On 2006-03-24, wrote:
I read about that training excercise the other day. What caught my
attention is the fact the RAAF is still flying Aardvarks.

The RAF was supposed to fly them as well - conspiracy theories state
that US pressure got the TSR.2 canceled in favour of the F111 - which
the RAF ultimately ended up canceling the order for because it was
over budget and late (sounds like software!). Funny, the RAF had to pay
cancelation fees for that - General Dynamics lawyers must have really
seen the British Government coming to have a contract where it could all
be going pear shaped yet they still get the cancelation fee!

The RAF ended up using the F-4 Phantom instead (and keeping the Canberra
- I think there are *still* some Canberras flying) but because the
British government was so embarrassed about the whole affair and the
general destruction of the UK's aerospace industry (largely caused by
the Government's meddling) insisted the F-4 be fitted with Rolls-Royce
Speys - meaning the F-4 had to be modified at great expense. At least
the Speys were a little bit more powerful than the original J-79 engines
so they did actually get something for that money. (Though the RAF would
have been perfectly happy with the standard F-4).

--
Dylan Smith, Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
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