I’ve never understood the reds as recruitment.
Years ago I remember when the RAF used to have a pair of jets do a “combat” display.
(it was completely made up though, but a spectacle)
one a Tornado iirc,
It was commentated, they’d run in fast together, “to find a ground target” split up, one fly loud “top cover”, one do a low run as a flash bang was set off on the ground. (It went on for a while longer than that)
As a kid it was far more exciting than the reds.
I’ve seen them a number of times, it’s all very skilful and all, but when I think of exciting flying, I think of single aero’s, half Cubans, tight loops, that display.
That makes kids dream and go “cor, I want to fly, I want to be a knight of the air”.
I’d disband the reds tomorrow, there are so many better displays I could make up off the top of my head with a pair of fast jets, or a few Spitfires, than 9 aircraft flying around in slow tight formations, or the faux jeopardy of the synchro pair.
The Typhoon display is what people talk about after an airshow, not the reds.