HMS Queen Elizabeth, the flagship of the Royal Navy, has taken to social media to highlight their impressive operational capabilities.

In a recent tweet, the official account reported that they have been conducting exercises to operate various aircraft on board, showing their versatility and readiness at any given moment.

The carrier account went on to explain that they are fully equipped to operate both day and night. Additionally, they noted their capability to perform refueling of airborne helicopters, an advanced manoeuvre that showcases the adaptability and preparedness of the crew on board.

The tweet read: “We have been practicing our ability to operate various aircraft on board. We can operate day or night, and even refuel a helicopter whilst it’s still flying.”

The carrier’s recent demonstration of capabilities comes at a time when the Royal Navy is working to showcase the readiness and operational flexibility of their fleet.

The hashtag “#Flagship” included in the tweet underscores the importance of HMS Queen Elizabeth to the UK’s naval power, underscoring its central role in the nation’s defence.

George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison

92 COMMENTS

  1. HIFR. (Helicopter Inflight Refueling) A tricky scenario, but an important and useful capability to keep Helicopters flying incase the flight deck has been damaged or obstructed.

    • I think it was originally envisioned in the Cold War to keep ASW ops at maximum tempo, with a particular enthesis on Frigate flight decks.

    • I was going to ask that, it looks like a very dangerous evolution to be undertaking without having a really good reason.

      • It’s not something that happens a lot, but the crews have to be qualified to do it. It takes precision from all involved.

      • All three services practice rotors running refueling, predominantly on dry land. Adding a platform that moves around plus you needing to hover over it, adds a whole level of complexity. Though with today’s digital flight control systems. A lot of the pilot’s hands-on maintaining the hover over a fixed point requirement, is made easier.

        The reason for doing this, is that it reduces the turn-around time. If the helicopter landed on the deck. You’d need a team to chain it down, even if the rotors are still going. Then take the chains off, when it’s ready to take-off again. This takes up valuable time.

    • That was a Harrier this is a helicopter?

      OK. Pegasus is high bypass but it is an order of magnitude more aggressive than a helicopters downdraught.

    • That’s why carrier flight trials are so extensive. The wind affect from the superstructure or island can have a big impact on the aircrafts stability.

    • We did a successful trial I think it was in 2006/7 using a GR7 on the Fort Grange. If the Harrier came in from directly astern, it did create a lot of turbulence over the deck. That made the Harrier bounce around. However, if it came from the left or right of the deck, the turbulence was a lot less and it could land safely. Taking off was interesting, as the Harrier had to be pushed way back to stop the exhaust air recirculating.

      The main benefit the GR7 had over the legacy Sea Harriers and GR3s, was that it had a fully digital flight computer. Which meant it could react a lot faster to disturbances when in the hover. This got better with better software in the GR9. If you watch videos of Harriers in the hover, the GR3 vs GR7/9 is like chalk and cheese. The F35 is better still.

      • As @Robert Blay has said: this is not trivial stuff – launching, quite large & heavy, supersonic jets is not for Biggles to have go at after lunch…..just because…..

        It requires lots and lots of planning.

        The risk isn’t just to the plane but to the whole ship and thereby it is a massive operational risk.

        • Totally agree, prior to the flight trials there were months of planning. Plus BAe had done some airflow modeling. When we did do the flight trials on the Grange, we were in the bay off Falmouth. Nearby was a tug for fire duties just in case, plus there were two ribs circling, in case the pilot needed to bang out over the sea. We also had Cauldrose on standby. The trials was done over 5 days in near perfect weather.

          The conclusion was yes a Harrier could land, refuel/rearm then take off again from the Grange. Plus the large size of the flight deck meant that you could squeeze two on. But only have one start up and take-off, due to the airflow around the deck. The deck paint did suffer from the hot end of the Pegasus. Which would need repairing after the trial. If Harriers were to make regular “pit stops” the paint type needed changing to a more robust one that could better handle the temperatures.

          Sadly the trials didn’t go any further. Today in theory a F35B could land on the Fort Victoria. It would probably need to follow the same port or starboard approach for hover landing. But the Vic would need the deck to be substantially protected. Even without the reheat, the F35’s F135 has a far hotter exhaust.

          • But what would have been the real world point of this?

            Other than lily padding the Harriers using the Fort as stepping stone to get them on or off the Invincibles?

