airbus MPA? Save ourselves the pain - just stack £ 5 Billion up in a heap at the end of the main runway at Tolouse, and set fire to it. It is only slideware and probably always will be.

Or, maybe just for once, we could do the sensible thing and buy a batch of P-8's, straight off the production run (complete with all the Mission Avionics that we paid for and got working for Nimrod MR4!). Share a common supply chain and a common user base, and save cash.

Going by the Spams' recent policy of adopting kit already in use by the British - like the GPMG and the Charlie G - I'm surprised that they aren't bringing this in:

Ah, the good old 'Shacklebat' (Shackleton) or "a hundred thousand rivets flying in close formation" for the benefit of younger ARRSERs.

Originally Posted by fozzy

Buy Airbus MPA? Save ourselves the pain - just stack £ 5 Billion up in a heap at the end of the main runway at Tolouse, and set fire to it. It is only slideware and probably always be.

Or, maybe just for once, we could do the sensible thing and buy a batch of P-8's, straight off the production run (complete with all the Mission Avionics that we paid for and got working for Nimrod MR4!). Share a common supply chain and a common user base, and save cash.

Don't you be coming round here with your common sense

Originally Posted by JoeCivvie

Going by the Spams' recent policy of adopting kit already in use by the British - like the GPMG and the Charlie G - I'm surprised that they aren't bringing this in:

Thats a MK3 man are you mad! Go for the MK2 tail dragger. Proven technology dontcha know.

It is a bit unclear why the USN regard this as an improvement over the P3 Orion. The P3 has 4 times the range and significantly longer loiter time due to the P3's ability to shut down an engine to save fuel.

The squadrons that were tasked for North Atlantic patrols used to be based on the coast of Maine (i.e., NE corner of the US). but those squadrons were moved to Jacksonvile, Florida, a mere 1300 miles from the North Atlantic. The base in Maine is either closed or closing very soon. Not sure why the Navy likes a plane with less endurance.

Originally Posted by DavidBOC

It is a bit unclear why the USN regard this as an improvement over the P3 Orion. The P3 has 4 times the range and significantly longer loiter time due to the P3's ability to shut down an engine to save fuel.

The squadrons that were tasked for North Atlantic patrols used to be based on the coast of Maine (i.e., NE corner of the US). but those squadrons were moved to Jacksonvile, Florida, a mere 1300 miles from the North Atlantic. The base in Maine is either closed or closing very soon. Not sure why the Navy likes a plane with less endurance.

Just a guess with usn/usaf focusing on the Pacific, security of the carribean and La Canal may play a part there. dont forget the fresh orange juice for brekkie.

Originally Posted by tiger stacker

Just a guess with usn/usaf focusing on the Pacific, security of the carribean and La Canal may play a part there. dont forget the fresh orange juice for brekkie.

My guess it is a lot more to do with power of Florida Senators vs Maine Senators in particular and New England pols in general. Base closures are very political. Doubt if it is the OJ, Maine lobster would trump Florida lobster any day. (FL lobster is a different species, nowhere as good as New England)