Scrambling (military)

Detection and monitoring of enemy aircraft, e.g. by the Chain Home radar stations, would feed into the RAF Fighter Command's Dowding system for control and management of the defenses.

[1] Every minute lost before takeoff would be advantageous to the enemy, as it could allow a pilot to gain extra height above the advancing plane formations.

During the Cold War, many NATO air forces had crews stationed in Europe on alert and scrambled whenever their airspace was penetrated.

A common tradition was that anyone at the bar who rang the bell would be required to buy a round of drinks for all present.

Crews were kept close to or in their aircraft positioned on Operational Readiness Platforms (ORP)'s at the runway, which were expected to be able to take off within a short period, such as 15 minutes, in less-than-normal situations.