First Female Red Arrow
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The first lady to wear the coveted red suit is Sqn Ldr Lyn Johnson who has recently taken over from Ginge Paige as the Team Manager.
Lyn was born and educated in Cambridge where her family still live.
She left school to join the Royal Air Force in 1978 as an Assistant Air Traffic Controller. After serving as an airwoman at RAF Binbrook and RAF Gutersloh in Germany she was commissioned as an Air Traffic Control Officer. She subsequently went to RAF Wattisham and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus where she first encountered the Red Arrows during their annual spring training. A tour at RAF Marham was followed by the Area Radar Training Course at RAF Shawbury and time at the London Air Traffic Control Centre at West Drayton before returning to terminal controlling with Bristol University Air Squadron at Colerne. Promoted to Squadron Leader in 1998, Lyn went to RAF Valley as the Deputy Senior Air Traffic Control Officer before being short-toured to take up the post of Equerry to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; this 2 year appointment immediately preceded her move to the Red Arrows.
Lyn has a variety of interests outside of the working environment, but one of her top priorities is her dog Molly, which being a fast, lean and manoeuvrable red/tan whippet is a most appropriate addition to the Team's supporters!
26 September 2001
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But as an airtrafiker, why does she have to wear a fling suit, whats wrong with blues like all the others ground branches do in non-operational areas. Surely this is just a normal posting and therefore open to both men and women. So, whats the news here. I am sure that Lyn is a nice person and will do well in the job, but, if we made a fuss each time a woman (or for that matter a black person, asian person, homosexual/lesbian, or even a just a bloke) did a job for the first time it would be never ending. As I said before release news, not this rubbish. Sorry to go on,
Tonks
[ 23 October 2001: Message edited by: Tonkenna ]
Tonks
[ 23 October 2001: Message edited by: Tonkenna ]
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I take your point, Tonks, but what sort of news are you after?? Have you read the whole of the RAF News lately? It is also full of what some might consider tripe of the sort you find in the local rag. You don't see much of substance in Hello magazine (I'm told), but many celebs and wannabes buy it. Why? 
Don't ask me, but it's still news of a sort.
The fact is, a lot news these days is about filling space to sell papers, or if it won't do that, just doing the best filling space anyway. Positive discrimination, maybe, but to me it's just something different, and that's what some people want to read.
Whoever published it, also "so what" to them! Read it or ignore it, you choose. One thing for sure - it's certainly done its jjob in one respect: we're all talking about it
Don't ask me, but it's still news of a sort.The fact is, a lot news these days is about filling space to sell papers, or if it won't do that, just doing the best filling space anyway. Positive discrimination, maybe, but to me it's just something different, and that's what some people want to read.
Whoever published it, also "so what" to them! Read it or ignore it, you choose. One thing for sure - it's certainly done its jjob in one respect: we're all talking about it
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Capt Wideboy,
Perhaps your right, and that is probably why I don't read the RAF News cause I don't want to read "fluffy" news about how great things are. I want to know whats happening in the RAF, what is being done to solve problems like retention, a/c unserviceability, housing etc. I also want to hear about success and when things get sorted out. Not a great deal of that in the RAF news, however, it is soft, strong and thoroughly absorbant.
I think that what annoys me most about this kind of news is that some people out there are doing really good work and get no thanks whatsoever, yet "woman gets admin job" hits the headlines. I am also getting a bit tired of this first woman to do such-and-such job. I strongly beleive that if a person is good enough to do a job they should do it, I don't care what colour or make they are.
Second rant over for today. Sorry, the weather is rubbish and I still can't fly the second newest a/c in RAF service in cloud yet so I am stuck on the ground!!
Oh well bet that never gets covered in "King and Country"
Tonks
Perhaps your right, and that is probably why I don't read the RAF News cause I don't want to read "fluffy" news about how great things are. I want to know whats happening in the RAF, what is being done to solve problems like retention, a/c unserviceability, housing etc. I also want to hear about success and when things get sorted out. Not a great deal of that in the RAF news, however, it is soft, strong and thoroughly absorbant.
I think that what annoys me most about this kind of news is that some people out there are doing really good work and get no thanks whatsoever, yet "woman gets admin job" hits the headlines. I am also getting a bit tired of this first woman to do such-and-such job. I strongly beleive that if a person is good enough to do a job they should do it, I don't care what colour or make they are.
Second rant over for today. Sorry, the weather is rubbish and I still can't fly the second newest a/c in RAF service in cloud yet so I am stuck on the ground!!
Oh well bet that never gets covered in "King and Country"
Tonks
Tonks, mate - good job the lady in question wasn't in the tower at Base Aerea Gringo, Islas Malvinas, eh?