            TBH I think with the greater weight of F35B the deck plating would need to be thicker to cope with the thermal effects never mind the special metalised paint.

          • This was all planned around supporting the Invincible class carriers. That if they were engaged in a major conflict and carried the maximum number of embarked aircraft, eg Falkland’s part 2.

            There were a number of requirements, some that I still can’t divulge. But the ones that I can, these ranged from emergency landings for the CAP aircraft in case the carrier (Invincible class) were hit. To freeing up the carrier for more take-offs, ie allowing the returning strike/CAP aircraft a place to land, whilst the carrier was busy getting a strike wave off the carrier.

            Today, we are spoilt by the amount of available deck space the QE class carriers have. Remembering back to actually how diddy the Invincible class were. We certainly made them punch above their weights.

            Would this option be required today? Yes/No. Having an emergency place to land for the F35B is handy. But it would only be able to be minimally rearmed, as it has a greater weight constraint for vertical take-offs. The Fort Victoria has such a large flight deck compared to a T23 or T45, it would be a lot safer to land on. But hopefully in a few years we will also get an air to air refueling capability for the carriers, which nullifies some of the original Harrier’s requirements.

            Agreed, the heavier weight of the F35 would also need to be taken in to consideration.

          • I agree.

            There was a whole project group in the 1980’s on how to use SHAR and GR across multiple platforms.

            After the Atlantic conveyor and various other HNS Max Hastings experiments.

            I was tangentially involved as my day job, then, was ship BDR / survivability.

            Invincibles were tiny and would have been hopeless with F35B.

            More space is more options: always good for planners.

          • At times I can’t believe the stuff we got away with or the number of aircraft we managed to squeeze on those “through deck cruisers”!

            I still remember my first time on Lusty. They put us in the accommodation under the ramp. Was off a night shift and finally starting to nod off. When the early morning Harriers started to bang off the ramp. Funny did both Lusty and Ark quite a few times, but never Invincible.

            It does make you think about whether something like the Invincible class would have been large enough to handle a Squadron of F35s, along with a number of Merlins. Which makes you question if something like the Canberras and other similar sized LHA/Ds would be large enough to carry a meaningful number? I guess that’s why the Italian Trieste is so big.

  2. That’s fantastic, i shall sleep better tonight knowing we have all these super capabilities and just look at all those aircraft on deck, it must be a nightmare finding space for all of them.

    • It’s funny, people hung up about not seeing a deck full of aircraft.
      Why does the carrier need to go around like it is on parade with them all lined up?
      Is it a power image thing?

      We have the carriers, most others don’t.
      We have aircraft to put on them, IF it is necessary.

      30 F35 and growing, so in a war situation say 20. All the stops are pulled out, so 617 Sqn, and more from the OCU.

      Merlin HM2s from the carrier Sqn.
      Merlins from CHF as CASR.
      Chinooks If needed, Apache if needed.

      The carriers are not there to say “Look at me, I’ve more planes than you.” We are not the USN, and no one else is.

      • Well put Daniele, certainly in the future when the can embark two squadrons of F35 routinely, plus the various RN/ AAC/RAF helos, plus a range of UAV’s, adding persistent high altitude AEW, AAR, Strike and recon etc, etc, then they will be serious (and scalable) big sticks of foreign diplomacy, offering a range of abilities that start to come close to a USN strike carrier, but on a far smaller operating budget.

        Add to this an Astute, upgraded T45 and it’s improved missile systems, toting 72 SAM’s, plus T26 ( adding another 48 to the tally) riding shotgun.

        As a whole, it’s an impressive package of offensive and defensive firepower, absolutely crucially, unilateral firepower, should it be called upon!

        We can take (and hold) a fair sized chunk of strategic ‘sea’ with such a task group, few have anything to compare and in reality, few countries have the ability to counter and threaten it too.

        That said, they are getting into their stride right now in 2023, with a wide range of current capabilities to bring to the fight if needed.

      • Daniele sometimes, just sometimes I don’t agree with you. Of course they don’t need to do it, but if you can then you do.
        In the Army it is a parade or an RSM in all his blustering glory or an Armoured Regiment in Battle order (not sure if they still do that).
        In the Airforce it’s a fly past or Aerobatics and just ignore the RAF regiment.
        In the Navy nothing since the days of a line of Battleships in line ahead shouts don’t mess, better than a Carrier with a full Alpha Strike Wing on deck.
        And it isn’t always just a pointless show of bravado. An SSBN doesn’t need to surface, but sometimes they do just to remind folks what they are.
        NATO exercises in the past and again recently didn’t need to be as big as they were just so they could train together. They were huge so they could demonstrate combined strength and resolve.

