Kevin Brooks wrote:
[Snip]

If the RAAF really had its back to the wall in terms of replacing the F-111
with a similarly capable strike platform in the near term, and leasing is
the way you want to go, I'd suggest that a more realistic way of taking
advantage of that "special relationship" would be to talk the US into
loaning (or leasing at nominal/symbolic rate) about four B-1B's. That way
you only require a minimum of 16 rated aircrew (and IIRC keeping aircrew for
the current F-111 fleet has been a significant problem) to keep them mission
capable, and each one hauls a lot of munitions. Getting an older aircraft
like that at good terms would be a lot more likely than your F-15T at
similarly good terms option, IMO. Scratch the F-16 proposal at the get-go;
keep your F/A-18's flying and updated until the F-35 is available.

Brooks



Kevin,

Doubt you'd only want a fleet of 4 of any aircraft. I've had the
experience of trying to support 3 customers with a squadron of only 6
Bones (6 + 1 in depot), and it wasn't pretty. This is at a base with
two other squadrons flying another 24 planes, 4 would be unworkable.
Furthermore, there aren't enough Bones left to lease four unless
congress backs off from bringing the 23 out of retirement (7 are gone
for good). Even at that not sure you'd want the ones at DM, pretty
picked over.

That said, it could be workable with a fleet size of 10 or 11 if the US
follows through with the plans to stand up a squadron in Guam. Although
that would depend on us only bringing back 11-12.

Cheers,

Michael Kelly
Bone Maintainer