Red Arrows to fly with just seven aircraft for most displays because engines are so old
https://news.sky.com/story/red-arrows-to-fly-with-just-seven-aircraft-for-most-displays-because-engines-are-so-old-13547092
Posted by topotaul
Red Arrows to fly with just seven aircraft for most displays because engines are so old
https://news.sky.com/story/red-arrows-to-fly-with-just-seven-aircraft-for-most-displays-because-engines-are-so-old-13547092
Posted by topotaul
15 Comments
I remember years ago I was stuck in traffic in penarth/sully area. I was in Vinnie the Mini with the roof down. I put my head back and as I did that the red arrows flew right above my head. They were perfectly in my perspective. I’ll never forget that image, right time right place!
I know the royal household probably can’t afford it, but…
Could we upgrade the aircraft used for the red arrows? And could that upgrade budget come from the royal household?
And could we then call them, instead of the red arrows, Charlie’s angels?
I’ll admit, I thought of the pun first.
Not looking like anything being ready to replace them before their planned retirement. Especially if they would like it to be British made. Just continually putting off decisions (and spending) whilst things continue to get more and more run down
How many years did the seven Red Arrow planes have flown in the sky?
Couldn’t they use the F35 as a display aircraft? Or a EuroFighter
I was on a tidal island on a sunny day, on a low dose of shrooms, and the red arrows did a fly by and their smoke trail looked like a rainbow to me. Was unexpected and magical haha great memory.
It’s the same in Canada – the Snowbirds are at the end of their operating life, and there’s no replacement for next year, so they’ll be out of operations for the next 4+ years.
It’s kinda hard to approve replacement aircraft for a stunt team; they promote national pride, but they’re the first thing that can be cut from a military budget… especially as they can cost in the billions for a modern replacement team.
Doesn’t surprise me, this isn’t that different from the state of the operational aircraft fleet.
Ive seen the re arrows fly a couple of times now and what they do is amazing. I know its all performative stufff but they are honestly really skilled at what they do and lift the profile of our air force. They need to carry on being front and centre.
It’s pretty pathetic that they haven’t had a replacement sourced yet. There’s been concerns about the fleet getting old and nearing retirement for about a decade.
Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar ordered Hawk AJT in 2010-2020. Surely it would have been common sense to just place an order then for replacement for the Red Arrow hawks. Prioritize the export deliveries first, sure and then made a dozen for the Red Arrows.
At this point just buy some DJI drones off Ali Express
They’ll likely move to the new trainer platform of either boing/saab T7 red hawke or the british start up Aeralis jet trainer in the 2030’s
The cheapest solution would be to buy the M346, which is successful, in production and already in service with NATO allies.
Unfortunately the media would wet themselves:
1. It’s not *Bri’ish*
2. It was a joint design with the Russians at the start of its development. Even though this ended in 2000 and it doesn’t use a single gram of non-western parts, the morons in opposition have [already complained.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/34313032/raf-red-arrows-jets-russian-planes/)
The fact it’s in service with Poland of all people is apparently lost on them.
This is sad, they’re so iconic. It’s a shame they’re being neglected to the point they’re gradually falling apart. If they’re that old that they need retiring then they should proactively be looking for replacements. Not waiting until the point they’re literally unable to fly.
I get all the soft power and diplomatic/promo work they do, but as an ex airman it was hard to justify their expenditure in my head while we were constantly being told that the RAF is skint and can’t afford to buy or run the planes it needs to actually be an airforce. Even the Tempest has big question marks hanging over its future because the MOD csnt commit to its funding yet the Reds are flying most days making pretty patterns in the sky.