David Jordan
@davidjair.bsky.social
King's College London. Director, Freeman Air & Space Institute; military historian prone to talking about aeroplanes. Lapsed pianist & hockey player. Views here entirely my own.
Quite. Those of us Europeans who remember the Buccaneer, Jaguar and Tornado (latter still going in Italy & Germany of course) can't comprehend why he thinks this is 'low'...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lteL... - approx 2:15-2:35 refers ("I said below their radar, Bloggs - not their sonar!")
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lteL... - approx 2:15-2:35 refers ("I said below their radar, Bloggs - not their sonar!")
October 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Quite. Those of us Europeans who remember the Buccaneer, Jaguar and Tornado (latter still going in Italy & Germany of course) can't comprehend why he thinks this is 'low'...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lteL... - approx 2:15-2:35 refers ("I said below their radar, Bloggs - not their sonar!")
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lteL... - approx 2:15-2:35 refers ("I said below their radar, Bloggs - not their sonar!")
"Let them say it from underwater"
He's not really done his research into the fact that we've been planning to do *exactly* that should the need arise, since 1969...
'Nice city that Moscow of yours. Be a shame if something hot, explosive and radioactive 'appened to it. Just saying, like...'
He's not really done his research into the fact that we've been planning to do *exactly* that should the need arise, since 1969...
'Nice city that Moscow of yours. Be a shame if something hot, explosive and radioactive 'appened to it. Just saying, like...'
September 4, 2025 at 7:35 PM
"Let them say it from underwater"
He's not really done his research into the fact that we've been planning to do *exactly* that should the need arise, since 1969...
'Nice city that Moscow of yours. Be a shame if something hot, explosive and radioactive 'appened to it. Just saying, like...'
He's not really done his research into the fact that we've been planning to do *exactly* that should the need arise, since 1969...
'Nice city that Moscow of yours. Be a shame if something hot, explosive and radioactive 'appened to it. Just saying, like...'
While these did not 'go down a bomb' with German customers... And as for what Sir Arthur would've thought about slip on shoes...
September 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
While these did not 'go down a bomb' with German customers... And as for what Sir Arthur would've thought about slip on shoes...
There were complaints that if wearing them while holidaying in France one was unable to reach Dunkirk in a timely manner...
September 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
There were complaints that if wearing them while holidaying in France one was unable to reach Dunkirk in a timely manner...
By the same token... we had this lovely series of footwear. Lasted two weeks, I think it was, before renaming.
(This pair disappeared in mysterious circumstances until their remains were found 45 years later by builders)
(This pair disappeared in mysterious circumstances until their remains were found 45 years later by builders)
September 4, 2025 at 6:56 PM
By the same token... we had this lovely series of footwear. Lasted two weeks, I think it was, before renaming.
(This pair disappeared in mysterious circumstances until their remains were found 45 years later by builders)
(This pair disappeared in mysterious circumstances until their remains were found 45 years later by builders)
And this is the one true F-47 (post-1947 designation system, of course)...
August 29, 2025 at 2:05 PM
And this is the one true F-47 (post-1947 designation system, of course)...
I’m reminded for some reason of the rather one-sided conversation between Mrs Thatcher and President Reagan in 1982 in which she suggested it was easy to propose ceasefires, changes in administration, etc when it wasn’t your territory which’d been invaded…
August 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I’m reminded for some reason of the rather one-sided conversation between Mrs Thatcher and President Reagan in 1982 in which she suggested it was easy to propose ceasefires, changes in administration, etc when it wasn’t your territory which’d been invaded…
The public perception of the CS circa 1983... (did it improve their rating or confirm suspicions?)
![The characters Sir Humphrey Appleby [played by Nigel Hawthorne]; Sir Arnold Robinson [John Nettleton] and Bernard Woolley [Derek Fowlds] from an episode of Yes, Minister.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:tqkkxpvhex2zd7j5qhw5rqfy/bafkreicmlngmnqh7jxev2y4kqcypsudfkb3qnsoyotlrmwrj3nhqgibuue@jpeg)
June 16, 2025 at 9:17 PM
The public perception of the CS circa 1983... (did it improve their rating or confirm suspicions?)
Approaches to Offensive Counter Air, 2025.
RAF (top) Ukraine (below)...
RAF (top) Ukraine (below)...
June 1, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Approaches to Offensive Counter Air, 2025.
RAF (top) Ukraine (below)...
RAF (top) Ukraine (below)...
"Might we have a word, Admiral?"
May 20, 2025 at 7:32 PM
"Might we have a word, Admiral?"
Well there was this from her...
[PREM19/130; Note for the Record of informal conversation between the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary, 9/7/79]
.
[PREM19/130; Note for the Record of informal conversation between the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary, 9/7/79]
.
May 12, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Well there was this from her...
[PREM19/130; Note for the Record of informal conversation between the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary, 9/7/79]
.
[PREM19/130; Note for the Record of informal conversation between the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Foreign & Commonwealth Secretary, 9/7/79]
.
Recently-declared National Security Threats to the United States of America #1 & #2:
May 5, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Recently-declared National Security Threats to the United States of America #1 & #2:
The ghost of this man would like a word...
April 7, 2025 at 11:51 AM
The ghost of this man would like a word...
The findings - tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/ui-202...
Also, it would appear that the Home Office representative went 'Ah. We appear to have blundered' before the judges made a ruling:
Also, it would appear that the Home Office representative went 'Ah. We appear to have blundered' before the judges made a ruling:
April 7, 2025 at 1:43 AM
The findings - tribunalsdecisions.service.gov.uk/utiac/ui-202...
Also, it would appear that the Home Office representative went 'Ah. We appear to have blundered' before the judges made a ruling:
Also, it would appear that the Home Office representative went 'Ah. We appear to have blundered' before the judges made a ruling:
Joint citation for Malcolm Mitchem & 'Jim' Guy (3/3)
April 7, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Joint citation for Malcolm Mitchem & 'Jim' Guy (3/3)
Allan Larden's citation (2/3)
April 7, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Allan Larden's citation (2/3)
If only a nation in Europe had long-standing design knowledge to deliver those enormous cargo aircraft (even if forced to operate from temporary headquarters elsewhere)...
March 22, 2025 at 9:08 PM
If only a nation in Europe had long-standing design knowledge to deliver those enormous cargo aircraft (even if forced to operate from temporary headquarters elsewhere)...
It's alright - they've found an alternative means of air transport... ['Who Dares Wins', Richmond Light Horse Productions / Varius, 1982]
March 21, 2025 at 12:09 PM
It's alright - they've found an alternative means of air transport... ['Who Dares Wins', Richmond Light Horse Productions / Varius, 1982]
Oh, yes - it does work, doesn’t it?
March 9, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Oh, yes - it does work, doesn’t it?
About time someone sorted out that Rev W Awdry...
(with acknowledgements)
(with acknowledgements)
March 4, 2025 at 9:33 PM
About time someone sorted out that Rev W Awdry...
(with acknowledgements)
(with acknowledgements)
Seen here at a golfing weekend, Mr Trump's nominations for the new Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Reserve:
February 26, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Seen here at a golfing weekend, Mr Trump's nominations for the new Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Federal Reserve: