The spectacular waste of money now arriving is......

[thatone1967]

The first of our new tanker fleet......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13125047

Got to be one of the worst decisions we EVER made!

[FraserLFA]

I did struggle to see the point, especially with job losses on the way.

I don't see the point of cutting back on the Army when we seem intent on making them fight a war every time the one before it finishes.

[thatone1967]

not saying that we dont need then... but £10.5 BILLION for 14 planes???

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11316250

[Simpo Two]

It's a cunning cost saving plan. They can announce the project now for 10.5Bn, then next year, when they need some savings, scrap it...



I didn't buy a Ferrari today. Saved a fortune!

[thatone1967]

Simpo Two said:

It's a cunning cost saving plan. They can announce the project now for 10.5Bn, then next year, when they need some savings, scrap it...



I didn't buy a Ferrari today. Saved a fortune!

I am sure the co-alition would LOVE to scrap this....

[mrloudly]

How the f..ck can it take nine years to negotiate a contract!!!!!! Pay Stelios a months salary and he'd sort it!!!

What a complete bunch of t.ts!

[D4VE 3LL]

Oohh a refuelling plane to refuel what jets? Harriers gone, Tornados going left right and centre. 14 Squadrn going along with 13 Squadron, Typhoons grounded and even being scrapped (the earlier ones). Massive waste of money

[Eric Mc]

Why didn't they compare it with a Tristar, the aircraft it is directly replacing.

[davepoth]

This was one of the contracts that was more expensive to break out of than cancel I think, like the aircraft carriers.

[IanMorewood]

Eric Mc said:

Why didn't they compare it with a Tristar, the aircraft it is directly replacing.

At a guess its no major improvement?

[doodles19]

It says in the article its the biggest ... surely this is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_C-17_Globemast...

[thatone1967]

D4VE 3LL said:

Typhoons grounded and even being scrapped (the earlier ones).

[db]

mrloudly said:

How the f..ck can it take nine years to negotiate a contract!!!!!! Pay Stelios a months salary and he'd sort it!!!

What a complete bunch of t.ts!

the aircraft weren't initially to be equipped to fly in a war zone, mods needed.
initially, crew were to be civilian. they had a clause that excused them from flying in a war zone
the wing was from another airbus (don't remember which type) designed to take 4 smaller engines. it now has 2 larger engines and 2 pods for hoses. much testing and proving involved

[shouldbworking]

On the bright side at least the future is looking marginally more sensible with UAV development, investigation into austere ground attack capability for lower threat environments and buying some c-17s off-the-shelf as it were.

Just dont mention the F-35. or watchkeeper. or typhoon tranche 3. Or a330 mrt. Or the a400m.....

umm

Firmly tongue in cheek but theres definately room for improvement in the procurement processes

[Taita]

In these contracts they seem to forget who is the customer!

[davidjpowell]

mrloudly said:

How the f..ck can it take nine years to negotiate a contract!!!!!! Pay Stelios a months salary and he'd sort it!!!

What a complete bunch of t.ts!

Just let a procurement department at it...

[KieronGSi]

Eric Mc said:

Why didn't they compare it with a Tristar, the aircraft it is directly replacing.

It's replacing the VC10 as well don't forget.

[Eric Mc]

KieronGSi said:

Eric Mc said:

Why didn't they compare it with a Tristar, the aircraft it is directly replacing.

It's replacing the VC10 as well don't forget.

Not the point I was making. The Tristar is quite a large aeroplane so the Airbus A330 isn't that much larger in comparison. Why were they comparing it to historic antiques like the Lancaster and Shackleton?

[fergywales]

Eric Mc said:

KieronGSi said:

Eric Mc said:

Why didn't they compare it with a Tristar, the aircraft it is directly replacing.

It's replacing the VC10 as well don't forget.

Not the point I was making. The Tristar is quite a large aeroplane so the Airbus A330 isn't that much larger in comparison. Why were they comparing it to historic antiques like the Lancaster and Shackleton?

Probably due to the unique way in which the BBC is funded, it only allows them to reference and draw comparisons with machinery that can be understood by anyone aged 18-80, with kindergarten artistic mock-ups.

[thatone1967]

fergywales said:

Eric Mc said:

KieronGSi said:

Eric Mc said:

Why didn't they compare it with a Tristar, the aircraft it is directly replacing.

It's replacing the VC10 as well don't forget.

Not the point I was making. The Tristar is quite a large aeroplane so the Airbus A330 isn't that much larger in comparison. Why were they comparing it to historic antiques like the Lancaster and Shackleton?

Probably due to the unique way in which the BBC is funded, it only allows them to reference and draw comparisons with machinery that can be understood by anyone aged 18-80, with kindergarten artistic mock-ups.

Or maybe the people that wrote the article would not know a Spitfire from a Concorde!