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Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 14th, 2017, 1:47 am
by JohnRatzenberger
Sir T wrote:
jRatz wrote:A question. Do you want to limit this to serving/operational or are designed & built, whether to a specification or as test & eval, but not employed in service also eligible ?

I had a plan when we first started, now I see other options in my stash. :roll:
That's a good question John, and I would think the answer should probably be yes...maybe.

There have been a lot of interesting aircraft designed for the RAF that never made it - Include those.

As for pure 'research' types... I guess so, it depends on how much input the RAF had maybe - I know they have been involved heavily over the years in test flying etc. I have to admit it's not a part of the service I know a lot about - Is the ETP School part of the RAF or it's own entity?

I'd ask you for judgement normally :-D what are your thoughts - I'd say we'd allow it on a type by type basis, if the RAF had some kind of influence/input into it.
I think any aircraft developed to a specification, whether it achieved production/operation or not, should be eligible.
Paper aircraft, things cancelled before they got built, and others, more loosely connected such as research, perhaps not.
We can always go case-by-case and let the modeler make his/her case for inclusion.

So much for my Vickers Type-C Giant Bomber :sad:

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 14th, 2017, 1:53 am
by fredk
Sir T wrote:
jRatz wrote:A question. Do you want to limit this to serving/operational or are designed & built, whether to a specification or as test & eval, but not employed in service also eligible ?

I had a plan when we first started, now I see other options in my stash. :roll:
That's a good question John, and I would think the answer should probably be yes...maybe.

There have been a lot of interesting aircraft designed for the RAF that never made it - Include those.

As for pure 'research' types... I guess so, it depends on how much input the RAF had maybe - I know they have been involved heavily over the years in test flying etc. I have to admit it's not a part of the service I know a lot about - Is the ETP School part of the RAF or it's own entity?

I'd ask you for judgement normally :-D what are your thoughts - I'd say we'd allow it on a type by type basis, if the RAF had some kind of influence/input into it.
The RAF were responsible for many research projects. eg the Shorts SC1, the SB1 & 5, the TSR2.
I think if it operated with the RAF roundel or an RAF registration number on it then it should be included
AFAIK the ETPS is a separate entity administered by the MOD but controlled by the RAF and uses some of their aeroplanes

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 14th, 2017, 6:38 am
by Stuart
jRatz wrote:The inclusion of non-aircraft discussion started here: http://www.uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=323487#p323487;
and was agreed around here: http://www.uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=323567#p323567;

In short, Yes.
Oh indeed Yes - Anything to do with the RAF is acceptable, and the Sea and Land equipment is very much a part of that.

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 14th, 2017, 6:52 am
by Stuart
fredk wrote:
Sir T wrote:
jRatz wrote:A question. Do you want to limit this to serving/operational or are designed & built, whether to a specification or as test & eval, but not employed in service also eligible ?

I had a plan when we first started, now I see other options in my stash. :roll:
That's a good question John, and I would think the answer should probably be yes...maybe.

There have been a lot of interesting aircraft designed for the RAF that never made it - Include those.

As for pure 'research' types... I guess so, it depends on how much input the RAF had maybe - I know they have been involved heavily over the years in test flying etc. I have to admit it's not a part of the service I know a lot about - Is the ETP School part of the RAF or it's own entity?

I'd ask you for judgement normally :-D what are your thoughts - I'd say we'd allow it on a type by type basis, if the RAF had some kind of influence/input into it.
The RAF were responsible for many research projects. eg the Shorts SC1, the SB1 & 5, the TSR2.
I think if it operated with the RAF roundel or an RAF registration number on it then it should be included
AFAIK the ETPS is a separate entity administered by the MOD but controlled by the RAF and uses some of their aeroplanes
Thanks Fred - And that seems a good way of controlling it.

If it was made to an RAF spec, or had an RAF roundel and Reg number - It's in (or if the individual modeller can justify it

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 16th, 2017, 3:48 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
Another question ....

So, because the Fleet Air Arm was part of the RAF from 1 Apr 1924 through 24 May 1939, those aircraft/crews would be eligible ? But not the carriers, shore bases, etc ?

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 16th, 2017, 4:59 pm
by fredk
I would say no; as the FAA was only administered by the RAF.
It had Royal Navy personnel, used RN ranks and its airframes usually carried Royal Navy titles with the airframe number

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 17th, 2017, 1:24 am
by JohnRatzenberger
I didn't think it that simple. Shore-based aircraft in a maritime role were operationally controlled by the RAF.
The ship based got a bit more difficult, with RN crews being allowed to fly some.
Aircraft may have been developed to Admiralty requirements, but done so under Air Ministry auspices, leading to the usual issues of that sort.
At the transition back, FAA still needed RAF help with crews and such, so technically we're really talking about the "RAF at Sea" for that period. After all the goal was to give all air to the RAF at least long enough that it could be established as a functional independent force, not allowing the Army & Navy to nibble away at the edges.