Course you would....eh? He said knowingly! Nudge, nudge, wink wink - say no more...!!
[ 23 October 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]
Course you would....eh? He said knowingly! Nudge, nudge, wink wink - say no more...!!
[ 23 October 2001: Message edited by: BEagle ]
The RAAF Roulettes had their first female pilot complete her tour last year, Roulette Six. She was delayed a year in joining after breaking her femur, skiing at Mt Hotham, and (IIRC) is currently flying a desk. Good driver, nice person, managed the hype very well, and deserved the Blue romper suit.
It's a sad indication of the way we are going.....in my day the job was done by a 'holding officer'. No RAF News spread was required, just the odd trip in the back if they were lucky. Now we need a Sqn Bleeder to make sure that the Pings make it onto Albert...give me a break.
We brought the Reds out of Jersey this year and, I must confess, was a tad (more than a 'smidgen') surprized to see a 'Red' with a smaller **** than the rest of them!
She has amazing self-control however...1 1/2 hours in the company of some pie-eating lardies, without falling for our charms? Scoff all you like, but you try it sometime!
With you Tonks on this one.
What a load of bo77acks.
[ 24 October 2001: Message edited by: EESDL ]
We brought the Reds out of Jersey this year and, I must confess, was a tad (more than a 'smidgen') surprized to see a 'Red' with a smaller **** than the rest of them!
She has amazing self-control however...1 1/2 hours in the company of some pie-eating lardies, without falling for our charms? Scoff all you like, but you try it sometime!
With you Tonks on this one.
What a load of bo77acks.
[ 24 October 2001: Message edited by: EESDL ]
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What do you reckon Fob? better than whingeing and bitching about the Balkans/Middle East eh - the Red certainly suits her colouring; whoops! must go Supreme Domestic Commander in-bound pip pip
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I can shed some light on this. News article was internally generated - for more, check tomorrow's 'Times'. Manager is not a pilot, but gets a red suit. You can argue the toss about whether it's appropriate, but so do the engineering officers and most other display teams have a similar system. Red 10 is the commentator (in red suit!) and flies the spare.
If you formed your opinion of the Reds on someone signing a photo, it's probably your loss, my friend. It's the most challenging and enjoyable flying you will ever do. Most likely it was some 80 yr old granny or 10 yr old kid who requested the photo. In the unlikely event that it was a 21 yr old nympho, well, wouldn't you?
If you formed your opinion of the Reds on someone signing a photo, it's probably your loss, my friend. It's the most challenging and enjoyable flying you will ever do. Most likely it was some 80 yr old granny or 10 yr old kid who requested the photo. In the unlikely event that it was a 21 yr old nympho, well, wouldn't you?
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A quick glance down to my Red Arrows mouse mat, ( I can’t refer to my Red Arrows underpants because I am naked) reveals that there are other wearers of the red suit who haven’t really earned it.
The two Engineering Officers (SengO & JengO to you spotters) wear the red flying suit.
But there’s never any trouble in identification because…
Q. How do you know if a pilot is a Red Arrow
A. He (or she) tells you
BOOM BOOM
Last week in Leuchars, however, the chosen off duty trade was Royal Protection Officer.
The two Engineering Officers (SengO & JengO to you spotters) wear the red flying suit.
But there’s never any trouble in identification because…
Q. How do you know if a pilot is a Red Arrow
A. He (or she) tells you
BOOM BOOM
Last week in Leuchars, however, the chosen off duty trade was Royal Protection Officer.
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The Canadian Air Force Snowbirds have a lady pilot at number 3. Check out for piccy and bio at http://www.snowbirds.dnd.ca/sb3_e.asp
How long before the MoD PR machine allows an ethnic minority to join the Pink Poseurs? No - I don't mean a lady or a black mate, I mean an ex-truckie pilot like this Canadian lady! But imagine how the airshow tannoy would sound - not just "Flt Lt Bonamate flew Harriers........." but "Flt Lt Pie-Eater is an ex-Hercules pilot who became an A2 QFI...."
Somehow I just can't see it!
Somehow I just can't see it!
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Capt Carmichael from the Canadian Snowbirds team is a bit of all right too and looks quite smart in their red flying suit - who knows but quite a new fad in red fashion may have begun! Keep buying your weekly Cosmo along with your regular copy of Flight to stay tuned!
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Ref: Capt Carmichael - if she flies the "Inner Left Wing" presumably there are also outer left, inner right etc...... What sort of aircraft is this? sounds like some kind of dragonfly.....confused over!