Key safety measures have still not been introduced on some military aircraft, two years after a Hercules crash killed 10 UK servicemen, the BBC has learned.
Key safety measures have still not been introduced on some military aircraft, two years after a Hercules crash killed 10 UK servicemen, the BBC has learned.
One former Squadron Commander described the situation as "criminally insane".
One former Squadron Commander described the situation as "criminally insane".
An inquiry said the lack of a fuel tank safety system may have contributed to the 2005 crash, the UK's single largest loss of life in the Iraq conflict.
An inquiry said the lack of a fuel tank safety system may have contributed to the 2005 crash, the UK's single largest loss of life in the Iraq conflict.
But two years on, only seven out of the military's 48 Hercules aircraft have been given the protection they need.
But two years on, only seven out of the military's 48 Hercules aircraft have been given the protection they need.
The 2005 crash occurred after ground fire caused a fuel tank explosion.
Explosive vapour
It is thought the 2005 crash occurred after ground fire caused vapour formed inside a fuel tank in the Hercules's wings to explode.
Relatives of the lost crew have been calling for explosive suppressant foam (ESF) - used in US aircraft since the Vietnam War - to be fitted to the entire Hercules fleet so the vapour cannot form.
Defence correspondent Paul Wood said the aircraft were being used so intensively in Iraq and Afghanistan it was difficult to take them away from the conflict.
I believe there's a very real chance that next time we could lose fifty or sixty people on a Hercules Nigel GilbertFormer Hercules pilot
The MoD has said the deaths would not definitely have been prevented had explosive suppressant technology been fitted, but announced in April 2006 it had decided to fit it to some Hercules aircraft.
The MoD has said the deaths would not definitely have been prevented had explosive suppressant technology been fitted, but announced in April 2006 it had decided to fit it to some Hercules aircraft.
Relatives of the lost crew have been calling for explosive suppressant foam (ESF) - used in US aircraft since the Vietnam war - to be fitted to the entire Hercules fleet.
Last October, relatives of lost crew handed a petition bearing 2,858 names demanding the measures be installed on the Hercules fleet, which is based at Lyneham, Wiltshire.
Last October they handed a petition bearing 2,858 names demanding the device for the fleet, based at Lyneham, Wiltshire.
Security
Security
In November the government said only two Hercules planes had been fitted with ESF.
Sarah Chapman, whose brother Sgt Robert O'Connor was killed in the crash, said that she believes more deaths are inevitable.
She added: "I know I will one day be writing to a family member about the loss of their loved one following a death on the Hercules aircraft."
Nigel Gilbert, a former Hercules pilot who flew with special forces in Afghanistan, said the MoD had done "too little, too late".
He went on: "I believe there's a very real chance that next time we could lose fifty or sixty people on a Hercules."
In November, the government said only two Hercules planes had been fitted with ESF.
But in a later answer to a parliamentary question armed forces minister Adam Ingram said fuel leaks were reported on two Hercules C-130 aircraft after being fitted with the foam protection to their fuel tanks.
But in a later answer to a parliamentary question armed forces minister Adam Ingram said fuel leaks were reported on two Hercules C-130 aircraft after being fitted with the foam protection to their fuel tanks.
Both were returned to the contractor for repair and subsequently returned to the front line, he said.
Both were returned to the contractor for repair and subsequently returned to the front line, he said.
'Important capability'
Mr Ingram told the House of Commons in December that "the majority" of the RAF's C-130 Hercules fleet would have ESF by the end of 2007.
Mr Ingram told the House of Commons in December that "the majority" of the RAF's C-130 Hercules fleet would have ESF by the end of 2007.
But he said he could not reveal the precise number, for security reasons.
But he said he could not reveal the precise number for security reasons.
Air Vice Marshall Andy Pulford said the RAF was doing all it could to minimise risk to aircraft crews and passengers.
He added: "I'm content we are working as rapidly as we can to fit what we see as now a very important capability to our aircraft."
The Lyneham crew members who died were Flt Lt David Stead, 35, Flt Lt Andrew Smith, 25, Flt Lt Paul Pardoel, 35, Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, 42, Chief Technician Richard Brown, 40, Flt Sgt Mark Gibson, 34, Sgt Robert O'Connor, 38, and Cpl David Williams, 37.
The Lyneham crew members who died were Flt Lt David Stead, 35, Flt Lt Andrew Smith, 25, Flt Lt Paul Pardoel, 35, Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, 42, Chief Technician Richard Brown, 40, Flt Sgt Mark Gibson, 34, Sgt Robert O'Connor, 38, and Cpl David Williams, 37.
A ninth RAF man on board, Sqn Ldr Patrick Marshall, 39, was from Strike Command Headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Acting L/Cpl Steven Jones, 25, was a soldier serving with the Royal Signals and a passenger on the Hercules.
A ninth RAF man on board, Sqn Ldr Patrick Marshall, 39, was from Strike Command Headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Acting L/Cpl Steven Jones, 25, was a soldier serving with the Royal Signals and a passenger on the Hercules.
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