        I have to say I wound love to see the Indian and Pakistan Armies Beating Retreat at their daily Wagah border parade.

        So I ask you a question ! When get enough Aircraft and they decided to send out a carrier group from Pompey with a full strike wing displayed.

        Would you want to miss it ? 🤔

        • Morning mate. No worries. We all see the asset differently for what it is for.

          How boring this site would be if everyone agreed and just backslapped.

          In the Army it is a parade or an RSM in all his blustering glory”

          Well the HD is ceremonial/PD so a little different to getting an airgroup together so military enthusiasts can drool and we can all go look at that good old GB.
          Their job is to be seen, and heard in the case of the massed bands. It is publicity as well as a state occasion.

          A line regiment on parade, for inspection, sure. To me a rather different proposition to a fleet review or displaying a carrier with all planes on deck. Easier to organise too!

          RAF again that to me is for public consumption, be it for recruitment, airshows, the Jubilee, whatever. It is also good training to stream 80 plus aircraft. And it is for a specific occasion, not just look at me as we are discussing with a carrier.

          “an Armoured Regiment in Battle order”

          Me neither mate. I recall 4th Armoured Division ( or was it 1st or 3rd…🙄 ) lined up for HM The Queen in the 80s in BAOR for a full inspection. I’d have loved to have been there to witness that.

          An SSBN doesn’t need to surface, but sometimes they do”

          Hmmm, I know SSNs surface, like at the North Pole. And occasionally HMG announce their presence, or publicly show TLAM being loaded like at Gib last year, to send a message. And yes you could do that with a carrier with all planes on deck.
          But I’d be surprised if a Bomber did, very surprised! Unless it is back in home waters on its home leg. If it is not the CASD boat it makes no difference anyway.

          Your question, no of course not, it would be a sight to see.
          But so is the aircraft carrier itself.

          The 3 Invincibles went around with no or few aircraft embarked all the time and no one batted an eye lid. Now we get big carriers again and I genuinely think so so many are automatically comparing to the USN.

          The fact is it exists.

          We have it.

          We can put a group together and send it to the other side of the world. And I don’t give a stuff if it had allied escorts with it and the usual gripes from detractors and those with issues. We know who that is on this site.

          And we can park it off your coast if we wish.
          And enemies know full well we have aircraft, whether we parade them on deck or not.

          Do I see moans here about RAF Waddington or any other RAF Station and what is the point of having them when they only has a handful of aircraft, like Waddo currently has? No, they are assets that aircraft come and go from.

          We know full well that if the balloon goes up things change and that deck would be full of aircraft according to the task required, and things like the gun mounts people are constantly bitching about would be fitted in short order.

          I trust the military to know what they are doing, not some armchair admirals who find fault at every slightest thing they can find.

          We’ve gone from near zero with Ark Royal going and regenerating this capability takes time, I don’t need to see it to understand in war things change and I don’t think the RN and RAF have to needlessly get every F35 they can get, while the force is still generating, with all the known delays with that program, just so they can line up on deck and people can go oooo.

          • It’s interesting you mention the 4th Armoured Division, if it is what I am thinking of it is the 1977 Silver Jubilee Army Review.
            It was at Sennelager involved 3000 men and 550 Armoured vehicles.
            In the same year the RN hosted a fleer review at Spithead.
            2 Carriers
            1 LPD
            2 Cruisers
            8 DDG
            31 Frigates
            4 SSN
            10 SS
            20 MCM

            And for HM King Charles coronation we did zilch, which is the 1st time since Edward VII nothing happened.
            I suspect the reason given would be cost, but in reality it would just be plain embarrassing.

