Navy Pilots - Fleet Air Arm - Episode 1 - 1/3

[B1900pilot]

Sadly, it has taken what the Luftwaffe could do to destroy the RAF...Your own government has done the job quite effectively and without a shred of dignity...Very sad...

[TheUncleDougger]

Bottom line on the Harrier, with no "I have heard", no "I read somewhere", etc is this: It can turn inside any pursuing aircraft, it can use over the horizon weaponry that makes relative speed a moot point, it can evade most incoming air to air weapons by manuver. It also makes a pretty good close support platform due to very modern electronic weapons delivery packages.

It's not a racehorse, it's a very agile pack mule. It fills a huge niche well, and smaller niches where it rules the roost.

[MSavageEsq]

RIP Fleet Air Arm fixed wing capability. With the current defence budgets etc., I am not sure that it will ever be recovered.

[hosssized]

The English LT. said the harrier "weapon system in second to none in the UK" (min. 3:03). currently the US has about 6 fighter or attack aircraft that are better then the English Harrier. This fact is supported because the USMC uses the same model, and its no match for the F22 and the A10 is a better ground attack aircraft.

and American military pilots flew for the RAF in WWII as early as 1940, and when the US fully committed aircraft in Britain, the Nazis left.

[BDFPA]

@hosssized but you do realise that this programme was made 12+ years ago.

[euanross89]

Get the feeling that a lot of people posting here are failing to realise that the world has largely moved on from airtoair combat. It WILL remain a part of air warfare but it in the current climate, fast & agile platforms for Air to ground are going to be much more useful. Billions on aircraft that would last have been useful during the 90's isn't going to improve abilities of NATO in the war on terror. And why the hell would the USA be shooting down the aircraft of western European airforces?

[PlaneAU]

The f35 is useless, and ive heard the harrier beat the f15 in dogfighting, which means it must be better than the f18 and f16. Im sure its better than the f22 at dogfighting aswell seeing as the EF beat the F22 8-2 dogfighting.

[TheLloydA1]

@Sibs1990 The navys air force are planes that can take off from carriers,and can be taken on carriers to deploy around the world. The Air Force have planes that are deployed in the defence of its countrys airspace and take off from normal airfields. So they serve different purposes.

[ac1d1c1]

Whilst Bae Systems is manufacturing the empenage and some other components/avionics for the F35 they are not going to be assembled in the UK. Its thought they will be built and test flown in Italy. Having seen first hand some of the Italians build quality on Typhoon we'd be better off sticking with the Shar

[ScouttheDoggieFan]

Harrier would get blown up by

f-22

F15

F16

F18

f-35

Iam a fraid our jet is slightly outdated we need a new one what do you guys think?

[jackisdacrac]

@ScouttheDoggieFan well for one the f35 is being manufactured by BAE systems which is a uk manufacturer and therefore that will eventually replace the harrier, secondly in air to sea combat the harrier would only encounter the f-18 which isnt that much superior if at all thirdly why would we fight our greatest allay ? =S

[ScouttheDoggieFan]

@jackisdacrac Good point but i was just thinking overall they might be better

[TheLloydA1]

@ScouttheDoggieFan Yeah i agree i love the harrier but its outdated,That why we are getting the f-35 lightning.

[straighttailpilot]

@ScouttheDoggieFan shoot. that thing would get blown up by an f20 or an f5 haha.

[TheArmchairSoldier]

@ScouttheDoggieFan Yeah, the Harrier is outdated compared to the other nations naval aircraft (USA's F/A-18, France's Rafale) but I do think they should have remained in service until the replacement, the F-35, came into service. They were axed too early and now we don't have a maritime strike platform at all. The Harrier may be outdated in the air-to-air role or what have you, but the Harrier was a very capable ground attack aircraft and would be extremely useful in Libya right now.

[euanross89]

@ScouttheDoggieFan aren't the people who fly those major allies of the UK and NATO? Dog fighting isn't necessarily the primary purpose of the latest generation of aircraft. Agreed we need a new aircraft, just wish it wasn't the F-35 and we still felt able to produce something as unique as the Harrier

[bartij]

@euanross89 Why the F-35??

