The following excerpts should first help to explain and then allay fears of the UK having purchased a sub-sufficient MOTS (Military Off the Shelf) aircraft.
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It's American designers thought they were giving the Ministry of Defence the ultimate, state of the art long-range patrol aircraft.
By Marco Giannangeli PUBLISHED: 00:01, Sun, Apr 30, 2017
But they forgot about the secret weapon that has fuelled Britain’s armed forces to victory for centuries - the humble cup of tea.
When RAF pilots tested the new Poseidon P8 maritime patrol aircraft, executives at Boeing had every reason to be confident. The “Russian sub-buster” will once again allow Britain to protect its nuclear submarines by scouring the water for unwanted intruders.
However Ft Lt Mark Hume, the first RAF pilot to complete the pilots' course at the US Navy Air Station at Jacksonville, noticed a glaring omission among the banks of sophisticated equipment the line the inside of the modified 737.
And he didn't hold back when asked about his experience by the RAF’s official newspaper.
“There are no on-board rations, so I do miss a good old fashioned cup of tea and doughnut when I'm in the cruise (a long mission)” he said.
Boeing was listening, with RAF sources last night confirming that the aircraft manufacturer was examining ways to add a hot water boiler.
“I understand Boeing is looking into how RAF pilots and air crew can be accommodated when the Poseidon enters service,” said the source.
Ft Lt Hume is a veteran of the Nimrod, the British-built maritime patrol aircraft that was unceremoniously scrapped during defence cuts in 2010 at a cost of £4bn. Because Nimrod crews regularly flew for 15 hours at a time without refuelling, the plane included a small kitchen galley.
And the need to brew a cuppa wasn't limited to aircraft.
The Vessel Boiling Electric water heating system has been a feature of almost every major British fighting vehicle since the Second World War, when it was developed to enable tank crews to brew a cup of tea without leaving their vehicles.
Today updated versions are included in Challenger 2 tanks, MAN trucks, and Warrior, Warthog, Mastiff, Jackal and Foxhound armoured fighting vehicles.
Last night former Nimrod crewman Frank James said Boeing had blundered by not giving crews the ability of making hot drinks during long flights.
“All the Nimrod variants included a small galley, and we were grateful for it’, said Frank, 69, a 40-year-veteran of the British patrol aircraft.
“I know that, to some, this might sound like an amusing story but there's a serious aspect to it. From a safety point of view, it’s pretty critical that you keep the crew aware and awake.
“I think it’s extraordinary that our new US-made replacements won't have any facilities at all. That’s the price you pay when you buy off the shelf.
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The full article titled US military aircraft designers asked by RAF where do we make a cuppa? can be read by opening the link.