            As for SSBN surfacing as a show of force, yes it happens and most recently in the North Atlantic on 22nd of November 2022.
            It involved the USS Tennessee and an RN Vanguard class Bomber.
            And they even choreographed it so photos could be taken.
            The main displays seem to involve the 4 US Ohio class that at now SSGN which miraculously turn up when the US wants to remind someone that they can point a 154 TLAM in their direction with zero warning.
            Last year all a sudden we saw US SSN and SSGN and a French SSN popping into Faslane for all to see. A US SSBN being “resupplied” mid ocean by a helicopter last week. These are things done for a reason, we are all waving our big sticks.
            And on this site was a photo of 3 US AB’s and Tico doing a synchronised SAM missile launch. Now if that isn’t bravado I don’t know what it.
            I seem to remember a Chinese Song class sub decided to surface smack bang in the middle of the USS Kitty Hawk CG after going completely undetected just remind them of their vulnerability.

          • Hi mate.

            I would have to check one of my books at home for the photo I have in mind, and a date, which I will later, though you may well be correct. HM is on the back of a LR taking a salute and the Division is lined up like a Roman Legion.

            I have just looked up the Vanguard meeting the US SSBN, did not recall that at all, and I see there was an article on this very site!

            The examples you mention just reinforce my view that I stated earlier that so much of this is all posturing to see how big your **** is and waving it at potential enemies. I think our enemies know full well the potential and capabilities of our Carrier F35, Merlin combination, compared to theirs catching fire, breaking down, and their naval aviation crashing at regular intervals.

          • Hi Daniele – this information about the current Pentagon interest in the UFO phenomenon might interest you. Its OT but George never posts an artice about the subject…..

            David Charles Grusch, 36, a USAF veteran and former member of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, who served in Afghanistan and with the National Reconnaissance Office, said the US and other nations are engaged in a top-secret arms race to ‘reverse-engineer’ alien technology.

            Grusch has handed over classified details of the alleged operations to Congress and the Intelligence Community Inspector General. Grusch is a former member of the Pentagon’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) Task Force.

            Citing witness statements from numerous current and former intelligence officers, Grusch claims that key information about recovered non-human craft was withheld from the UAP Task Force during his tenure

            Grusch also said that in addition to recovering partial and intact extraterrestrial craft for decades, the US government has also retrieved the remains of alien pilots.

            Grusch said that keeping the information secret ‘further inhibits the world populace to be prepared for an unexpected, non-human intelligence contact scenario’.

            Grusch’ claims come days after senior Pentagon Chief Physicist Dr Sean Kirkpatrick, (Director of the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office) admitted that unidentified metallic orb UFOs have been spotted ‘all over the world’.

            This looks like a “disclosure” scenario.

          • Hi mate. Yep, well aware of this, been following it for a few days.
            Nothing we were not already aware of to be fair, seeming as we both follow this subject, it’s been quietly bubbling away for decades.
            Bob Lazar scenario all over again.
            Agree, either gradual disclosure, until it’s taken for granted and no mad rush for the toilet rolls. Or, these releases are to cover for something else and by design disinformation.
            Thus the murky world of ufology, MJ12, and so on.
            Richard Dolan will have lots to say I’m sure.
            Pity Stanton Friedman is no longer with us.

          • Lots of people do follow the subject, but thanks to fear of ridicule and worry about how it might affect career prospects, few comment.

            I was never that impressed by Bob Lazar actually. Unlike Tim Good and yes, Stanton Friedman. But this chap Grusch seems to be a proper whistleblower.

            Can I ask m8, was your interest in the subject sparked by a sighting yourself?

          • Yes and no. I have had a “LITS” sighting, which was probably something to do with whatever the US have in orbit that they do not disclose. Which I have no doubt at all are considerable.

            I actually came to the subject through this, military interest, in 1988. The two intertwine repeatedly, in the Black Budget, aviation R&D, and in military and government denial, which as often as not is a cover up of ignorance, not knowledge, as they do not know how to handle it beyond their usual debunking.

            And that goes for the US military too, all through the 50s and 60s. Blue Book, The Condon Report, the USAFs own report in 1995 on Roswell “Case Closed” which even Senator Schiff dismissed as utter cobblers, and got the GAO to do their own investigation which found all the records from July 47 had vanished from the archives, how convenient. One of the Joint Chiefs made an unscheduled visit to New Mexico himself in July that year.

            There are lots of other whitewashes over the decades that the tabloid media gleefully seize on and publish. To the full encouragement of the authorities of course, it furthers their cause and muddies the waters further with disinformation.

            On Lazar, look for the video he made from the Black Mailbox in 88 with John Lear, before he went public as “Dennis” when George Knapp reported on him. It might interest you.

            People often comment on my knowledge on UK military stuff, which is nice of them. Well I can talk about this subject at length too, and in as much detail. We need our own forum mate, not this one.