[bartij]

@bartij *why not ;-/

[MrMoorkey]

@ScouttheDoggieFan ...add to that the bulldozers in the scrapyards...

[DarknessUnofficial]

@ScouttheDoggieFan But a Harrier would never be in direct conflict with any of those aircraft, so your point is completely moot. The Harrier II was actually far more advanced than a large amount of current fast jet aircraft, and holds advantages over every single aircraft you posted.

[vk45de]

@DarknessUnofficial Holding a single advantage is far from winning. Although the UK is unlikely to ever fight the US, Russians do make a lot of planes with better range and radar than most american teen series fighters which are already better than the harrier. They'll have no problem shooting down any harrier. You do need the EF2000

[DarknessUnofficial]

@vk45de Oh I agree, but as I stated before, the Harrier would/should never come into direct contact with one of those aircraft. Its purpose was/is CAS and ground attack in a theatre where air superiority has already been established. I have no doubt that the Harrier would be shot down by every single one of those aircraft.

[harrybyles1996]

@ScouttheDoggieFan thats why were getting the f 35.. but now we have no naval jets :P

[Nightmonkey17]

Nice hardware but the new carriers and the F-35 will blow them out of the air in every way imaginable.

[stevarinoag]

the us navy is bigger than the the 13th largest navies in the world combined :)

[comanchio1976]

@stevarinoag So what? If you dont shut the fuck up, we'll come and burn the whitehouse down again.

[harrybyles1996]

the raf has be going longer and during ww1 and ww2 they were the best pilots around, however now they are not as good as then however still great.

everyone keeps arguing on who has the best millitary, how i see it it uk has the best trained troops in the world (SAS, SBS ROYAL MARINES) ect. and the usa have the best technology. thats my view of both countries

[triathlon4ever]

@harrybyles1996 im american and i agree with you

[harrybyles1996]

@triathlon4ever thanx but i left out that the usa have some prety good trined troops aswell like the seals

[BikerYamahaR1]

"its got THE BEST RADAR SYSTEM in any fighter in western europe"

seems that you forgot alot of fighter jets produced in the Western EUROPE!!!!!

[SheepJumpFish]

You do realize that this is very old, the FA2 is not in service anymore

[thunderflashmartin]

@SheepJumpFish I sometimes work at HMS Seahawk (RNAS Cauldrose) they still have plenty of Sea Harriers on the base and the lads say they are ready for 24 hour deployment to fill the gap until the F-35 evertually turns up, even though as you rightly say they are no longer officially in service

[martiansurgery]

Instead of arguing amongst yourselves be useful - and find out what FUCKTARD branch of the military is responsible for spraying the population w chemtrails

[CriSoldier]

Plawranc is right. The smaller rich countries, can afford to train a few people very highly, instead of train many people not so highly.

Right now the Chinese, Russians, and Americans are at the forefront, but for the size of the UK, it's done very well for itself.

The Sweedish also have a good military, including one of the best special forces in the world.

[matsasmatsas2008]

u s  pilots r shit

[Dogmeat1950]

um right...... that's why the USAF has the worlds, largest,most advance, Air force ever known to man, same goes for the U.S Navy hell the U.S Navy has more planes planes then the USAF lol.

the U.S military pilots are among the best in the world bud.

[Plawranc]

THE best are the Swiss Air Force pilots followed closely by my countries pilots Australia.

The reason for this is our countries have small militaries and we only take the very best, even those best are trained for 5 years almost and are the cream of the worlds pilots.

And our pilots compete in red flag but we train our own. And some US pilots are trained by us.

We buy American planes and give our pilots extreme training making us one of the best Airforce in the world in terms of quality

[Dogmeat1950]

U.S pilots are trained in the USA lol. the U.S Pilots u see over there are exchange pilots,

best Air Powers in the world in the world hands down and have proven it are the USA,U.K and Isreal cause lets face it, when was the last time Swiss got into a war lol.