My library is a bit thin on the details of all that so I have gone looking for more info -- not to have an argument but to clear things in my own mind. I got the though originally as I thought about "odd or ugly" aircraft as my theme so that naturally leads to the Blackburn Blackburn and others of that era. I'm sure I can find others that fit.

Now what about Army Co-op during the same 'tween-wars period ? :)

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 17th, 2017, 7:22 pm
by fredk
Army Co-operation was wholely RAF. Squadrons were allocated to being Army Co-op.

as an aside; talking with a few pilots who flew during this period in those squadrons; a squadron being made Army Co-op was seen as a squadron punishment. Pilots who didn't make the top grade were sent there as well as those with LMF. Pilots who were more extrovert were transferred out

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 17th, 2017, 8:02 pm
by Stuart
I've been mulling this over today John, and whilst I agree with Fred's point to an extent, it is part of the RAF's history and would therefore count in my opinion. That being said I think it would be good if there was some kind of obvious link to the RAF, Rather than just the RN. I think it'll be a case by case thing.

Army co-op - without question.

Quite frankly I'd also allow a build to show the RAF assisting other air forces - Say an Oman Strikemaster.

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 17th, 2017, 8:30 pm
by fredk
Sir T wrote:I've been mulling this over today John, and whilst I agree with Fred's point to an extent, it is part of the RAF's history and would therefore count in my opinion. That being said I think it would be good if there was some kind of obvious link to the RAF,Rather than just the RN. I think it'll be a case by case thing.
This brings to mind the RN Martlets & Sea Gladiators [804 sqd] and Fulmars [808 sqd] which fought during the Battle of Britain under control of the RAF. The Battle of Britain is often seen as only the RAF.

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: September 17th, 2017, 10:05 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
fredk wrote:Army Co-operation was wholely RAF. Squadrons were allocated to being Army Co-op.
Well yes, but this deprived the Army of their own aircraft for close-support, etc -- again for the purpose of building up the RAF and not allowing the Army/Navy to nibble away at it.

A scenario repeated over here post-WW2 when the USAF thought it out to be everything-air, even though their was no proven doctrine to justify it. The Army kept helicopters and small spotters. The USAF hasn't gotten over it yet, even though their own efforts to kill the useful CAS aircraft (A-10) show they really don't want to be down there in the mud. It's not a pilot thing, it's upper level. The debate extends to what we now call the Deep Battle as artillery weapons range longer and both services clash as to who owns the airspace. But that's way off topic ....

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: October 2nd, 2017, 7:58 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
After Fred & I had our discussion on the interwar RAF and FAA, I decided I might need some additional references for this GB, so happy birthday to me !

Image

A 3-volume series starting with the birth of the RAF then two volumes on the Interwar Years, so 1914-1939. These are short on images (I have plenty of picture books) and long, tables, stats. I might be through them by the time the GB starts. The good news is that just looking through his bibliographies, I already have most of them so I shouldn't need much more.

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: October 5th, 2017, 6:56 am
by Stuart
jRatz wrote:After Fred & I had our discussion on the interwar RAF and FAA, I decided I might need some additional references for this GB, so happy birthday to me !

Image

A 3-volume series starting with the birth of the RAF then two volumes on the Interwar Years, so 1914-1939. These are short on images (I have plenty of picture books) and long, tables, stats. I might be through them by the time the GB starts. The good news is that just looking through his bibliographies, I already have most of them so I shouldn't need much more.
Great looking books John. Most of my RAF books are WWII or cold war era.

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: October 5th, 2017, 4:04 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
Sir T wrote: Great looking books John. Most of my RAF books are WWII or cold war era.
Yeah, strangely enough although my modeling interest is 1940-ish and prior and my library is well-stocked with aircraft/modeling references to support that, I found a gap in the historical books 'tween the two until I found these two. In a way it is telling that I noted I already have many of the books in his bibliography, so I had at least made the effort, but I didn't have the access, or maybe cookie-crumb trail, to lead me much deeper into the Air Ministry political side and the RAF-RN/FAA-Army battles.

Re: RAF 100 in 2018.

Posted: October 11th, 2017, 12:07 am
by TeeELL
Well this ties in perfectly with my personal desire to build most of the aircraft flown by 29(F) Sqn. I have more than enough leeway, over and above the models I have completed, to do a 'Great War' 1918, they received SE5As in the April, Silver Wings Demon, Beaufighter, Mosquito (even a sneeky Hurricane), Lightning, the aircraft I flew - F4 etc. Of course, with the speed I make things I might just get one completed during the time period. Could we, perhaps allow another 100 years for completion???