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Old 22nd Jul 2019, 14:28
  #30 (permalink)  
Timelord
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Scotland
Posts: 831
Received 98 Likes on 51 Posts
Ok, reasoned explanation if I may.

When I was first in the RAF in the 70s, what Turin suggests was widely accepted. Unfortunately a lot of pilots got carried away in public and came to grief. After several display related fatalities very rigorous rules about flying in public were introduced. These require any pilot flying in public to be carefully selected, have his appointment confirmed by higher HQ, and have his or her display routine approved. This all happens before Christmas of the year before the display season. Then, in addition to their normal duties, they fly a display practice each day the weather permits. Each practice has to be supervised by a senior officer, probably the Squadron Commander. Over the winter the display altitude is slowly worked down to low level and before it can be performed in public it must receive authorisation from a very senior officer. During the season as well as the pilot an aircraft and a spare have to be provided, and if landing at the venue a team of engineers and spares dispatched by road. This is all in addition to the normal load on the squadron and it’s people, and with the current operational tempo this is often simply not possible.

If if you want more displays write to your MP and demand more money, airframes, people, spares and fewer operational commitments.
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