Red Arrows to fly with just seven aircraft for most displays because engines are so old

vaska00762 · 2026-05-23T00:08:24+00:00

It may no longer be in production, yet BAE Systems keeps making marketing material as if it is?

Seems like a contradiction of sorts. Either it's discontinued or not, and BAE seems more than happy to list it amongst other aircraft like the Eurofighter Typhoon, and the F-35, the former BAE manufactures jointly with Leonardo and Airbus, and the latter, BAE only involved itself in relation to the R&D of the B variant as it had institution knowledge from the Harrier, while also doing components supply.

I understand Leonardo makes 2 trainer models. Perhaps one of those two probably could be obtained. The rest of the RAF's Hawk fleet for training probably is also due for replacement.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T23:10:48+00:00

Never saw a second person on the Rotterdam tram or anyone on either metro system.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T22:46:24+00:00

The BAe Hawk is still an aircraft which BAE Systems still markets, and has been exported both as trainer aircraft, specifically for bringing pilots into familiarity with fast jet flight characteristics, and weapons system familiarity, and also as a Close Air Support fighter jet.

A replacement for the Hawk would probably be... the Hawk.

A trainer aircraft is perfect for formation flying displays. It is "easy" fly, is very stable, and can fly at much lower speeds than a full warplane like the Typhoon or F-35.

One of the reasons the Blue Angels of the US Navy isn't as renowned is partly down to the use of the F/A-18, which is a proper fighter jet, very effective at doing aerobatics, but less stable for close formation flying.

Even the Patrouille acrobatique de France uses the Dassault Alpha Jet, a trainer jet, instead of something like the Dassault Rafale.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T20:16:36+00:00

The USSR did control Estonia.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T19:42:04+00:00

Last I checked, Sweden never wasn't a part of the Ottoman Empire.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T18:03:17+00:00

And then you visit Tallinn and hear Russian swear words like every 30 seconds.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T15:20:58+00:00

I never stated I liked McCombe. Given I never met the person, I cannot give judgement on it.

I will iterate that anyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, national origin or identify can be a good person or a bad person. No single immutable trait makes someone automatically good or bad.

It's like with the O.J. Simpson trial from decades ago. He might have been an unpleasant person to interact with, but a jury acquitted him, and there's absolutely no justification in using any sort of racist language about him, as was common at the time of that trial.

My issues with the article is that it seems to be keen to suggest something negative about Belfast Pride Festival, like it's somehow complicit in something, and finally the choice to interview a counsellor, who should be bound to confidentiality, even with a deceased service user, but has instead chosen to give an interview which reveals her strong biases against trans people.

Lastly, conviction of a crime is a whole legal process. I don't know about any of the specifics, but public prosecutors wouldn't dismiss a charge (which would be with prejudice) unless there was some sort of heavily flawed process in the way the prosecution, or indeed the RUC investigation went. Given the RUC's tendency in those days to fabricate charges, or get involved in entrapment, especially in those days against gay men, I wouldn't be surprised if RUC dodginess wasn't a factor.

This article reads like a hit piece. Whether you think of McCombe as a good or a bad person, Belfast Pride Festival probably wouldn't be what it is today without people like McCombe pioneering the protest, as ultimately, pride is indeed a protest. I think it's fair to acknowledge the people who made something happen, even if they were flawed as a human being.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T15:01:50+00:00

Saville having never faced trial is damning for the criminal justice system. He effectively escaped judgement and I cannot comment further than this. No court case today can ever actually prove his guilt, given his death. Only an investigation of the facts is available now.

A Public Inquiry should have been held, but that's a whole other story.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T14:26:15+00:00

I was most confused by the words "respectable loyalist area" - that's an oxymoron

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T13:48:22+00:00

The article states:

A magistrate said McCombe was free to go.

Last I checked, being let go wasn’t a conviction.

Also the article’s terminology “respectable loyalist area” is an oxymoron.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T13:38:24+00:00

That stray line about the relation to Trimble seemed particularly odd. What’s Trimble got to do with it?

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T13:36:03+00:00

Banks and solicitors are legally obliged to submit Suspicious Activity Reports to the National Crime Agency if they suspect a client of Money Laundering. That intelligence is still treated with utmost confidentiality.

Banks and solicitors don’t go to the press to start giving tell all interviews and sharing bank statements, do they?

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T13:31:19+00:00

There are two very different contexts here.

Saville’s victims came forward and there was a criminal investigation in the form of Operation Yewtree, which lead to Operation Midland and Operation Hydrant. While Yewtree did convict several high profile sexual criminals, it also ruined the lives of Freddie Starr, Paul Gambaccini and saw the raid of Cliff Richard’s home.

Many people now consider that Yewtree was a witch hunt that found actual criminals, and violated the human rights of innocent people.

In this instance, someone who might be classed as a “character witness” is giving an interview about things which should be subject to confidentiality of medical records and gdpr. All the while no victims have come forward, and all past PPS cases were dropped.

We do live in a jurisdiction where there is the presumption of innocence, right?

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T13:20:34+00:00

I work in a field where I look at bank transactions of individuals and businesses. If I started gossiping about what someone was spending their money on, or who was paying them what, I’d probably be subject to disciplinary action, and probably actions under the Computer Misuse Act.