            Ridicule? Oh I don’t give a monkeys, I know different, I’ve come to that conclusion after 30 years of research. But yes, there is a lot of it out there.
            The Roswell “Autopsy” was an amusing one. Some anonymous bloke has an old Kodak film, says its Roswell, and all the media jump on it, discrediting the whole thing. Even though there is no evidence whatsoever the film is genuine and has no refs in it to New Mexico at all, and the film could not be dated. So Roswell, case closed. Really….🙄

            When this report surfaced the other day I thought I’d have a bit of fun and post it on to Facebook, just to see what some FB friends would say. Yawning silence! Hilarious, they don’t know what to say. And of course, what can they say, they do not know what they are talking about or the research that has been put into the subject.

            As you say, too hot to handle and the ridicule, and ignorance, is too great.

            Ho hum.

          • I have had a sighting, also witnessed by my then wife and a group of friends who had come round for dinner.

            I have been surprised by the number of military people that I met during my career who have seen anomalous things in the sky. Usually they swear you to secrecy and I would never betray a confidence; some of them have subsequently gone on to greater things in the services

            Personally I’m interested in insignia. Insignia to me means attachment to an organisation, unit, detachment but definately military. Why they would they be interested in us? Maybe they see how warlike a species we are and worry that we will get territorial about minerals on the moon, or Mars. If their craft are sporting insignia then the obvious conclusion is that its a recce in force.

            I spent a long time once researching NASA 1994 Clementine mission to map the moon. Most of the highly detailed images returned have been published, including a number that have been heavily redacted – i.e with blanked out areas. Whoever else knows what is really going on, NASA deffo do.

          • Hi mate.
            You like insignia? You might like this book…”I could tell you, but then you would have to be destroyed by me”
            Emblems from the Pentagon’s Black World.
            Lots of unit patches, some unknown.
            It’s by Trevor Paglen.

          • Ah, I should have said insignia on the UFOs. Paglen’s book seems to be about Pentagon military patches etc. And its up on Amazon for over £250!!

            I’ll look up HCC the Roswell bendy metal man first 🙂

          • 😳 Crikey, mine was about £15!
            You’re welcome to borrow mine. Look me up, this is my real name.
            Yes, memory metal mate. It’s invention date and by whom is not what is publically stated.

          • Hi Daniele – Thanks for your kind offer. I’m having a little difficulty looking you up on Facebook, there are hundreds of Danielle Mandelli ! could you give me a little more info plz

          • Daniele Mandelli, one L in Daniele. I’m the guy with a Blue Great Britain cap and a Starling on my head!!!

          • By the way, look up details on a bloke called “Howard Clinton Cross” who worked at Battelle.

          • Hi mate.
            You were right. “Reviewing 4 Division, Sennelager, July 7th 1977.”

            The book I’m looking at is “The Encyclopedia of the Modern Britsh Army” by Terry Gander, 1986. Such a detailed work that got me studying army stuff. 👍

      • What’s funny to me is your type of reply Daniele
        This Carrier project started at least 20 years ago, order placed 16 years ago, delayed for financial reasons at an additional cost of @ 1.5 Billion, each, many more millions wasted on the C&T u turn, designed to carry up to 36 F35s plus the aircraft you mention, One in dry dock for best part of a year, Initial order of F35’s was 138 and here we are with @ 30 of which maybe two squadrons could be embarked (eggs and baskets spring to mind) and so far we have only managed 8 and one of them fell off !
        Now I know I don’t spend all my time on here like you and a few others seem to( god only knows how long it would take to reach the 15 thousand comments that you have amassed) but I do have the same right to comment about this as you and everyone else do, sorry if my comments don’t fit well with you and your acolytes but hey, it’s a free country and I’m worried about it’s defence.

        • Morning Animal.

          sorry if my comments don’t fit well with you and your acolytes but hey, it’s a free country and I’m worried about it’s defence.”

          No need to be defensive. You stated an opinion, I gave mine back. So the issue is with how many comments I may or may not have made is…?

          “Initial order of F35’s was 138”

          No, initial order for 48. 138 is over the lifetime of the program and has been known from the start to be as unlikely as 250 Typhoons or 12 T45 were.

          “so far we have only managed 8 and one of them fell off!”
          I can see the humour there too.