[Plawranc]

The swiss dont need to have been in a war. They are a conglomerate of German,French and Italian . These nations have been warring since almost the dawn of time and bring with them combat tactics. Also the Second WW and recent conflicts provide the swiss with enough theoretical knowladge to provide second to none training.

[Dogmeat1950]

second world war? lol. ya you have no idea what you talking about.

the USA has the best training classes for fighter pilots, why in the hell do you think hundrends of Euro pilots a year go to the USA and attended those schools?

sorry but the more money uu put into Education and programs the better the result.

also you do know that the USA gives euro countries money just to fund there military's right?

[Plawranc]

AAFC Cadet, family history in Air combat of 3 generations and an interest in 2nd WW aircombat and aircraft all my life. AND Online simulator ace (AH2).

So I have no Idea what im talking about right?.

lol

[Dogmeat1950]

online simulator ace? rofl. stfu dumb kid.

[Plawranc]

3 hours flying time in Cadet uniform, Complete theoretical ACM knowladge and student pilot.

Have sat in the cockpits of some of the most famous aerial fighter aircraft of all time and are familiar with their controls. G-Force training and have been kitted up ina G Suit.

I would hazard a guess that I have more experience with flying and military aviation than you.

[Dogmeat1950]

also on average a U.S fighter pilot will get more flight time then your Swiss Fighter pilot.

[EPLchelseafc]

Australia has one of the best Air Forces in the world?! America has the only pilots who land on carriers at night..the only pilots in the world, and that is the hardest thing in the world to do as an aviator. And as for your reasoning that just because you have a small number makes them better pilots is BS. America has more aviation experience than any country in the world, and American pilots don't train with you...I believe you are referring to ENJJPT where multiple countries train together.

[Plawranc]

Wrong, All carrier operating nations can recover aircraft at night. Great Britain, Japan, Russia, USA and soon Australia operate carriers and as I am aware all of them can operate aircraft 24 hours a day.

USA has the most aviation experience? do not think so. Great Britain had been experimenting with powered flight and gliding at the same time the Wright Brothers were. The fact they launched first is insignificant. And I think the RAF has existed longer and scored more kills than USAF tyvm.

[Plawranc]

The First US combat air arm was formed in 1918 in the last months of WW1, the first British combat air arm was formed in 1915 in the early stages of trench warfare.

Englands airforces have fought in every major war the modern world has seen bar Vietnam. And each time it has scored more kills and more destroyed infastructure than the United States.

(US Air power was not a factor until 1943 in Europe during WW2 and even then in limited strength)

[harrybyles1996]

too right

[harrybyles1996]

thats a good point.

uk/usa came up with the f 35, australia came up with crap.

[Trek001]

@Plawranc I'd liek to point out that one RAf aircraft was involved in the Vietnam war, though it was on loan the the US at the time

[Plawranc]

For example WW2: In WW2 the RAF fighter command defeated the luftwaffe in a direct confrontation being outnumbered 4 to 1. For the lives of 400 RAF pilots 3000 Germans were killed or taken prisoner.

In fighter sweeps over France the RAF secured air superiority by decimating the luftwaffe with a now powerful fighter force. After single handedly defeating Rommel in North Africa Britain seized fuel reserves and launched a bombing campaign on Germany with the Lancaster Bomber.

[Plawranc]

With this new weapon carrying 12 times the bombload of the heaviest US bomber at the time, the Lancaster in night raids over Germany accounted for almost 2 million German lives and entire cities being desintergrated by incendiaries.

WW1: Britain had the highest scoring fighter pilots of the Allied command and the most successful squadrons, Britain pioneered strategic bombing and fighter formation and combat tactics which are being used in the USAF and RAF today.

[Plawranc]

And finally, the Jet age.

Great Britain was the first Western nation on the Allied side to have an operational jet fighter, by the time the USA had aquired the P-80 Shooting star we had the Vampire and Super Meteor with the Hunter and Lightning in the prototype stage, not to mention the first experimental designs for a supersonic aircraft which were then given to ...guess who? The Bell Aviation Company responsible for the X-1 prototype.

