Airport bags to ‘disappear in black hole’
Pilots’ spoof film mocks training delayed by cuts
TWENTY future armed forces pilots are being investigated over a spoof Top Gun video they made mocking their flying course.
The RAF, Royal Navy and Army officers are accused of breaking military rules by posting the clip Mediocre Gun online.
The film uses footage from the trailer for the new sequel to the film, which stars Tom Cruise and is due out in July.
It claims it took them three-and-a-half years to pass a crucial tri-service flying course that should take 18 months.
Cruise’s character Maverick is asked by a senior officer with a Deep South US accent: “You should be combat-ready and a second tourist by now, Maverick – you’re still here. What the hell is going on?”
The clip also includes footage of a naked male with his private parts covered up and another trainee apparently drunk. Someone else is seen riding a children’s bike
A squadron leader wrote to the pilots: “All those who are named verbally or in text in the video are to report to RAF Shawbury Police.”
The pilots are understood to be students at the tri-service Defence Helicopter School at RAF Shawbury, in Shropshire.
Military insiders said course progress was slowed down by Tory-led defence cuts from 2010 to 2015, when the Government allowed more pilots to be trained.
RAF officials claim the longest any pilot took to complete the course was “just over two-and-a-half years”. While shorter than the video claims, it is still at least a year over the 18 months it used to take before Tory cuts made the course longer.
One retired RAF pilot said: “These guys should be applauded for drawing attention to the fact that such worldclass training has been badly hit by years of appalling cuts.”
An MOD spokesman said: “This video exhibits behaviour that does not reflect the high standards that we expect.”
RETIRED RAF PILOT
Narrator’s mouth on Tom Cruise from trailer
PILOTS’ VIDEO RIDICULES BRITISH FORCES TRAINING, WHICH NOW TAKES A YEAR LONGER DUE TO CUTS
Recruit rides base on pink child’s bike
Pilots fly helicopter in clip
LOST suitcases could disappear into a “black hole”, a union boss has warned ahead of a walkout by baggage handlers.
Members of Unite who find and send on lost bags at Heathrow today begin a week-long strike, with two more planned this month.
Clare Keogh, Unite regional officer, said: “Passengers using Heathrow in March need to be aware that if their luggage disappears it is likely to be trapped in a black hole… directly a result of the penny-pinching of Global Baggage Solutions.”
Unite said staff were offered no pay rise in 2019 and 32p per hour this year.
GBS did not respond to requests for comment.
These guys should be applauded for drawing attention to the fact training has been hit
You should be combat ready and a second tourist by now, Maverick.. yet you’re still here. What the hell is going on?