          “but I do have the same right to comment about this as you and everyone else do,”

          Yes, you do, and you are. And some will agree with you, some won’t, some in part.
          And some will comment in reply like I did, so please don’t be hurt because an opposing view is expressed to you.

          “Now I know I don’t spend all my time on here like you”

          And that is relevant how exactly?” Would you prefer if I departed?

          “god only knows how long it would take to reach the 15 thousand comments that you have amassed)”

          6 years. Like you, it shows I too care. How many posts I might have amassed has no bearing on the validity of my posts no more than yours, so why do you bring it up?

          “but hey, it’s a free country and I’m worried about it’s defence.”

          So am I, so here we are. And…?

          “fit well with you and your acolytes”

          I have acolytes??? 😳 😆

          Lighten up mate, this site is here for us to make our points, debate, and follow the subject, the defensiveness is totally un necessary. 👍

          • There it is, the “I’m superior to you” reply, sadly every site has members that are way too full of themselves. 15 thousand comments deary me how sad actually is that ? think of all the things you could have been doing, you only live once mate.

          • Nonsense. My reply above made it quite clear that you have your opinion, and I have mine.

            How is me having an opinion being full of oneself? Or maybe you have a problem with knowledge? Feel free not to read my opinions then.

            Interestingly, I looked at your comments history. And you have had near identical spats with others before over a similar theme, which is telling.
            You really cannot cope with people with a different point of view can you?

            And you’re still obsessed by my number of posts, even though that is irrelevant and does not make my opinion right or wrong, as I said to you above.

            The issue is you, and what is in your mind. Nothing more. I’m not saying I’m superior, far from it. I’ve commented many many times that ive never served.

            And that, I suspect, is your issue. You just cannot cope that some one who’s not served might have some knowledge and states it, compared no doubt to you, ex forces yes?
            Well, I will commenrt, its a free site, im interested, and here I am.

            I’ve tried to be nice, but you’ve got issues.
            So, deal with it. Clear?

          • Just keep the posts coming DM! Plenty of folk comment on enjoying your knowledgable insights and balanced commentary.

            High time George offered you a freelance role as an Opinion analyst on the site! 🙏

    • So why park up 24 F35s on the flight deck when there is no need? Oh dear animal, you need to make an effort at subject matter knowledge and looking at the bigger picture! If you need help just ask Daniele.

      • I’m curious about that. If they are learning to deal with a scenario where the flight deck is damanged and needing to refuel helicopters in the air, surely you want to test it with a flight deck containing aircraft as they will impact the process from an air flow perspective but also an operational one of having to deal with less space. Training on an empty deck doesn’t seem very realistic.

        We don’t have the planes to train in a realistic war currently, but creating some models would seem sensible, just to create a more realistic scenerio and the clutter that comes with it.

        • SFDO, School of Flight Deck Operations, at Culdrose has models, and a fake deck marked out, and Sea Harriers. ( or did )

          So crews can train to do some of that stuff with there but not the same as a moving carrier with the airflow stuff as you say.

    • Nice video. How much benefit is there in refuelling a helicopter hovering just above the deck compared with having it land first?

      • Too much pitch and roll on the deck could be a reason as someone suggests in the post in the link, allowing the crew to transfer to land or another ship in the area. A crowded flight deck with no available space to land.

        Plenty of good reasons no doubt otherwise they would not train for it!

        Merlin mk2 HIFR

        LINK

        “Vital training on the RNAS Culdrose ‘Dummy Deck’ with students being taught how to safely refuel a helicopter whilst in the hover.

        Royal Navy Aircrew, Aircraft Handlers and Air Engineering teams must all be able to conduct Helicopter In Flight Refuelling (HIFR). This type of refuel may occur if an aircraft requires fuel but a ship does not have a flight deck, or if the flight deck is full or damaged.
        Here are the steps…

        The winch cable is lowered from the helicopter by an aircrew member, and earthed at ground level with a metal hook attached to a cable which is, in turn, attached to a metal plate in contact with the deck. This ensures that any static electricity, which has built up in the helicopter during flight, is discharged to avoid the risk of fire or electrical arcing.

        The fuel line is then winched up to the aircraft door adjacent to the fuelling point. Another aircrew member connects an earth plug attached to the fuel line to the earth socket on the aircraft, then connects the fuel line.

