Red Arrows On The Move!!
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Isn't it R313 rather than D.
Didn't they have this problem at Cranwell - very difficult for corporate PR visits (which is what it's all about) to visit the team HQ and see the display if it's not all co-located.
Didn't they have this problem at Cranwell - very difficult for corporate PR visits (which is what it's all about) to visit the team HQ and see the display if it's not all co-located.
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Think I'm still putting my money on Leeming. I asked some of the RAFAT people about this last year and they said all the gossip about Leeming being unsuitable because of airspace/traffic etc., wasn't true. They said there'd be no problem making a transit back to Scampton to practice if necessary.
Lincolnshire? Go back to Cranwell? Surely even the MoD aren't that crazy. Coningsby? No chance, so Waddington is the only option. I guess they could be managed within the limited amount of traffic there but what about servicing, domestic and admin stuff? Not much room for that I fear. Oh well, when Sir Glenn says Lincolnshire, that's probably a good sign that they'll end up in Yorkshire. Or maybe he's thinking about Barkston Heath?!
Lincolnshire? Go back to Cranwell? Surely even the MoD aren't that crazy. Coningsby? No chance, so Waddington is the only option. I guess they could be managed within the limited amount of traffic there but what about servicing, domestic and admin stuff? Not much room for that I fear. Oh well, when Sir Glenn says Lincolnshire, that's probably a good sign that they'll end up in Yorkshire. Or maybe he's thinking about Barkston Heath?!
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BN: "Isn't it R313 rather than D".
I suppose the area designation does illustrate how disruptive the Reds would be to an airfield's normal operations. I expect that's why they moved away from Cranwell a few years ago. Wouldn't surprise me if they moved back there!
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If they went to Leeming, why transit to Scampton for 3 practices a day Dishforth is very close and very quiet, would impress everyone on the A1 as well, so extra publicity factor.
MadMark!!!
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On the insurance claim "well I was driving along the A1 in North Yorkshire, doing 85, watching the Reds in diamond nine, when I piled into several other drivers doing the same thing, as such I want to claim a against the RAF".
Not our fault civvies can't drive, and what about the A15 at Scampton, I wonder if the drivers on there were considered before the Red's moved back.
The sad thing is we / the red's probably would be held responsible and have to pay out millions, that's Dishforth out for practicing, or anywhere with a major road nearby!
Not our fault civvies can't drive, and what about the A15 at Scampton, I wonder if the drivers on there were considered before the Red's moved back.
The sad thing is we / the red's probably would be held responsible and have to pay out millions, that's Dishforth out for practicing, or anywhere with a major road nearby!
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Mad Mark is spot on. I nearly crashed in the mid 90's driving to Waddington. It was a cold and frosty morning, just passed Sleaford and the Reds came over low returning from a practice, I failed to notice the stationary traffic near Leasingham and locked up for 100 yards or more, stopped with a couple of feet to spare 
When they were at Cranwell the 3 practices a day were a major pain for any other sorties, nothing else was allowed to move for 15? mins before departure or after return. I think ATC had to work quite hard too with such a mixed circuit, not to mention the noise as they all taxied past the Mess. Not a dig at the Team, just an observation of how difficult it is to integrate them into a daily flypro at a base with another role, there was a plus side, they did a "practice" over Cranwell for our Graduation, which was greatly appreciated
When they were at Cranwell the 3 practices a day were a major pain for any other sorties, nothing else was allowed to move for 15? mins before departure or after return. I think ATC had to work quite hard too with such a mixed circuit, not to mention the noise as they all taxied past the Mess. Not a dig at the Team, just an observation of how difficult it is to integrate them into a daily flypro at a base with another role, there was a plus side, they did a "practice" over Cranwell for our Graduation, which was greatly appreciated
IIRC they moved out of RAF Cranwell when RAF Finningley moved into Cranwell, and there was not enough room for everybody, so the Reds went back to Scampton.
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Scampton will be abandoned sooner or later - seems to be as clear as anything can be. Would have gone long ago if it wasn't so expensive for the MoD to get rid of it. In an ideal world I suspect the MoD would quite like to leave the Reds at Scampton until the Hawks run out of hours, then the team and the base can be disposed-of at a stroke without anyone raising an eyebrow. But you get the impression they're way too keen to get rid of Scampton sooner rather than later. One wonders where HHA will go if they're abandoned and left with an empty airfield to pay for.
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Hmmm, no other units at Scampton other than the Reds Tim??
I grabbed a pax trip last week & whilst sitting around waiting, I spent some time chatting to the lads about a possible move.
Leeming is not at the top of the list as the transits WOULD have an impact on the trg. Last week was a good example actually, no flying am due to crappy wx however, they crammed in plenty during the afternoon & could not have done that if transiting to and from LI.
I'm glad you are so clear cut about the future of Scampton Tim, perhaps you could ring up our CO & give him the good news (assuming you can qualify your statement) as right now, nobody who actually works here has a clue.
I grabbed a pax trip last week & whilst sitting around waiting, I spent some time chatting to the lads about a possible move.
Leeming is not at the top of the list as the transits WOULD have an impact on the trg. Last week was a good example actually, no flying am due to crappy wx however, they crammed in plenty during the afternoon & could not have done that if transiting to and from LI.
