Originally Posted by
Flatus Veteranus
Its news to me that the Reds' competition (the French Tricolors, the USAF Thunderbirds, the USN Blue Angels or the Wop spagetti benders(?) are part-timers. When 208 had the Middle-East franchise we did it as a secondary duty. But usually there was not a hell of a lot else to do so we did much aerobatics. But I do not pretend that our slickness and precision matched the Reds.
The bloke who complained that the Reds are egomaniacs is either living on a different planet or has a king-sized chip. I have met them several times and found them to be a very pleasant, modest and mature bunch.
The Reds are the RAF's main point of contact with the public, and the great unwashed love them and roll up in their droves to watch them. They usually steal the show at any event they perform at. The politicians know this and the last time the Chiefs tried to scrub the Reds, Downing Street told them to sort out their ideas.
Besides, all this stuff is penis-envy from the grunts and the fisheads.
I have to say, as a fully paid up member of the great unwashed, that seeing the 'Reds' in action see's my chest swell a tad. Why? Because they are British, and they are second to none in what they do, us great unwashed DO take pride in seeing what is undoubtably extremely difficult first class precision formation aerobatics made to look easy by 9 highly skilled members of HM Armed Forces. We DO appreciate the guys/gals who keep them maintained and flying, we DO also appreciate what you guys are doing out east.
I remember watching a vid of the Red's trip to the US quite a few years ago at a show at Andrews AFB, and IIRC despite only being able to do a flat/rolling show due cloud the Septic Tanks were in awe, and that's saying something
Keep the Reds, slash the beancounters.
SF