        Fuelling can now safely begin, hand signals from the aircraft indicate when the fuel flow should start and stop – when complete the process is reversed and the fuel line is returned safely to the deck.”

        • So essentially an emergency operation rather than routine. Makes sense.
          Is it also practised on the escort fleet?

          • Rather than try to make out he does by putting it into his own words 😂

          • I worked on RN flight decks for years Nigel. You probably wasn’t allowed in the Sea Cadets. No substance, no clue, no dick.

          • Yes, very happy memories. Some fun times in hot places. It was not so fun in the Artic Circle. Stood on the deck at 6 in the morning in -25. 😄🥶

          • Bobby the BOT with his box of spanners is back.

            So you keep telling everyone.

            Getting personal again? It’s a sure sign of a looser or the nail being hit squarely on the head.

            Where’s the money coming from Nigel?

            Any news on the F-16 replacements?

            “The Department of Defense’s most expensive weapon system—the F-35 aircraft—is now more than a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over original cost estimates.

            This program is weighing options to upgrade its engine and cooling system. But it hasn’t taken some important steps, such as fully assessing the costs and technical risks of the different options.

            DOD also doesn’t plan to manage the upgrades as a separate acquisition program. This would limit Congress’s insight into possible future cost increases.”

          • Usual botchat reply with a terrible attempt at humour. And another pointless copy and paste. Prove you are an actual human being Nigel? You trot out the same usual stuff because you can’t compute actual normal human conversation.

          • He seems to be replying to his own posts , seems rather odd? Good on you for the intelligent banter though!

          • Hi mate. He’s either a very strange bloke. Or AI botchat. He just doesn’t have a conversation in him like a normal bloke. copy and paste, and endless links to other web pages. Obsessed with trying to prove himself right in any comment chain any poor sod posts to him.

          • Cheers Robert. To quote Inspector Clouseau (the Peter Sellers one)”All part of life’s rich pageant”.😋

      • They practice it incase the flight deck is damaged or obstructed. So helicopter operations can be sustained. It’s not used a lot. But the crews have to be qualified to do it. It requires precision handling from all involved.

    • I presume they drop a static line from the Helo first and then use this to hoist the fuel line up, do they? Would they use the winch for this?

      • The winch is lowered and the HIFR hose is attached by a hook eye at the top. The hose is then winched up to the aircraft where the aircrew then attach the bonding lead and fuel hose to the fuel point. Fuel can then be transferred to the aircraft from the ship.

        All the time this is going on deck crew are handling the hose to keep the minimum hose forming a loop over the side of the ship, either pulling in or paying out as required.

        If things go wrong there is a breakaway connection so the aircraft can move away from the ship if required without having to disconnect the hose. That is emergency use only.

        Once the aircraft is fuelled up the hose is disconnected from the aircraft and lowered to the deck, again by winch.

        Once the deck crew have disconnected the hose from the winch the aircraft can do whatever it needs to.

        It is a long while since I last did this and that was with a SeaKing so things may be slightly different but you get the general idea.

  3. I saw her off the north coast of Cornwall 2 days ago (4/06/23). Clear deck, looking amazing on the horizon during a sunset. Awesome to finally see her with my own eyes!

  4. That would be top secret. the QE carrier is designed to reach approx 65-70% maximum sortie rate of a Ford Class Carrier in a 24 hour time period- it helps that the ships is very efficient in terms of weapons handling and the STOVL aids in generating quick sorties turn around times- not having to wait for a catapult launch. pros and cons to STOVL vs catapult not withstanding.
    QE is still to my mind probably the 3rd best carrier type in the world after the Ford/ Nimitz classes. I’m ignoring China’s carriers including their new type 003 EMALS conventionally powered ship as these are untested and dont seem yet to have the legs or expertise to launch missions around the world….yet. Agree with previous comments though RFA Fort Victoria is the QE carrier battle group Achilles heel. with only one underway fast replenishment ship we really need FSS soon as possible. Too many delays and pontification on the programme from the MOD and HMG already.

  5. I think during CSG21 we had 18 jets on the QE, this obviously isn’t anywhere near the number the QE can handle but it should be enough to get a decent idea of how it would perform it we chucked another 18+ on.

    • Some years ago I read the reports on the Nimitz surge test from the 90s, it lists various sortie limiters, planes, pilots and maintenance crew. IIRC Nimitz was limited first on the maintenance crews who were turning around the planes as fast as they could, then pilots and last were the numbers of planes. It wouldn’t surprise me if we had similar limiters, and given our training issues, perhaps sorties will be limited by how many pilots we have.