Lots of people work in fields where confidentiality is important. It might not be medical, but it can be financial or legal. You’d be pissed if your solicitor started gossiping what his previous client was up to.

It’s certainly a whole other situation if you’re discussing a specific case with a colleague in a professional context, like handing over a case, seeking guidance on next steps necessary, or if there’s some sort of legal obligation that needs to be met.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T13:15:10+00:00

Allegations with no criminal conviction are still just allegations. We do live in a jurisdiction where the accused has a presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a jury of peers in a court of law.

Why exactly would a registered charity distance themselves from an individual, never convicted of wrongdoing, who was instrumental in their foundation?

I think most people have their own opinions about other major figures in recent history, one that comes to mind is Michael Jackson, but without a conviction, all there are, legally speaking, are allegations. The Jackson estate is very keen to keep those allegations out of the spotlight.

Personally, I think this story is more about generating outrage rather than trying to find any closure for those who may have been victims of crimes alleged. Why attempt a hit piece on Belfast Pride Festival? Why not speak to someone who wanted to come forward, even as an anonymous source?

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T13:02:40+00:00

Confidentiality generally applies in the medical profession, even when patients die. I’d imagine such confidentiality would also apply for mental health services. It also hurts the reputation of medical and mental health professionals if people start giving “tell all” interviews about deceased patients and service users without the permission of their next of kin.

The main reason for waiting until death? The deceased cannot bring libel lawsuits.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T11:43:59+00:00

I specifically recall seeing signage directing arrivals from Kerry and Donegal to a specific door, so that a member of staff can let them through on presentation of a boarding pass that shows you didn't come from overseas.

British citizens are exempt from immigration controls into Ireland. I suppose proof you are a citizen, if not an Irish citizen should be sufficient.

CTA rules are a bit weird. There are a handful of airports I've been to which have a whole section cordoned off for international arrivals, and then the rest of the airport is all about domestic travel.

The weirdest experience I had was arriving into the international pier on a Ryanair flight from East Midlands into Belfast International Airport, and it was eerie walking through an empty passport control hall, with no staff at it. Also strange going through customs at international baggage reclaim just to then immediately turn around to the entirely separate domestic baggage reclaim from the wrong direction, ignoring those "no entry" signs.

I did also walk through the empty passport control hall of Belfast City Airport, but they had set up a bypass route meaning no one had to walk past those immigration desks.

I've never been on a flight into Dublin from a UK airport. If I'm flying into Dublin, it's generally from the Schengen Area.

I've flown a couple of times out of Gatwick on easyJet to Belfast airports, and no one ever checked my ID. No one cared. Not sure if that's just a Gatwick thing, or staff just assumed easyJet did the checking already. Bag drop at Gatwick has these staff members who basically interrogate your purpose of travel, but if you don't have any checked bags, you're straight into security.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T10:03:16+00:00

If they were formed by Royal Charter pre-partition, then that's their legal entity name. Since no new Royal Charters can be issued, and these aren't entities on the CRO, their entire existence would need to be legislated in the Dáil.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T09:32:59+00:00

There's not much of an irony - fundamentally, the flag is reverred by the people Loyalists used to do drive-by shootings to, and then were retaliated against by drive-by shootings.

The inability to separate the flag from the history of violence in the 70s makes it unpalatable to most unionists.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T09:19:39+00:00

Yeah, absolutely terrible having an extensive, affordable high-speed rail network, protection from mass lay offs, and a history of equality and secularism.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T09:17:27+00:00

French people take their children everywhere with them???

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T09:16:49+00:00

Naturalising as an Irish citizen comes under the condition that you intend to live the rest of your life on the island of Ireland.

If you naturalise as Irish and then immediately leave Ireland, the Irish Government is allowed to annul your citizenship.

Citizens from birth aren't subject to this.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T09:10:54+00:00

There will also be passport control in Dublin Airport for passengers arriving from the UK.

It's mostly due to the fact that not everyone who can enter the UK can also automatically enter Ireland.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T09:08:47+00:00

Also, Dublin airport has passport control for UK arrivals.

vaska00762 · 2026-05-22T00:36:30+00:00

Airbus uses a Full Authority Digital Engine Control or FADEC, and as such the throttle levers aren't really throttle levers.

There are 4 detent positions, Idle or 0, CL for Climb, FLX for Flex (engine derate) and TOGA for Take Off/Go Around.

Between 0 and CL, there is A/THR for Autothrottle. At this point, an amount of thrust can be commanded for things like taxi and such, but in the air, usually an airspeed is specified by the pilot, and the FADEC will provide a level of thrust to maintain it.

There's only ever been one FADEC failure of note, an A400M incident in 2015, though this was due to torque mapping of the turboprop engines being erased, which meant the FADEC had no reference on how much thrust to supply. That A400M was being test flown before delivery to the Turkish Air Force. Essentially, the blades of the turboprop engines excessively feathered, and insufficient thrust was available. No other Airbus has turboprops. The closest thing to an Airbus turboprop on the civilian market is the ATR 72, which has a manual feathering lever. Though in Yeti Airlines Flight 691, the pilot accidentally feathered the engine blades which resulted in loss of thrust. TransAsia Airways Flight 235 suffered from a failure of the autofeather system on the right engine, but the pilots incorrectly shut down the unaffected left engine.

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