RAF View

Defence journalist, analyst and commentator. Former RAF Officer. Views expressed are entirely in a personal capacity.

[RAF View @RAFView]

In other news the Pope has been seen wearing a pointy hat and a shark observed defecating in the sea.

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@JonA2i Both were (along with 143 and 161).

[RAF View @RAFView]

The two F-35Bs stranded in the Azores are about to arrive at Marham completing delivery of the first 48 aircraft. With E-7 now at Lossie a good week for the #RAF.

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@FTusa284 Small steps!

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@JonA2i To be fair Apaches aren’t very fast…

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@twittawoopoog Moving to avoid a parking ticket I think.

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A rare flight by a UK E-7A Wedgetail. A photo of it over HS2 would be apt.

[RAF View @RAFView]

‘Karma 52’ on the nose was the call sign of an F-111F lost with both crew, Captain Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci (pilot) and Captain Paul F. Lorence (Weapon Systems Officer). RIP.

[RAF View @RAFView]

Stunning scheme on a 48thFW F-15E at Lakenheath to commemorate Op El Dorado Canyon, the strike on Libya, in ‘86. (Image: USAF)

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@haynesdeborah Why didn’t any of the media ask Healey whether damaging the subsea infrastructure of UK and/or allies would trigger Article 5?

[RAF View @RAFView]

Gridlock around RAF Lakenheath this morning as anti-war protesters block the main gate.

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Haven’t used this to open a beer before, but I will today. BZ!

[RAF View @RAFView]

The New Medium Helicopter will be known as the Augusta Westland Wardrobe in service on the basis that when it’s full it won’t move.

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@gregbagwell The RAF Regiment gets slated every time they appear on social media so they don’t talk about what they do. ‘That video’ is a cross they have to bear sadly, a pity as they have good people doing very interesting things.

[RAF View @RAFView]

@FennellJW That’s not a 7 Sqn cab so not SF.

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Looks like additional RAF Typhoons are en-route from Coningsby, follows announcement that four are to bolster defences of Allies in Middle East. Good luck and god speed.

[RAF View @RAFView]

Somewhat inevitably the UK F-35 pilot who shot down a drone was from the Fleet Air Arm (well done to him).

[RAF View @RAFView]

Should the UK come under missile attack I’m heading to the safest place to be - Portsmouth

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@JonA2i Not at that price

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The reason the US has access to Fairford & Diego Garcia for strat bombers is the ‘special relationship’. DG is little use militarily to the UK, of huge use to the US. The £ being spent to keep use of it (rightly/wrongly) can be seen as an investment in the special relationship

[RAF View @RAFView]

The personnel will be cracking on, but they do (and should) expect their loved ones to have maximum protection from the get go, not in eight days time. 2/2

[RAF View @RAFView]

For UK personnel at Akrotiri the fight is very real, be interested to see the effect on the views of personnel of the failure to deploy assets to protect the base and the family/dependents there. 1/2