how about the amount of fuel consumed punching holes in the sky
Haltonapp's right - we are in the AIR FORCE after all. We should be SAVING the fuel, not using it!
If only he could comprehend how much gets used by some of the other fleets, ...... he'd be aircrew !!
3 mins of Tornado 'burner = a whole Reds sortie!!
Just to fly the flag for a mo', UK business generated by the Red Arrows displays worldwide probably far exceeds the cost of fuel, maybe even of running the unit, but these figures are I'm sure, unavailable.
And as a 2nd stab at the RAFAT cash cow, the Reds' prescence at UK air shows generates a massive income for many UK traders and organisers (who typically try to put them on last so they can milk the "British People" for as much as poss).
engineers who could be used on a squadron short of manpower
All 85 of them ...? How many excess engineers are in stupid, non essential jobs around the RAF? Tons.
aircraft and spares used
Does the Hawk have a spares problem? Never heard of that one. You should have been on a Tornado squadron !!