Scotty

Royal Air Force Pilot & Space enthusiast 🚀 | Command Transport Tasking | Multi Engine Flying Instructor | Voyager A330 pilot ✈️

[Scotty @scottyeders]

Australia’s advanced airborne ISREW platform! ✈️ 🇦🇺

Based on the Gulfstream G550, this long-range powerhouse delivers real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance & electronic warfare capabilities.

[Royal Australian Air Force @AusAirForce]

The Royal Australian Air Force’s third MC‑55A Peregrine has officially arrived at RAAF Base Edinburgh.

Since the Government announced the acquisition of four MC‑55A aircraft, Defence has successfully delivered three of the four platforms to the fleet.

#AusAirForce #YourADF

[Scotty @scottyeders]

Crew Resource Management (CRM)

In two-pilot (or more) aircraft, CRM is what turns individual skills into a high-performance team: clear communication, mutual cross-checking, workload sharing, and using ALL available resources — human and technical.

One voice ignored, one assumption unchallenged, can lead to disaster. Great CRM turns potential errors into caught-and-corrected moments.

Respect the crew concept. Fly safer. ✈️

[Scotty @scottyeders]

We owe an enormous debt to our military.

The Army—always on readiness, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.

Submariners—providing silent, constant at-sea deterrence.

Aviators—defending our skies 24/7.
And every single service member who stands the watch.

Thank you 🇬🇧

[Scotty @scottyeders]

Mighty Tristar ⭐️

[Northrop Grumman @northropgrumman]

Getting ready to fly.

Pegasus and our L-1011 are cleared for the next phase as we prepare for the @NASA Swift Observatory rescue mission. A unique launch system. A unique mission. One step closer to flight.

[Scotty @scottyeders]

🚀 Astra’s UK launch vision is here: Rocket 4.0 just crossed the Atlantic in standard shipping containers — fully mobile & containerised.

From SaxaVord to anywhere with a pad, they’re delivering responsive, sovereign orbital access for Europe.

[Astra @Astra]

Astra’s next-generation rocket just crossed the Atlantic.

Rocket 4.0 arrived in the UK the same way it’s designed to launch: in standard shipping containers.

Mobile. Containerized. Orbital. The future of launch is everywhere.

[Deborah Haynes @haynesdeborah]

🚨Defence Secretary John Healey resigns because he believes the Prime Minister and the Chancellor are leaving the country at risk and military personnel in danger because of their refusal to increase defence spending fast enough.

Extraordinary and also courageous

[Deborah Haynes @haynesdeborah]

The UK's military chief has written to the prime minister amid concerns that an offer of around an extra £13bn to fund a major investment plan for defence is not enough, Sky News understands.
The content of the letter from Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton is not known, but the fact he felt the need to put his thoughts in writing signals the seriousness of the challenge faced by Sir Keir Starmer as he attempts to finalise the long-delayed defence investment plan.
The highly unusual move came after the Treasury is understood to have offered the Ministry of Defence (MoD) around an additional £13bn over four years to help fund the purchase of new jets, submarines, ships, drones and missiles.
This is at the lower end of a range of between £12bn and £18bn that had been under consideration – and far short of the actual sum of extra money that the military believes it needs to rebuild its hollowed-out ranks at a time of escalating threats.
One source said Air Chief Marshal Knighton met with fellow military chiefs to discuss the proposed settlement on Monday.
The source said there is thought to have been dissatisfaction expressed by at least one of the service chiefs who were present about the inadequacy of the amount.
That has not been confirmed, however.
Full story ⬇️

https://t.co/WWKkUj8ASS

[Scotty @scottyeders]

The Panavia Tornado!

From Cold War low-level nuclear strike specialist (GR1 roots, 1979 entry) to GR4 upgrade (1997+): FLIR, NVG, GPS, advanced avionics.

Master of precision strikes with Storm Shadow, Paveway and ALARM,

Combat legend of Gulf 1991 (jp233 raids), Kosovo, Afghanistan, Libya 2011, Syria.

And retired in 2019 after 40yrs excellence. The Tonka – unbeatable terrain-hugger! 🌪️

[BFBS Forces News @ForcesNews]

Frances' answer to the Red Arrows has touched down in Scotland🇫🇷

The Patrouille de France stopped at RAF Lossiemouth on their way to the US, bringing their iconic Alpha Jets with them

But how does the aircraft compare to RAF's iconic Hawk?👀
https://t.co/u7yVn4y4SQ

[Scotty @scottyeders]

The military doesn’t just like operational planning — we love it.

Detailed procedures aren’t red tape; they’re our handrail through the fog of war.

Clear steps. Shared understanding. Everyone knows the direction and the standard.

Discipline in the details is how you win. #DIP

[NASA @NASA]

“Since adding the Artemis III test flight before our first crewed Moon landing, our team is focused on developing the mission to test about as much as we can.”

