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Red Arrows: Inside the Bubble

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Old 28th Jul 2014, 12:00
  #61 (permalink)  
 
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I don't doubt for a minute that the programme was enjoyable and entertaining..
resulted in such a dull programme.
Make your mind up WH904!

What Lincoln failed to say in his quote was; "There's no pleasing some people."
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 12:06
  #62 (permalink)  
 
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i am not well known for my positive comments on the RAF...however I think I must have been watching a different programme to most of you above. The programme was:

Good viewing and enjoyable.
Crammed in many positive messages about the RAF and life in the Services.
Demonstrated professionalism, skill and team spirit.
Role of pilots, ops support and groundcrew.
Covered the pressures on home life.
Showed normal aircrew, rather than a bunch of prima donnas.
Covered the problems of the new recruits...one finding it easy, the other not (look at the stress in his face)
Showed some of the manoeuvres
AOC 22Gp seemed normal and balanced - prob because he was RW!

One message....grow bags only look good on those who are blessed to be taller than 6', score excellent in their fitness test and wear decent shades (unlike Red 1's glasses).

I think the viewing public would have loved the programme.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 12:24
  #63 (permalink)  
 
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Make your mind up WH904!
Semantics, Sir I'm sure you know what I'm saying, if you read what I've said. As Bismark says above, the viewing public doubtless loved it, so the Beeb and the Reds are doubtless happy. But as I've explained at length, that really wasn't my point
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 13:20
  #64 (permalink)  
 
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The AOC flew on 3 of the 5 sorties over the 2 days. Need a flying suit to do that.
I tentatively apologise to AOC, although changing out of flying clothing when not flying is surely not a great imposition?
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 15:11
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Have the Reds ever failed PDA? What happens in that event?
1984? Not so much a 'fail' as a DNCO after Curly Hurst 'fell' out of his aircraft at the bottom of an opposition pair loop at Akronelli during the work-up. He was OK, but not fit to fly for a while. IIRC the first several (12?) displays of the season were cancelled while they worked up a replacement pilot - and presumably passed a PDA mid-season.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 15:28
  #66 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by MPN11
I tentatively apologise to AOC, although changing out of flying clothing when not flying is surely not a great imposition?
The rest of us don't so why should he? He's earned the right to wear the flying suit and IMHO, he can wear it whenever he chooses.

Don't understand the bitchiness over it.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 15:36
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WH904

"Well, I guess it did achieve its aim, but the whole problem is that the aim is wrong!"

You couldn't make it up!
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 15:42
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Genstabler maybe try reading and comprehending what I've actually said? Just a thought...
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 16:20
  #69 (permalink)  
 
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I know I shouldn't ........

.....but WTH.

I have NOT flown with the Reds but I did do a swop with the Hawk standards pilot who had come out with them. I got an hour with an incredibly polite ex bona mate who kept calling me "Sir" (must have been the grey hair and zimmer frame) and the other chap got 6hrs lowlevel in a Nimrod. I thought it was brilliant and he seemed to have had a nice day too.

The then Air Commode, an ex-Lightning chap? had flown out with the standards mate in Red11 I think and went off for a potter on his own and had to be "rescued".
Olympus radar were on the ball.

The lad practiced his bits of the routines and we did a practice div to Paphos and I tried a roller we then went low level and looked at ships so he got some idea of maritime stuff. All in all a smashing morning out. That's the air force I enjoyed.

The Ancient Mariner
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 16:37
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If we accept WT's pitch that the show was typical of the Beeb's current output, who would he choose to do a better job?
Channel 5? (too much of the white-cube graphics?)
Channel 4? (too intrusive and way off-message)
Disco Channel? (no-one would watch it till it was on Dave)
Martin Scorcese? (hmmm, sepia: nice)
Quentin Tarantino? (too much red, no jets left at the end)

You try....

MB

PS Mike Lloyd's swansong & last chance to wear the bag on telly? Leave him be. But that 60s mo' must go.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 17:44
  #71 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by just another jocky
The rest of us don't so why should he? He's earned the right to wear the flying suit and IMHO, he can wear it whenever he chooses.
Don't understand the bitchiness over it.
Oooh ... should I respond? Can he spell 'jockey'? Have we been here before?

I now understand. A flying suit is, in fact, a badge of merit. A furgling great badge of sweat-stained merit that says "I'm one of THEM".
Super.
Glad that's cleared up.

Back to the programme.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 18:19
  #72 (permalink)  
 
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Chips are appearing on shoulders!
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 18:27
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Minnie I don't imagine there is any prospect of anyone doing a better job. I think we're stuck with what we've got. If anyone was to invest the money and effort into a truly intelligent and informative look at the Reds, the TV companies would never take it as they'd judge it to be unexciting and unsuitable for the people they seem to cater for.

It's just regrettable that the Beeb - the one institution that was intended to stand firmly against this kind of tosh - is now one of the key offenders.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 18:41
  #74 (permalink)  
 
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Perhaps you should pen a strongly worded letter to Points-of-View WH904; "Why oh why oh why...?"
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 18:43
  #75 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by MPN11
Oooh ... should I respond? Can he spell 'jockey'? Have we been here before?

I now understand. A flying suit is, in fact, a badge of merit. A furgling great badge of sweat-stained merit that says "I'm one of THEM".
Super.
Glad that's cleared up.

Back to the programme.
Like I said.....don't understand the bitchiness.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 19:25
  #76 (permalink)  
 
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Well I really enjoyed the programme it gave an insight into how hard these guys work to perfect the display. I am not usually that big a fan of the Reds as with the austerity we suffered there were more important things to spend £6M a year on. (This view is based on the fact that most of my projects were <£10M and several were canned as savings measures - some would have made lives of our guys in the sandpit better)


A couple of times I wanted to reach over and give the drogue shackle a wiggle. I think they dealt with this issue sensitively particularly the closing shot of the memorial in the heart.


I share the concerns off 662 at #60 knowing how much the red grow bags cost with the embroidery. Yes they probably do wash but each wash degrades the material. I know salt does have a detrimental effect on the material from my experience of parachutes and the extensive/expensive testing I once commissioned.


Not sure why AOC did not qualify for a special measure grow bag. I noted the baggy ar$e but FFS I did not appreciate it would dominate the discussion on here.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 19:36
  #77 (permalink)  
 
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jaj,

He's earned the right to wear the flying suit
Cobblers! He's just too feckin' idle to change back into uniform after a sortie. Standards, my dear chap!
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 19:42
  #78 (permalink)  
 
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Cobblers! He's just too feckin' idle to change back into uniform after a sortie. Standards, my dear chap!
Perhaps Air Officers don't perspire?

Anyway, having contributed to the diversion of the topic, I am interested to read the views of 'those who know things'.
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 20:05
  #79 (permalink)  
 
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Having had two as students on their refresher courses (an A/C, Commandant designate of CFS and an AVM, Commandant des. of RAFC) I can assure you they do ! Great guys to fly with though !

C'mon guys, relax, this prog. was not aimed at us, but I actually enjoyed it with some great airborne photography !!

Reminded me too of just how hard these guys work and this year's displays are probably the best have seen, and I have been watching the Reds since they were yellow !
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Old 28th Jul 2014, 20:10
  #80 (permalink)  
 
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Just like the other Reds thread, this one has fully derailed into school yard bickering and asinine comments.

You should be proud! PPRuNe strikes again!
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