I'm glad you are so clear cut about the future of Scampton Tim, perhaps you could ring up our CO & give him the good news (assuming you can qualify your statement) as right now, nobody who actually works here has a clue.
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Red Arrows on the move!
The BBC news item on the Reds move, shown last week, was old footage!
Do not believe all the media reports - well known for upping the anti! The saga of where to base the Reds has been rolling on for over 2 years and will undoubtedly be resolved,finally, when the government announce the results of the next Spending Review in April. So let's all sit tight and hope common sense will prevail. Keep the Reds at Scampton!
Do not believe all the media reports - well known for upping the anti! The saga of where to base the Reds has been rolling on for over 2 years and will undoubtedly be resolved,finally, when the government announce the results of the next Spending Review in April. So let's all sit tight and hope common sense will prevail. Keep the Reds at Scampton!
As someone suggested WARTON, why can't they practice over the Irish Sea they do so over the Med. Perhaps the Irish Sea area is not sunny enough for them so they can't have their BBQs.
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Not sure about the airspace issues over the Irish Sea, it can get busy. Wouldn't it be a big problem with no display line and limited/poor references? Plus point is I wouldn't almost crash my car watching them fly over the A15
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How about Lossie or Kinloss? Lots of airspace up there and only the sheep to complain. Would it upset all of the chaps and chapesses who will not be able to shop at Harvey Nicks or John Lewis' and who will have to mix with real aircrew who are smelly and unkempt (talking about Lossie here not Kinloss!)?
Alternatively...........See what PR08 kicks out. The loss of a Sqn or 2, a reduction in capability or the retention of a bunch of shiney jets that make pretty patterns in the air?
Wise up guys, we need kit, we need aircraft, we need better accommodation. We do not need an aerobatic team!
Alternatively...........See what PR08 kicks out. The loss of a Sqn or 2, a reduction in capability or the retention of a bunch of shiney jets that make pretty patterns in the air?
Wise up guys, we need kit, we need aircraft, we need better accommodation. We do not need an aerobatic team!
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Yashin,
that's a very narrow minded and bitter view of the Red Arrows.
Firstly, they cost as puny £5million per annum. Any overseas trips are heavily sponsored and cost the MoD very little.
Secondly, if we did bin the team, the money saved would NOT end up in the RAF purse.
The team contributes massively to recruitment (fact) and let's face it, the recruits are not exactly pouring into the AFCOs at the moment.
We are fighting 2 unpopular wars and with that in mind, we need to be showing off the other side of the RAF. The Reds do that very well & you will be hard pressed to find a member of the public who will speak badly of them. They are the focus of the team, not us.
Working at Scampton, I see the reds every day and like it or not, the public love them.
Personally, I hope the Red Arrows are never disbanded, we have very little to show joe public these days.
that's a very narrow minded and bitter view of the Red Arrows.
Firstly, they cost as puny £5million per annum. Any overseas trips are heavily sponsored and cost the MoD very little.
Secondly, if we did bin the team, the money saved would NOT end up in the RAF purse.
The team contributes massively to recruitment (fact) and let's face it, the recruits are not exactly pouring into the AFCOs at the moment.
We are fighting 2 unpopular wars and with that in mind, we need to be showing off the other side of the RAF. The Reds do that very well & you will be hard pressed to find a member of the public who will speak badly of them. They are the focus of the team, not us.
Working at Scampton, I see the reds every day and like it or not, the public love them.
Personally, I hope the Red Arrows are never disbanded, we have very little to show joe public these days.
What is needed is a showcase military establishment, to capture Joe Public's imagination, and please as many people as possible.
Instead of Gordon Brown giving China and India (2 fast growing economies and both nuclear equipped countries) £50 Million and £825 Million, spend that money rebuilding RAF Scampton and create a military base to be proud of.
Keep the Red Arrows there, move the BBMF to Scampton, and any other military display team (of any kind) that can be sensibly moved there.
Create an Armed Forces Recruitment Information Centre, where anybody who wishes to join any arm of the forces, can visit and see what is on offer, and maybe even spend a week there, in a typical service accommodation block, where they can sample service life, and get a better picture of what military life is all about.
This will cost a fair amount of money, but at least it may stop whining PC leftist luvvies saying that recruits are not correctly informed what life in the Armed Forces contains, it may even gain more recruits.
Better still, as I hate both the Reds and RAF Scampton, get rid of them both.
Instead of Gordon Brown giving China and India (2 fast growing economies and both nuclear equipped countries) £50 Million and £825 Million, spend that money rebuilding RAF Scampton and create a military base to be proud of.
Keep the Red Arrows there, move the BBMF to Scampton, and any other military display team (of any kind) that can be sensibly moved there.
Create an Armed Forces Recruitment Information Centre, where anybody who wishes to join any arm of the forces, can visit and see what is on offer, and maybe even spend a week there, in a typical service accommodation block, where they can sample service life, and get a better picture of what military life is all about.
This will cost a fair amount of money, but at least it may stop whining PC leftist luvvies saying that recruits are not correctly informed what life in the Armed Forces contains, it may even gain more recruits.
Better still, as I hate both the Reds and RAF Scampton, get rid of them both.