Red Arrows to get F16s!
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Virginia
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I disagree. All of the things you mentioned demonstrate the utmost professionalism within the Armed Forces, and above all else they generate interest for the Services. Young children want to be fighter pilots, soldiers or the Captain of a warship. They also keep the Services in the thoughts of the general public.
Seeing RAFAT perform at an air show, the Guardsman outside significant buildings or a band playing at a homecoming parade makes the public tick and it brings communities together who otherwise wouldn't entertain each other.
Here is your problem, you have never served.
I didn't join because of the Reds, a bloke twanging away on a steel triangle or a band tooting away as a ship comes home.
If a young kid, like I was, wants to be a Pilot, then blokes spraying cherry smoke in the sky shouldn't make him join. He already has that desire.
If you ask any Sqn Cdr, Platoon Cdr or Captain what he wanted on his return from his deployment the answer would be "Job Done, and all bodies safe with their loved ones"
Money should be spent on the pointy end, not prancing about in bright red camo jackets and a big hairy hats... When was the last time we took horses into combat?
If you join, your opinion may change when your F35 is grounded, through whatever, but the Reds still make the public clap.
Idiot
Seeing RAFAT perform at an air show, the Guardsman outside significant buildings or a band playing at a homecoming parade makes the public tick and it brings communities together who otherwise wouldn't entertain each other.
Here is your problem, you have never served.
I didn't join because of the Reds, a bloke twanging away on a steel triangle or a band tooting away as a ship comes home.
If a young kid, like I was, wants to be a Pilot, then blokes spraying cherry smoke in the sky shouldn't make him join. He already has that desire.
If you ask any Sqn Cdr, Platoon Cdr or Captain what he wanted on his return from his deployment the answer would be "Job Done, and all bodies safe with their loved ones"
Money should be spent on the pointy end, not prancing about in bright red camo jackets and a big hairy hats... When was the last time we took horses into combat?
If you join, your opinion may change when your F35 is grounded, through whatever, but the Reds still make the public clap.
Idiot
No, no. Let's do away with them all; the Reds, the BBMF, the QCS, the Household Cavalry, the various bands, participation in airshows, the Edinburgh Tattoo, Trooping the Colour, anything like that because it doesn't put anything into the front line.
Then, watch the recruiting numbers crash, donations to service charities plummet, general public disinterest in the armed forces fall to zero, the defence budget fall away as the forces are no longer in the public eye. Won't that be great for morale?
By the way, O-P, you say that "If a young kid, like I was, wants to be a Pilot, then blokes spraying cherry smoke in the sky shouldn't make him join. He already has that desire."
How does he get the desire in the first place? Fast jets and big transport planes are not exactly a common sight over much of the UK these days, so shall we rely on Sunday afternoon showings of The Dam Busters?
Then, watch the recruiting numbers crash, donations to service charities plummet, general public disinterest in the armed forces fall to zero, the defence budget fall away as the forces are no longer in the public eye. Won't that be great for morale?
By the way, O-P, you say that "If a young kid, like I was, wants to be a Pilot, then blokes spraying cherry smoke in the sky shouldn't make him join. He already has that desire."
How does he get the desire in the first place? Fast jets and big transport planes are not exactly a common sight over much of the UK these days, so shall we rely on Sunday afternoon showings of The Dam Busters?
If a young kid, like I was, wants to be a Pilot
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Does anyone have any cold hard facts? Do we have any idea how many of us joined because we saw an air show - or are we just surmising/ guessing at the actual effect of display teams and public duties?
The trick here of course is to identify that pprune may not be a microcosm of the serving military and our own feelings may not map in any way shape or form to others.
The trick here of course is to identify that pprune may not be a microcosm of the serving military and our own feelings may not map in any way shape or form to others.
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Norfolk
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Quote:
Originally Posted by O-P
The cost of display teams, colourfull guards, men with recorders and triangles, nearly forgot goats, has no place within the current Military budget. If you want that cr@p, then apply to the National Lottery!
Originally Posted by O-P
The cost of display teams, colourfull guards, men with recorders and triangles, nearly forgot goats, has no place within the current Military budget. If you want that cr@p, then apply to the National Lottery!
Okay, I'll bite...
I disagree. All of the things you mentioned demonstrate the utmost professionalism within the Armed Forces
I disagree. All of the things you mentioned demonstrate the utmost professionalism within the Armed Forces
Labour's Vernon Coker was on Radio Lincs this afternoon and stated that if a Labour Government is returned at the next election and if he was the Defence Minister in that government, the Red Arrows would not only be retained but they could have whatever aircraft they wanted when their current mount need replacing. His line was "They are the very best of the best of British".
It's very easy for an Opposition Minister to make that kind of statement but IF his party is elected I wouldn't put money on it actually happening.
It's very easy for an Opposition Minister to make that kind of statement but IF his party is elected I wouldn't put money on it actually happening.
Well, I'm gobsmacked. I honestly thought this whole idea was just a load of tosh. So imagine my surprise to find out how close this is to going ahead. Suddenly being a Red just became a way more attractive prospect. Hopefully the paint scheme discussion won't hold it all up.
