Naval Carriers Face Being Without Jets for Most of Year - The headline from a recent SUNDAY TIMES seem to prove that we will never learn from our own recent history.   Almost within living memory of some the Fleet Air Arm (the of the Royal Air Force was formed in 1924) but on the 24^th May 1939 the Fleet Air Arm was returned to Admiralty control under the “Inskip Award", a Minister for Co-ordination of Defence, and a lawyer by trade.    The Sunday Times said in October 2012 went on to claim that the QUEEN ELIZABETH Class aircraft carriers may regularly be without aircraft because of a 'row' between the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force over how to operate the jets.   The MoD were quick to rebut the article claiming it misrepresented the reality.    This however seems to fly in the face of our recent experience with the HARRIER.    

The MoD were on to say that “Both Services have a long-agreed approach to the joint operation of this highly capable, fifth-generation stealth aircraft. Lightning II will be operated by both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force as part of the UK's carrier strike capability and as a replacement for the GR4 Tornado. The first UK test aircraft have been delivered and are undergoing flight trials in the US.    The aircraft will conduct initial flights off HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH in 2018, which will routinely deploy with Lightning II jets embarked with pilots from both Services, providing a step-change in capability compared to the Harrier fleet.

Somehow I think that Thomas Walker Hobart Inskip, 1st Viscount Caldecote CBE, PC, KC would not believe that, and neither so it seems does the SUNDAY TIMES!!