Health and Safety shoots down entire RAF

The Liberals have succeeded where Adolf failed

Most of the historic aircraft that make up the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) have been grounded due to an engine issue.

A Lancaster bomber, two Hurricanes and three Spitfire planes are all affected by the problem.

The BBMF has three other Spitfires with different engines which are currently unavailable for other reasons.

A spokesman for RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, where the BBMF is based, said safety was its key priority.

He confirmed an appearance at Weymouth Carnival had to be cancelled on Wednesday afternoon.

The World War Two aircraft, which are all original models, have been grounded temporarily while an engine issue is checked.

The RAF spokesman was unable to say when the planes would be back in the skies.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-40957271

Edited By Ady1 on 17/08/2017 07:46:46

Ady1,

What is the point that you are trying to make?

Surely if a fault has been identified with any aircraft engine the correct and responsible thing is to ground the aircraft until the fault has been rectified. There is a very true saying "there are no laybys in the sky"

Eric

I recently read a book by a WW2 test pilot. He describes a design fault with some marks of the Merlin where a gear would fail and the engine seize, leading to inevitable crashes. When there are only a few of these aircraft left, anything that would threaten them, and the safety of spectators at displays, should be avoided surely?

The RAF spokesperson actually said 'engineers had taken the action as a precautionary measure to safeguard BBMF crews and the historic aircraft they fly'.

Probably liberal engineers though - those guys are the pits. Health and Safety gone mad. When it's my time to go, I want the last flying Lancaster Bomber to crash on my head...

Dave

ADY1 does the BBMF encompass the whole of the RAF? talk about fake news!

Not yet a term of abuse in this country.

Rod

Nothing to do with Health & Safety. Simply standard practice with all aircraft, civil and military.

If there is a perceived problem affecting a single mark, item or type, in this case the "Merlin" engine, they are grounded whilst tests and inspections take place to ascertain the extent of the problem.

Whats wrong with that approach?

Common sense (and good engineering practice) dictates that, its just inconvenient for the Shows.

Not an unusual occurrence for RAF aircraft to be grounded for checks and subsequent rectification, carried out numerous fleet checks during my 22 years service, problems usually identified on a Friday afternoon which meant working flat out through the weekend to get all the checks done.

Dave

It sounds like Health & Safety has been infiltrated by the Russians.

Edited By blowlamp on 17/08/2017 09:51:59

Presumably the problem affects many more Merlin engined aircraft apart from just BBMF aircraft...?

As pointed out above, the Liberal party have nothing to do with this - but don't let that upset your prejudices!!

Having, as a professional, had to deal with the results of aircraft 'failures', the dictum of "Safety is no accident" sits much better with me than the "Oh, Boo Hoo, some nasty person has stopped my toys being allowed out to keep me amused for ten minutes" Has the memory of the Shoreham Hunter carnage really faded that quickly?

Some VERY odd values around!

rgds

Bill

"Health and Safety shoots down entire RAF" - The headline did make me laugh though. I'm not sure whether it was Ady's or a quoted one.

Last time I checked, merlin's were not powering our front line RAF defence capability

Maybe they should be. I'm certain that Spitfires and Hurricanes could operate from the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier. Probably even Lancasters too. I suppose one would need to build some Swordfish's for anti-ship work.

Edited By Mark Rand on 17/08/2017 12:02:38

Sounds as we are channelling The Daily Hell or Daily Express. Let's not let facts get in the way of a good rant.

Yes, beneficial in moderation but not without a catch..

I forget (May have been Carl Sagan) who once said "It is good to have an open mind, but not so open that your brains fall out"

Michael W

DP

Edited By Michael-w on 17/08/2017 12:20:16

Really? I can accept your differing view but the definition neither says or implies liberal thought means agreeing with all of the opinions of others - just respecting and accepting.

Jon

I have to agree with KWIL and Cornish Jack

This correspondence just makes me angry

Having been at the front end of aero engine fault investigation in my past employment, the first action with an identified fault is to establish what effect it will have on operational flying. If it means single engined aircraft may fall from the sky then the aircraft is grounded until the problem is fixed.

To do anything else just to satisfy the pressure to fly and display as in this example is both dangerous, irresponsible and quite frankly unthinkable. Health and Safety has got nothing whatever to do with it.

Think of the muck in the fan that would follow doing what some seem to be calling for. They should be in the position of knocking on the doors of widows and families to explain why they sanctioned the flight knowing things were potentially lethal.

Brian

Not yet, but soon...

...but the headline "Reasonable decision by engineers prevents accident that may have caused death of crew and spectators" isn't going to sell many papers