End of an raf era.......

[crinkle62]

Sorry, as i know some of you won't be interested in this thread at all, but i just wanted to say how sad and angered i am at the decomissioning of our beloved Harrier jump jets and HMS Ark Royal (aircraft carrier)yesterday due to our dismal new governments' defence cuts!!!!!!!
For 25 glorious years, these small, fixed wing fighting machines have served our country and aided many others in numerous conflicts...most memorable being the Falklands, where they proved to be the main stay of our attack/defence.
Remembering this also brings a tear of regret at me choosing the professional path of General nursing rather than joining the QA's which is what i really wanted to do, but i was too impatient to wait 6months until age of admission!!!....this led to me not being able to serve in the Falklands conflict myself as part of the nursing corps...serving along side the Ark Royal and Hermes (on which my cousin was serving). I remember the casualties and fatalities as if it was yesterday when the news of the demise of these fantastic pieces of engineering are 'put out to grass'.
I apologise again for my rant, and if it is deemed to be of no interest to anyone...please feel free to have it deleted...just wanted my say on the matter.

[jockney]

Your post certainly interested me because I used to work at British Aerospace in Kingston and was always fascinated walking through the factory seeing the Harriers being built and stress tested. I did not know that they were being decomissioned. As you say Crinks very sad indeed.

[M_80]

Your post interested me as well. I worked most of my career at Boeing designing spacecraft but I can appreciate the engineering that went into the Harrier. I ws always impressed with the plane and sorry to here it is being decommissioned. Also did not know you were a nurse, that is interesting as well. What are the QAs ?

[crinkle62]

The QA's is the Army Nursing Corps....you train in the army and when qualified you get to become an 'officer', i miss the chance i had back then, but also look at it in the fact that if i HAD gone down that route, my life would prob be totally different, and i'd never have done all that i have, whether thats good or bad!! lol

[M_80]

Yep, could be good could be bad. I wanted to leave Boeing at one point and go to Microsoft, but decided against it. Could have been a millionaire many times over, but then again maybe not, one never knows.

[del_boy]

crinks why apologise? this is obviously something
that is close to your heart.

[crinkle62]

Thnx Del...xxx
I just don't want to be accused of 'spamming' with a boring thread...but you're right Del, it may seem strange but it is close to my heart....our armed forces are having funding pulled out from all around them....people must have heard about the lack of equipment in Afghanistan in the news...now this with the Harriers and Ark Royal, its absolutely diabolically stupid and so ignorant of this Government....i say send them out to the front line equiped as our boys and girls are..or to war at sea without the back-up of the Harriers and see how long before they shout...'get me out of here....', unlike our brave troops can.

[pappy747]

it's a very sad day indeed crinks,
as Del said no need to apologise.
surely this forum is about sharing feelings & thoughts on all kinds of topics