Originally Posted by
Thoughtful_Flyer
Indeed but there have been plenty of rumours and stories along the current lines going right back to the days when they flew Gnats. The difference being it was easier and sadly more acceptable to sweep it all under the carpet back then. Not that they wouldn't have tried even now! However a combination of social media and more enlightened attitudes has made that far harder, although I suspect there is more still to emerge.
Indeed albeit more related to their perceived elite status.
Valley got a call one year urgently asking for bodies to help with their winter servicing / Minors etc. Off some of us went. Get to L.Riss and " who are you and what are you doing here ? "....it would have been useful to inform L.Riss before we arrived, off to Kemble...enter their eng crew room only to be told this is for Reds only, you use 4Sqdn's...then allocated to aircraft...not a Red engineer in sight or helping during our stay....which was cut short once Valley were aware. .
Also had a habit of pitching up at Valley with a load of u/s brakes and wheels whereupon they simply depleted our own stock leaving the Bay with a lot of work to service theirs and keep our own stocks at the usual levels.
As for disbanding, the outcry wouldn't come, having listened to many conversations, from the enthusiasts, but from the many event organisers for whom their appearance is a big draw for the general public