Stopping a Typhoon: Will the RAF Risk Northolt Locals???

SOT · **Joined:** Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:14 pm **Posts:** 659

http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-l ... -30159343/

I see Hillingdon's noisiest (albeit) temporary neighbour is having a drive by this weekend, as the RAF will be basing Typhoon jet fighters at Northolt during the Olympics (and during the run up to the games).

I have heard from a military technician based at Northolt, that Typhoons usually operate from airfields which have 'emergency arrest equipment' (can't recall what he called it) fitted at the end of the runway. This is similar to kit on an aircraft carrier and consists of a stretched wire cable attached to a pair of revolving oil filled bollards which damp the rotation of the bollards and catch the aircraft via a hook if it runs off the end of the runway.

I understand from this source, that despite extra plane catching kit installed after the executive jet run off the end of the runway (while the 2 pilots were fighting!) a few years ago, the arrest kit is not up to Typhoon standard.

Bearing in mind these fighter planes will be taking off at speed and loaded with weapons* over Hillingdon, I wonder whether the RAF will fit this expensive arrester kit or whether they (and local residents & drivers) will simply wing it (pun intended!)

(NOTE: Apparently, this plane can carry almost 7 tonnes of kit and up to 10 missiles. Call me old fashioned, but their might not be an Oak Farm Estate if that lot runs off the end of the runway and hits a van!!)
http://typhoon.starstreak.net/Eurofighter/weapons.html

geezer466 · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:06 pm **Posts:** 1307

If the arresters fail there is always the fence alongside the A40........ 8-)

It almost worked last time.....

Given the effort and priority they are ploughing into these games if they cannot make the A40 safe for the duration of the event they will probably close it for the fortnight.

vlad the impailer · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:21 am **Posts:** 251

the will prob close the A 40 for the duration....oops,better not give them idea,s

Diamond Mobility · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:04 am **Posts:** 27

Personally im looking forward to having them around

i love seeing them or Tornado's or Battle of Britain lot here

The thing is there is always a chance of something going wrong in anything. With these guys its a very low chance. Having them based at Northolt to protect us etc i think is worth that low risk of pilot error or mechanical failure.

firestorm · **Posted:** Sat Jan 21, 2012 8:36 am

And what may I ask is a RAF Typhoon going to do to protect us all from A Ruck Sack carrying brainwashed Terrorist?

Best option would be to Cancel the Olympics. At least that way we could all go about our bussiness in peace through July and August. :lol:

SOT · **Joined:** Fri Jan 20, 2012 8:14 pm **Posts:** 659

That is a fair point Firestorm

I suggest it's 3/4 PR, (the Govt reassuring the pubic & IOC that all is being done), and 1/4 for those terrorist events that may involve something bigger than a backpack toting student.

This is one huge risk for London and perhaps may attract some spectactular which is a bit more organised than 7/7. Maybe they already know of a plan? I don't suppose we'd ever know

So although I have my doubts about the safety of these planes leaving Northolt, I reckon it's not such a bad thing to have them here, as long as they go home asap afterwards.

geezer466 · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 1:06 pm **Posts:** 1307

The Typhoons are to protect against a 9/11 scenario......

Terrorists would love to take control of an airliner and crash it onto the Olympic stadium right in the middle of the 100 metres final. The Typhoons will be there to make sure it is brought down short preferentially over the North Sea or Channel.

Kremmen · **Posted:** Sat Jan 21, 2012 1:21 pm

SOT wrote:

http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-news/local-uxbridge-news/2012/01/19/typhoon-jets-to-fly-over-borough-in-olympic-test-113046-30159343/

I see Hillingdon's noisiest (albeit) temporary neighbour is having a drive by this weekend, as the RAF will be basing Typhoon jet fighters at Northolt during the Olympics (and during the run up to the games).

I have heard from a military technician based at Northolt, that Typhoons usually operate from airfields which have 'emergency arrest equipment' (can't recall what he called it) fitted at the end of the runway. This is similar to kit on an aircraft carrier and consists of a stretched wire cable attached to a pair of revolving oil filled bollards which damp the rotation of the bollards and catch the aircraft via a hook if it runs off the end of the runway.

I understand from this source, that despite extra plane catching kit installed after the executive jet run off the end of the runway (while the 2 pilots were fighting!) a few years ago, the arrest kit is not up to Typhoon standard.

Bearing in mind these fighter planes will be taking off at speed and loaded with weapons* over Hillingdon, I wonder whether the RAF will fit this expensive arrester kit or whether they (and local residents & drivers) will simply wing it (pun intended!)

(NOTE: Apparently, this plane can carry almost 7 tonnes of kit and up to 10 missiles. Call me old fashioned, but their might not be an Oak Farm Estate if that lot runs off the end of the runway and hits a van!!)
http://typhoon.starstreak.net/Eurofighter/weapons.html

In my RAF days it was called the RHAG (RAG) Rotary Hydraulic Arrester Gear. This was a series of wires across the runway instead of the usual big net.

john · **Joined:** Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:25 pm **Posts:** 288

At least Northolt will be used more

gmr · **Joined:** Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:08 pm **Posts:** 120

Kremmen wrote:

SOT wrote:

http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-news/local-uxbridge-news/2012/01/19/typhoon-jets-to-fly-over-borough-in-olympic-test-113046-30159343/

I see Hillingdon's noisiest (albeit) temporary neighbour is having a drive by this weekend, as the RAF will be basing Typhoon jet fighters at Northolt during the Olympics (and during the run up to the games).

I have heard from a military technician based at Northolt, that Typhoons usually operate from airfields which have 'emergency arrest equipment' (can't recall what he called it) fitted at the end of the runway. This is similar to kit on an aircraft carrier and consists of a stretched wire cable attached to a pair of revolving oil filled bollards which damp the rotation of the bollards and catch the aircraft via a hook if it runs off the end of the runway.

I understand from this source, that despite extra plane catching kit installed after the executive jet run off the end of the runway (while the 2 pilots were fighting!) a few years ago, the arrest kit is not up to Typhoon standard.

Bearing in mind these fighter planes will be taking off at speed and loaded with weapons* over Hillingdon, I wonder whether the RAF will fit this expensive arrester kit or whether they (and local residents & drivers) will simply wing it (pun intended!)

(NOTE: Apparently, this plane can carry almost 7 tonnes of kit and up to 10 missiles. Call me old fashioned, but their might not be an Oak Farm Estate if that lot runs off the end of the runway and hits a van!!)
http://typhoon.starstreak.net/Eurofighter/weapons.html

In my RAF days it was called the RHAG (RAG) Rotary Hydraulic Arrester Gear. This was a series of wires across the runway instead of the usual big net.

Back in the 60's `Turnhouse', Edinburgh, had an arrestor net with what looked like old Battleship anchor chains coiled at each end to drag airliners to a stop ! They also had traffic lights controlled by the control tower to stop road traffic which crossed at the end of the one runway !
No taxi way so you taxied downwind on the runway; pulled a u-turn then backed up until the main wheels were still, just, on the tarmac before launching !
Least crosswind and we drove to Glasgow. Used to commute up and down once a week; fun days

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Stopping a Typhoon: Will the RAF Risk Northolt Locals???

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