RAF Herk down.

[planejunky]

Many may now know, but an RAF Hercules has come down in Iraq. There's not much to say at present apart from the wreckage is widespread, so it looks like there will be fatalities. :(

[charley]

Very sad :(

Lets hope this isn't as bad as it first sounds...thoughts and prayers with those who can only wait...

[spock1]

The sad news is up to 15 military personnel have lost their lives. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.

[planejunky]

The sad news is up to 15 military personnel have lost their lives. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.

Indeed, there must be an awful feeling around RAF Lyneham right now. A very tragic loss. :(

[58warren]

Yes it's terrible news. I've been carrying out survey work on the M4 over the last few days quite close to RAF Lyneham and there is a constant flow overhead of Herk's practicing touch landings.

I haven't heard the latest news update, but its possible it could have been attacked and broken up in the air as the RAF said that the wreckage was scattered over a wide area... Would this be the case if it had suffered mechanical failure and crashed?

[minter]

some group of camel fu##ers have calimed have claimed responsibility,a new danger this especially to transport aircraft :(

[planejunky]

some group of camel fu##ers have calimed have claimed responsibility,a new danger this especially to transport aircraft :(

Not wishing to speculate of this particular incident, but its fair to say that the Hercules is built like a brick outhouse, they don't just fall out of the sky. The RAF's near perfect safety record with this aircraft speaks for itself.

If it was a Man Portable Air Defence System (MANPADS) that bought this aircraft down, it just reiterates the big problem faced by modern military aircraft, and that problem is the detection of shoulder launched weapon systems.

Where conventional Surface to Air Missiles require a radar lock, the aircraft can detect the enemy radar and attempt to evade and spoof the missile with either electronic counter measures or Chaff bundles. MANPADS such as the American "Stinger" are Infrared guided, and because there is no radar painting the victim, this means that the aircraft has no means of detection other than the mark one eyeball. In short if you don't see it launch, it may already be too late, even if you do get a chance to launch IR decoy flares.

The MADPADS theory is feisable, but only time will tell what really happened yesterday. It's just proof that 60 years after the end of WWII, our service personnel are still prepared to give their lives in the line of duty, and for that I am truly thankful.