Artemis lead Jeremy Parsons breaks down the scope of the Artemis III mission.

[Scotty @scottyeders]

The US Marines embraced the AH-1 Cobra early. In 1969, they flew 38 Army AH-1G “Snakes” in Vietnam for armed escort & close air support. Soon after, they got the twin-engine AH-1J SeaCobra for better reliability over water.

Upgrades followed: AH-1T, then the powerhouse AH-1W SuperCobra (1986 onward).

It became the backbone of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadrons.

[Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 @DefenceHQ]

People are the heart of defence. We thank our Armed Forces for their sacrifices. This Government has awarded a 3.6% pay rise, bringing total pay increases to 14.1% since July 2024 - recognising their dedication as defence demands grow.

Read more: https://t.co/QLiq40fUjl

[Scotty @scottyeders]

Armed Forces personnel receive third consecutive above inflation pay rise - https://t.co/BhHIIxWYRZ https://t.co/s7grl64u8x

[Scotty @scottyeders]

🌍 Why #GCAP (Tempest) matters for Europe:

The UK-Italy-Japan 6th-gen fighter isn’t just replacing Typhoon — it’s securing Europe’s sovereign combat air power.

Agile timeline (2035 entry), massive range/payload, AI/drone teaming, and deep-strike capability.

In a volatile world, GCAP delivers industrial strength, tech leadership & strategic autonomy — hopefully without endless delays. ⚔️✈️

[Scotty @scottyeders]

But there were signs it would 😢 🙏🏼

[NASA @NASA]

Tomorrow, we're announcing the astronauts flying aboard Artemis III, the mission that will test rendezvous and docking capabilities with commercial lunar landers in low Earth orbit.

If you could ask the Artemis III astronauts any question, what would you ask them?

[Scotty @scottyeders]

“The FCAS programme was launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafale jets and the Eurofighter aircraft used by Germany and Spain.

But the multi-billion-euro project was beset by disagreements between the firms involved - France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain.”

[TRT World @trtworld]

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron agree to abandon a joint fighter jet programme due to disagreements between the companies involved, German government says
https://t.co/ghVXzwNX3J

[Scotty @scottyeders]

@badge55950 @DanielA84612544 Ultimately what needs to happen is assign each AirPower role + sub-capabilities to the SDR conclusions and framework, score assets (F-35A/B, Typhoon, drones, future systems) on how well they deliver, then calculate the optimal mix for mass, flexibility, sustainment & cost.

[Scotty @scottyeders]

The F-35A’s nuclear capability (B61) isn’t the reason we should buy it.

What matters is the jet as a whole: longer range, more sensors, weapon loads, higher speed, better airfield flexibility, and crucially — adding real mass to our tiny combat air fleet.

We don’t need more escalatory rungs. We need more aeroplanes that can fight and win.

[Tom Cotterill @TomCotterillX]

NEW: Britain’s future fleet of fighter jets capable of dropping nuclear bombs is under threat in Sir Keir Starmer’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

The Telegraph understands “serious conversations” are taking place at very senior levels of the military and Government over whether to cut or delay proposals to buy 12 F-35A stealth jets.

Sir Keir announced the £1bn plan to buy the jets last year, but ministers are now believed to be considering the future of the RAF project ahead of the release of the chronically delayed DIP.

The investment plan was due to be published last autumn, but a funding row between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Treasury has left it in limbo for months.

The F-35As can carry the B61 bomb, an American-made tactical nuclear weapon.
The B61 bombs are designed to destroy a smaller area than Britain’s current arsenal of Trident 2 D5 ballistic missiles, which can deliver 12 warheads capable of levelling a city.

The jets would provide Britain with another rung on the “escalatory ladder of war” before the deployment of more damaging strategic nuclear weapons, defence officials said. They would be in addition to the planned 138 F-35Bs, which are built to fly off Britain’s two aircraft carriers but cannot carry nuclear bombs.

However, according to those with knowledge of the DIP, the F-35A scheme is at risk as ministers attempt to save money and fund other military projects as part of “tough” decisions still being mulled over by Downing Street.

One defence source said the future of the F-35A was being discussed and its funding could be delayed or cut entirely, citing talks between “two and three-star” military commanders.

It is understood that the proposals for the F-35A are among many options being considered. However, no final decision has been made. 

Full story: https://t.co/XuBv25wRVu

[Scotty @scottyeders]

I’m not suggesting the B is limited to STOVL only. The B can absolutely operate from conventional runways when needed.

What I’m advocating for is balance: a mixed fleet of F-35A and F-35B.

The A brings real advantages in land-based ops—longer range, higher payload, better sustained high-tempo operations from standard airfields.

The B remains essential for carrier strike, austere forward basing, and the unique flexibility that only STOVL provides.