      • Lack of pilots, that is unfortunately a defining factor on the limit of jets we can concurrently deploy on our carriers along with engineers and other support crew. Thankfully the jets that we are deploying are the absolute best available and the guys and girls operating and supporting the operation of the jets we have are among the best NATO has to offer. Even if the carriers were never used to anywhere near their surge capacity they are still a very strong force and a vital asset to NATO defence.

  6. So! we don’t have enough f35s for her plus we don’t have enough ships of working quality to protect them. They are just a large white elephant from a country that is nolonger strong enough to protect her self. We don’t even have enough sailors to crew what active ships we have.

    • And where do you hail from? Still the true land of the free and all because many in uniform have ensured that is the case over the years by paying a price many currently many know nothing of taking their freedom for granted. We are still able to give a more than good account of ourselves against anyone that crosses our path.
      Great Britain is far from perfect (where is?) but I’ll take it over anywhere else.
      The RN may not be the biggest but it has what it takes when needed.
      So if you are a UK resident and not happy, the airports still fly to the rest of the World so off you trot.

      • I’m from the UK but the difference is I actually see what this and previous governments have done to our arm forces and its a struggle for us. So don’t try and preach to someone who knows the truth. You just continue in believing that this country is still a superpower. Our military is underfunded they always playing catchup to save money then it costs more in the end. Example of Challenger2 once the best in the world but instead of keeping upto date they left stagnant for 30 years. Now they are worried it may not be upto the job so know they are updating only a small number because they can’t afford the whole fleet. Type 23 instead of continuous update they leave them till they need a major update. But now they are finding that they may have major structural faults so they are suspending the upgrade because they may not be worth it. Building new military ships in this country takes twice as long as anywhere else. Because of underfunding in our shipyards now we rely on the only shipyard in a ungrateful country to build them, loosing the only English shipyard because to pacify the SNP. UK government no money no commitment no strength.

        • I am fully aware of the cuts those fools in Whitehall have made yet we are still at the top of the game why because of the people who wear the uniform. No matter the kit its the person who wears and uses it that make the real edge. How do I know, I served all over the World and those others still continue to look to the UK to lead the way not for the kit we bring but the calibre of person. No we are not a Superpower (look at Russia is it a Superpower? only on paper and that is has lots of instant sunshine which we too have that is why we are still at the top table). I will say this, those that enjoy the Freedom of our state should pay for it, its a high price some pay for the majority. And just for info most of the other states in the World that have lots of kit you will find most of it is in a poor state of repair and much of it unserviceable so not worth the scrape value in the end, that includes the great USA who have come up second many times over when pared against the British Services that I have seen for myself. Enjoy your freedoms that so many desire that some here have paid for.

          • I totally agree with you it’s the quality of the personal. Even US Generals admit one on one the UK would beat the US hands down in Army, Air Force, Navy but because of the US they would win on numbers but at a heavy cost. The UK aircraft carriers were built on the cheap like every thing the government does. They built two carrier with the limitations of only been able to fly F35 fast jets if they only built one with cats and traps and spent money on upgrading a typhoon with carrier capabilites. Having those and f35 would have made one superior carrier. But we’ve ended up with two white elephants that we can’t equip with F35s plus we don’t have the surface fleet to provide a ring of steel around both if needed. With you been a ex army you must have experience of the SA80 it was horrendous when first equipped because it was cheap it’s taken 2 upgrades to make a decent rifle its due for a 3rd soon. The government wastes money but never where it is truly needed. They only spend money where its needed after blood is spilt look at the Snatch Land Rover it took brave guys to die in those (thank god I never saw one) before they spent money on the Foxhound, Jackal, Mastiff and the other well protected vehicles.

          • It is best to have 2 carriers so at least 1 can be available when the other is being serviced/upgraded and they are very capable. They are also have many decades of service in them, the F35 numbers will come and will be upgraded greatly over the coming decades, while I do like the sound of carrier capable typhoons they would not be able to provide the same capability as the F35 long term. We got T26 and T31 been made to replace the T23’s with the possible addition of T32, the RN still has plenty of fight left in it pal and I appreciate the sacrifice and hard work of our military personnel, may not be the biggest armed forces but still among the best.

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