Do you want more, or are you going to stfu now.

[EPLchelseafc]

Wow I like how all of this aviation knowledge is OVER 50 YEARS OLD. No one is questioning that Britain was a great aviation nation...the comment was that the US has, hands down, the best pilots and Air Force in the world now.

[Plawranc]

Well as far as I am aware the RAF has the most comprehensive training program in the modern world.

I for one do not doubt the US air force and its pilots on the contrary I have met quite a few of them and liked them. It is just America takes the view that in all aspects of LIFE ITSELF that it is better than anyone else.

The US does not have "the best pilots", the best pilots I would say are the pilots in NATO nations. Have you seen the Swiss air force?.

youtube them and see.

[EPLchelseafc]

Ya the Swiss do look pretty good, but they will never see any real combat experience. Also, the US has a squad called the "Saints" who fly the F5 and their only job is to dogfight...so i'm sure if those Swiss and US F5's did some dogfight training it would be pretty close

[matsasmatsas2008]

RAF HAVE BEST PILOTS IN THE WORLD

[infrared567]

Navy pilots are just as good.

[Jono7531]

Navy Pilots are better

[bigkez93]

navy pilots are better due to the fact we have to land on a moving ship in poor weather

[Dogmeat1950]

but ya navy pilots are better lol.

[Dogmeat1950]

um they got some great pilots but keep in mind. all NATO pilots go to the U.S schools to get better like Top Gun or red Flag

[Solidboat123]

Fleet Air Arm pilots helped you guys to start Top Gun in the first place, and it ended up being very similar to the Fleet Air Arm's 'Air Warfare Instructor' course (our version of Top Gun)

[Dogmeat1950]

ya it's kind of and off shoot of it, but but it was only a mere fraction of it.

any ways Coming out of the U.S Red Flag, or Top Gun school as a NATO pilot your a damn good pilot

[champclay18]

Wow those ejection seats were bad ass!

[Jono7531]

These boys are in a different league to the RAF. You ask any soldiers in combat at the moment and its always the Fleet Air Arm that give them fire support NOT the RAF.

[JoshGWAS]

so how is that? Only because the RN doesent have any strike aircraft in service at the moment, nor 2 months ago when you posted for that fact! I think you will find the harriers on the carriers now are ALL RAF due to the fact that the Sea HArrier is no lo0nger in service. Combat troops dont recieve "fire support" from planes, firesupport is mortars HMGs etc. The term "Fast Air" is used to describe stikes. Get your facts staright before you post please !!

[JoshGWAS]

this comment was aimed at "Jono"

nice vid!!

[Jono7531]

Sorry but you are speaking out your arse now. The Fleet Air Arm air the main operators of the aircraft carriers. There are a few RAF pilots who are part of the Joint Harrier Force but the main force is made up of the FAA. And the Fleet Air Arm does operate strike aircraft the Harrier GR.7 and GR.9 are the variants that they fly.

[JoshGWAS]

Lol, the harriers in JFH are ALL Royal Air Force and of course they operate off the carriers because the navy hasnt got any Sea Harriers anymore, Yes some of the pilots may be FAA but alot are RAF hence the name JOINT Force Harrier!! lol

[itfcdan]

Zoomie Fags!!! 829 NAS Now thats proper Naval Flying!

[TREVG1992]

wafus! wet and fucking useless

[djr1808]

i reckon the wafus should get their own programme where the ppl grafting. witterings better than yeovil neway

[andyrik]

Harriers also aren't at Yeovilton anymore. Such a shame.

[EricIrl]

Out of date now. The Sea Harriers were retired two years ago.

The Navy now operates harrier GR7s and 9s.

[preaacstal]

still a good vid though aint it :)

[FM77]

magnificent !!

[catbea]

Thanks for uploading! When did this air? and what channel is discovery turbo on sky and cable?

Thanks, Cat

[JohnSmithTheSecond]

thanks for sharing this!