Should The Red Arrows Be Disbanded?

I with Smudger Jr on this one.

 

Just to say this poll wasn't because of any reason outside of this forum.
It was because I was curious to see what the members here thought.

I would have thought that one was a no brainer a very big no lol.

 

I voted no. I'd hate to see them go. However, if the decision to disband is made purely on financial grounds, how safe does that leave the BBMF?

Keith

 

I would have thought that one was a no brainer a very big no lol.

I forgot my crystal ball, sorry. I really should read my stars before posting a thread.

 

Disband the Red Arrows.... Sacrilege!

 

im not a brit but i say keep em flying, there will always be a need for the acrobatics they pull off,just like the blue angels, and thunderbirds

 

The MOD budget was said to have a black hole of £38 billion when Fox was in charge of defence,something which is very hard to prove as there has been conflicting evidence from military figures who have held high office who tell the tale somewhat differently.We never see the balance sheet properly audited and the whole thing becomes political.

Then look at the state of the organisation where specialist procurement people are sacked and replaced with consultants who it appears have cost so far, a sum of £600million.All for the reason of a reduced head count in the name of efficiency.As a sign of morale,there are also reports that 80% MOD staff would leave the organisation if they had the chance.There can be nothing worse to the feeling of the well being of an organisation of any employee,either in the public sector or private sector when organisations are subject to continual reorganisation.

It appears to me that a large number of policies are being generated by think tanks with little regard to the consequences of their execution.The RAF are in the position of sacking 170 pupil pilots who must have been highly motivated and proved to be technically competent but still have 150 trainee pilots marking time.As regards fast jet training,it has been said that of 80 fast jet trainees,only a dozen or so have left on the their course.The step change in fast jets now on charge and the loss of the Nimrod appears to have resulted in the RAF having to undertake a standstill pilot recruitment for about 4 years.

This brings me to the role played by The Red Arrows.This flight provides the means of extending the spread of high speed jet experience for pilots who are outside the operational squadrons but then rotate back to operation duty.Of course,the other major advantage is that Red Arrows provide excellent PR for the Royal Air Force and this model has been adopted by most air forces. But this appears to be lost on those who wish to snip away at what they see as unneccesary expenditure.

There also appears to be the unneccessary relocation of the unit over the years despite that Scampton offers the best location as regards free airspace.Each time the unit has returned to Scampton,the point has been made that Scampton offers the best airspace for training and the lack of suitable airspace is the reason for a return.Even when relocated elsewhere,it was normal to see Hawks,sometimes solitary,performing over the airfield.Once saw a Hawk give us an impromtu high speed performance low over the deserted airfield some years back.I said at time he is making the best of a deserted airspace.

The future of such a fine airfield with the facilities as Scampton has been discussed for nearly 20 years with the Red Arrows being the sole resident apart from its frequent postings to operational stations.Currently it appears a decision is to be made in the New Year about its future.However there is one thing clear as I see it,there has been no investment in the place for that time and the MOD will have to make its mind up if it wishes to maintain an excellent airfield in a good state of repair and use it or let it deteriorate.

 

In A Healthy financial climate you can indulge in this kind of PR stuff , If you can't keep
Basic social amenities open Hospitals , Police , Libraries then its time to put end to it .

 

I just saw there was a poll on. I voted No, I'd like the RAF to go upmarket and replace the Red Arrows with the Fuchsia Arrows. Now that would be stylish

 

I do hope them polls are troll pages. .cos I don't even think the daily mail has ever even reported that they might be disbanded.

 

Get Richard Branson to sponsor them...they'd still be red!

 

Like these, O?

 

Get Richard Branson to sponsor them...they'd still be red!

Ah ha, Virgin Soldiers.

 

The Canadian Armed Forces are planning to spend $750 million to replace the aging CT-114 Tutor jets flown by the Snow Birds aerial demonstration team. The Tutors are scheduled for retirement by 2020 but the controversy over this decision has already started.

 

No
They just need to get a grip of the personnel and ensure due process is always followed

 

If they can privatise air-sea rescue...

 

I suspect they are going to need all the pilots they can find for combat duty fairly soon.