Red Arrows Lineup 1969?
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Birmingham
Red Arrows Lineup 1969?
Last weekend Mrs SD and I attended an antiques fair in Worcestershire. The pickings weren't good - it was really only one step up from a jumble sale - but one stall had a few bits of aviation memorabilia, including a framed print commemorating a Red Arrows display in 1969. The seller told me that it had come from a house downsizing he'd helped with and I was intrigued enough to pay the modest price asked.
I have tried to ID the signatures based on the list of previous team members at the RAF's Red Arrows team page. For 1969 that list is as follows:
Leader Sqn Ldr R G Hanna, 2 Fit Lt P R Evans, 3 Fit Lt D A Smith, 4 Fit Lt R B Duckett, 5 Fit Lt R Perreaux, 6 Fit Lt JT Kingsley, 7 Fit Lt I CH Dick, 8 Fit Lt JD Rust, 9 Sqn Ldr R P Dunn, Manager Flt Lt P Mackintosh, Engineer Fg Off G E White, Adjutant Fit Lt R Dench
Those positions don't quite match the signatures by the formation. From top to bottom of the formation drawing I can make out:
First row - Euan Perreaux
Second row - ?, Doug Smith
Third row - I Dick, J Kingsley?, ?
Fourth row - J Rust, Peter Evans
Fifth row - Dick Duckett
The lead (third row right) is definitely not Ray Hanna (examples of his signature can be found online). The first signature of the second row might possibly be Dunn, but it's hard to say.
Of the other signatures, one is clearly Ivor Broom, who some research shows was Commandant CFS at the time. The one at bottom left might be G E White (EngO). I can't make out the third, at top left.
So, who are the unknown signatures? And where is Ray Hanna's?
I have tried to ID the signatures based on the list of previous team members at the RAF's Red Arrows team page. For 1969 that list is as follows:
Leader Sqn Ldr R G Hanna, 2 Fit Lt P R Evans, 3 Fit Lt D A Smith, 4 Fit Lt R B Duckett, 5 Fit Lt R Perreaux, 6 Fit Lt JT Kingsley, 7 Fit Lt I CH Dick, 8 Fit Lt JD Rust, 9 Sqn Ldr R P Dunn, Manager Flt Lt P Mackintosh, Engineer Fg Off G E White, Adjutant Fit Lt R Dench
Those positions don't quite match the signatures by the formation. From top to bottom of the formation drawing I can make out:
First row - Euan Perreaux
Second row - ?, Doug Smith
Third row - I Dick, J Kingsley?, ?
Fourth row - J Rust, Peter Evans
Fifth row - Dick Duckett
The lead (third row right) is definitely not Ray Hanna (examples of his signature can be found online). The first signature of the second row might possibly be Dunn, but it's hard to say.
Of the other signatures, one is clearly Ivor Broom, who some research shows was Commandant CFS at the time. The one at bottom left might be G E White (EngO). I can't make out the third, at top left.
So, who are the unknown signatures? And where is Ray Hanna's?
Gnome de PPRuNe
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Too close to Croydon for comfort
Tim Nelson was the original lead in 1969 but stood down and was replaced by Ray Hanna for a fourth stint as leader during the display season. I think Terry Kingsley explains why in his book but I can't recall the reason.
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From: Royal Berkshire
Euan Perreaux was killed in early '71 during the tragic syncro pair training accident that claimed the lives of 4 Red Arrows pilots.
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From: britain
It is a well known Arthur Gibson film from 1967
Joined: Jun 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
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From: Nanaimo (CAC8)
I hadn’t seen that film before. Nicely done.
After all these years of looking at pictures of Gnats, a question suddenly occurred to me.
Why do Gnats have twin nose wheels?
After all these years of looking at pictures of Gnats, a question suddenly occurred to me.
Why do Gnats have twin nose wheels?
Joined: Mar 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: NORTHANTS
Why Gnats have 2 Nosewheels
I am not sure of the reason but I am glad because one came off after a very heavy landing due to wind shear when flown by my instructor at Valley in 1966.. The remaining one remained on but we veared off the runway and parked off piste in the grass. G meter read off the clock so aircraft Cat 3 I believe.
Joined: Mar 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: near an aeroplane
It could be as simple as available space to store the leg and stroke length needed for the oleo that precluded a single nose wheel. When you select that option, the bottom end of the oleo strut needs to be above the tire and a bit of metal, which makes for an overall longer leg if you need the same size oleo strut.
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Ayrshire
Why two nosewheels?
The short answer is 'shimmy'. The last thing you need at high speed taxi/takeoff or landing is for your nose wheel to behave like a supermarket trolley rogue wheel. There are two ways to minimise this risk, a pair of nose wheels or a 'twin contact' single tyre as used on the Jet Provost. Neither one would eliminate the problem but they would reduce the risk.
The short answer is 'shimmy'. The last thing you need at high speed taxi/takeoff or landing is for your nose wheel to behave like a supermarket trolley rogue wheel. There are two ways to minimise this risk, a pair of nose wheels or a 'twin contact' single tyre as used on the Jet Provost. Neither one would eliminate the problem but they would reduce the risk.
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: France
In case it helps the team for the later part of the season.
1 Sqn Ldr Ray G Hanna
2 Flt Lt Peter R Evans
3 Flt Lt Douglas A Smith
4 Flt Lt R B (Dickie) Duckett
5 Flt Lt R (Euan) Perreaux
6 Fit Lt J Terry Kingsley
7 Fit LtIan C H Dick
8 Fit Lt Jack D Rust
9 Sqn Ldr Richard P Dunn
Manager Flt Lt Peter Mackintosh
Engineer Flg Off George E White
Adjutant Flt Lt Ron Dench
Flt Lt Tim Nelson flew No7 in the 1966 team.
Hope this is of some help.
1 Sqn Ldr Ray G Hanna
2 Flt Lt Peter R Evans
3 Flt Lt Douglas A Smith
4 Flt Lt R B (Dickie) Duckett
5 Flt Lt R (Euan) Perreaux
6 Fit Lt J Terry Kingsley
7 Fit LtIan C H Dick
8 Fit Lt Jack D Rust
9 Sqn Ldr Richard P Dunn
Manager Flt Lt Peter Mackintosh
Engineer Flg Off George E White
Adjutant Flt Lt Ron Dench
Flt Lt Tim Nelson flew No7 in the 1966 team.
Hope this is of some help.
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Home
The left signature on the second row is most likely Phil Dunn (Red 9 in 1969). I have a copy of his signature and its pretty close. The one on the image isn't as 'tight' as the one I have but perhaps it was made after a bit of lubrication? Phil's role in the Arrows is quite unique. He was (to the best of my knowledge) the only non-RAF pilot to fly with the team, being the RAAF exchange instructor at CFS at that time. RAAF exchange QFI's to CFS during that time served on either CFS 2 Squadron (JP) at Rissy or CFS 4 Squadron (Gnat) at Kemble. One of the 1969 team was killed during a practice on 26March 1969 which would have been during the team work-up phase prior to any displays for the season. Phil got the gig (presumably) to fill the vacant slot because he was a current A2 QFI on the Gnat, on-site at Kemble where the Arrows were based and had flown in a RAAF F86 Sabre 4 ship display team back in OZ in the early 60's.
