'Red Arrows' and the 2012 Olympics

Posted by: J.N. on 01 October 2007

There have been reports of the 'Red Arrows' possibly not being allowed to perform a display at the 2012 London olympics due to some un-PC bollocks or overt 'Britishness'.

Relevant story here.

There is a Goverment on-line petition which you can sign. I have.

Nearly 64,000 signatories so far.

Apologies if this is old news.

John.
Posted on: 01 October 2007 by GML
I've signed it.

What twat thought of this one?
Posted on: 01 October 2007 by Derek Wright
The government do not want to put the Red Arrows on the program because they still want to axe them and so cannot guarantee them to be in existence in 2012 or 2013 whenever they are ready for the games. This is in spite of what was promised as a result of the petition to keep the Red Arrows.
Posted on: 01 October 2007 by Fulcrum
"Too militaristically British?"
If memory serves me well the Australians used an F1-11 bomber during their closing ceremony...
...& people raved about how good that was!
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Tony Lockhart
As a bit of an aircraft enthusiast, to me the Red Arrows are boring, and an F1-11 with dumped fuel igniting on the reheat flames is exciting.
If the Red Arrows used a more exciting aircraft that makes some real noise and shakes the ground I might change my mind. But then the UK is too poor to have a display squadron of Typhoons. Frown

Tony
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Steve Bull
quote:
"[...]aircraft that makes some real noise and shakes the ground I might change my mind[...]

Tony

That'll be a Vulcan Bomber formation display then? Smile
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:

If the Red Arrows used a more exciting aircraft that makes some real noise and shakes the ground I might change my mind.


I think the planform of an aircraft has a something to do with its choice for use in formation display flying.

Personally, I find formation displays interesting the first time - but I'd much rather watch a lone aircraft show what its capable of.
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Exiled Highlander
Tony

I was at the Cleveland Air Show a few years back and the USAF had an F16 (I think) that came in over the field very slowly at just above stall speed and then simply went into an almost vertical climb with the most amazing roar that I could feel through my whole body....awesome stuff.

In the US The Blue Angels use F/A - 18's....much more impressive than Hawk T1 trainers that the Red Arrows use. Before anyone jumps down my throat, I'm not making a comparative comment that says the Blue Angels are bigger/better than the Red Arrows....just agreeing that the aircraft they use are much more impressive.

Cheers

Jim
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Don Atkinson
quote:
But then the UK is too poor to have a display squadron of Typhoons.


There should be a dozen 2nd-hand Tornados available shortly. A quick lick of bright red paint....and hey-presto!

On the other hand, whatever happened to the old Sea Harriers?

Cheers

Don
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Tony Lockhart
If only the CAA/EASA would allow someone to do what Mike Beachyhead has done in Cape Town with Thunder City
I saw one of the Lightnings taxiing while I was in the departure lounge a few years ago and thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Sadly he doesn't allow visitors anymore, which is a shame as I've did at least a little work on one of his Bucanneers when it was with 208 Sqn in the RAF! Perhaps if he buys a couple of Tornados I can get a job there.

Tony
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Bob McC
The Red Harriers - now that would be something unique!
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Chillkram
quote:
Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
I've did at least a little work on one of his Bucanneers when it was with 208 Sqn in the RAF!


Tony, were you ever at Lossiemouth?

Mark
Posted on: 02 October 2007 by Rico
quote:
But then the UK is too poor to have a display squadron of Typhoons.

you think you've got it tough? we *had* a squadron of "fighters" (about 18 A4-Skyhawks, updated to latest spec and wings strengthened to our wind conditions) - hardly state of the art - now they're in a warehouse (for some years) while the sale is finally agreed. We'd be lucky to have a display of former fighter pilots running around an airbase with broomsticks. I say lucky, as most of them have been absorbed by the british or australian airforces (oi you lot - fancy some fully-trained fighter pilots at nil-cost?), so we'd be lucky to have them back for broomstick display purposes. Roll Eyes
Posted on: 03 October 2007 by Tony Lockhart
quote:
Originally posted by Chillkram:
quote:
Originally posted by Tony Lockhart:
I've did at least a little work on one of his Bucanneers when it was with 208 Sqn in the RAF!


Tony, were you ever at Lossiemouth?



Mark


No. I received my posting onto Tornados the day after I completed my Bucanneer airframe course! SNAFU!

Tony
Posted on: 10 October 2007 by jason.g
How many guys here are (ex) RAF? I served nearly 18 years as an airframe Technician.
89-94 X1 (f) sqn Tornado F3 Leeming
94-95 TASF Tornado GR-1 servicing Marham
96-98 Tornado GR-4 majors St Athan
98-99 Harrier HMF Laarbruch Germany
99-2002 4 sqn Harriers Cottesmore
2002-2003 27 sqn Chinooks Odiham
2003-2005 Harrier Instructor, Wittering
2005-2006 X1 (f) sqn Tornado F3 Leeming
2006-Out on Voluntary redundancy scheme
Now unhappily resettled as an Engineering Instructor.
Wish I was back in every day.
Posted on: 10 October 2007 by PJT
quote:
Originally posted by Rico:
quote:
But then the UK is too poor to have a display squadron of Typhoons.

you think you've got it tough? we *had* a squadron of "fighters" (about 18 A4-Skyhawks, updated to latest spec and wings strengthened to our wind conditions) - hardly state of the art - now they're in a warehouse (for some years) while the sale is finally agreed. We'd be lucky to have a display of former fighter pilots running around an airbase with broomsticks. I say lucky, as most of them have been absorbed by the british or australian airforces (oi you lot - fancy some fully-trained fighter pilots at nil-cost?), so we'd be lucky to have them back for broomstick display purposes. Roll Eyes


And now they are to be coated in a latex paint so they can be parked outside to accomodate the mighty Hercules...
Posted on: 10 October 2007 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Rico:
you think you've got it tough? we *had* a squadron of "fighters" (about 18 A4-Skyhawks, updated to latest spec and wings strengthened to our wind conditions) - hardly state of the art - now they're in a warehouse (for some years) while the sale is finally agreed. We'd be lucky to have a display of former fighter pilots running around an airbase with broomsticks. I say lucky, as most of them have been absorbed by the british or australian airforces (oi you lot - fancy some fully-trained fighter pilots at nil-cost?), so we'd be lucky to have them back for broomstick display purposes. Roll Eyes


And the move made such economic sense that not even the opposition party will promise to bring them back if we vote for them...