Originally Posted by
Megaton
That is BS. The Reds aircraft are highly modified for their role. Aircraft from storage are occasionally taken from Shawbury and re-roled to the RAFAT fit but this is a fairly lengthy process. It’s not possible to rotate aircraft from other users although XX156 was painted in RAFAT colours and very occisudonally used as the spare to spare but only in non-smoking positions.
Witness the fact that one aircraft recently retired had been with the team since 1979/80.
I think there have been one or two other non-smokers over the years