New Red 1

[Typhoon93]

Congratulations to Sqn Ldr David Montenegro.

Red Arrows get new Team Leader for 2015 season (http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/news/index.cfm?storyid=54422113-5056-A318-A88719C706AFAA74)

[Rhino power]

My uncle used to own an Austin Montenegro, an absolutely appalling car in every possible way...
I'm sure, Sqn Ldr Montenegro however, will be a fine 'Red 1'! ;)

-RP

[salad-dodger]

^^^^ warning, warning SOHF warning, warning ^^^^


S-D

[Martin the Martian]

Interesting. I always thought that Red 1 was OC Red Arrows.

[Typhoon93]

Question: Is a seat in the Reds only open to Flight Lieutenants with the exception of Red 1 who is the rank of Squadron Leader? And, would Red 1 only be promoted to Sqn Ldr after he has done so many years as a 'regular' Red as a Flt Lt?

The reason why I ask is because it seems that way and I'd like clarification to see if I am right. :)

T93

[Davef68]

Interesting. I always thought that Red 1 was OC Red Arrows.

Changed 2012/13 following the SIs into fatalities in 2011. The decision was to restructure the command structure and to appoint an OC at Wing Commander level in the same way as other Squadrons.

T93, No, there have been Red 1s in the past who were Wing Commanders and often Squadron Leaders as team members.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/50thdisplayseason/rollofhonour.cfm

[Rhino power]

It was in fact called an Austin Montego...

Well, duh... :rolleyes:

It seems, S-D has hit the mechanical fixing squarely on the head with a manually operated, kinetic impact tool!

-RP

[Typhoon93]

Thanks, Dave.

[5 Forward 6 Back]

There's been a Wg Cdr in the RAFAT chain for longer than that; one of them refreshed with me on the Hawk back in 2008 or so.

Typhoon93, Red 1 is generally a Sqn Ldr, who must have completed a tour with the team in the past. However, there have been plenty of occasions (Dicky Patounas the last one I remember, I think) where Red 1 has been selected for promotion during his final year and worn Wg Cdr rank for a period of time.

Likewise, I know plenty of Reds who've been selected for promotion from Flt Lt to Sqn Ldr and served their final year on the team as Sqn Ldrs. That's down to the mechanism of promotion boards nowadays.

[Typhoon93]

Thanks 5F6B

[NRU74]

Driving today from Swinderby to Chesterfield(ish) I was listening to Radio Lincoln.
There was an interview with the departing Red 1 - Sqn Ldr Jim Turner.
Here was an example of somone speaking with complete modesty from start to finish of the interview by a guy who had been in charge of such a high profile position- it was refreshing to hear him.
It's reassuring that there are still such blokes around.

[nutnurse]

goudie - why spoil a good joke? Wasn't there a TV show called 'Monty Nega's Flying Circus' or something?

[Davef68]

Wg Cdr RAFAT wasn't previously OC RAFAT.

One of the observations from the SI into the crash of XX179 was the irregularity of that situation.

[Sole999]

...but can the nation afford this luxury in times of austerity? So can somebody give the figures as to how much these red arrows cost annually and per hour to run the full display team?:confused:

[Bob Viking]

There's always one and today that one is you!
BV:rolleyes:

[5 Forward 6 Back]

Sure, I'll bite. Sole999, nothing. We own the jets, we own the fuel, we've downsized the front line so we don't need it, the pilots are ours anyway, and industry sponsors take care of the less. So the reds cost us about 30p a year.

[charliegolf]

o the reds cost us about 30p a year.

Sh1t! Does that mean that if I donate the WHOLE 30p, I can have my name on a jet? Brill!

CG:ok:

[skua]

MASUAS rises to the top again