Red Arrows to get new aircraft...
Thread Starter
Red Arrows to get new aircraft...
Reds to get new aircraft
Eventually...
Eventually...
The Red Arrows aerobatic team will get new planes, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has confirmed.
The announcement comes as RAF stations in Lincolnshire celebrate 100 years in the county.
There has been some uncertainty in recent years whether the team based at RAF Scampton would be retained.
Sir Michael said the team's current Hawk jets need to be replaced and a decision will be made over the next couple of years.
He said it was too early to say which aircraft would replace the Hawk jets.
The announcement comes as RAF stations in Lincolnshire celebrate 100 years in the county.
There has been some uncertainty in recent years whether the team based at RAF Scampton would be retained.
Sir Michael said the team's current Hawk jets need to be replaced and a decision will be made over the next couple of years.
He said it was too early to say which aircraft would replace the Hawk jets.
Grob T120TPs. Save the defence budget a load of money. More cash for the civil servants.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grob_G_120TP
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grob_G_120TP
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Well, that certainly raises some interesting questions!
Can 'we' afford 10 shiny new fast-ish jets? And if so, will they be a stand-alone type, or something already in RAF service (which rather narrows the options!)? Or will they be some sort of smallish, cheapish, aerobatic civvy-thing which doesn't really project the RAF image? Or will it be a small number of a current military type, doing loop-the-loop in Diamond Four?
Can 'we' afford 10 shiny new fast-ish jets? And if so, will they be a stand-alone type, or something already in RAF service (which rather narrows the options!)? Or will they be some sort of smallish, cheapish, aerobatic civvy-thing which doesn't really project the RAF image? Or will it be a small number of a current military type, doing loop-the-loop in Diamond Four?
Commercial aspects.
It would seem to be a safe bet that the replacement will have to be:
1. (At least partially) British manufacture.
2. Exportable.
So that narrows the possibilities to a newer version of the Hawk or early model Typhoons?!?
KB
1. (At least partially) British manufacture.
2. Exportable.
So that narrows the possibilities to a newer version of the Hawk or early model Typhoons?!?
KB
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I foresee a shiny red fleet of MQ-9 Reapers. Pilots will be allowed to wear red flying suits but Sensor Operators must make do with blue ones. An Admin Sqn Ldr will remain as the virtual AdminO and will also be allowed to wear a red flying suit while sat in their office as long as working on team admin. During 'promotional tours' wives will be allowed to join the pilots and stay in the nearest Travelodge to the cabins.
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Good news, but i was also wondering what model it will be.
I was thinking in these days of austerity why can't the jets be currently used models such as the typhoon? Then they could be dual-role, pressed into service if needed.. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will shoot-down that idea, but i'd be interested to know why not?
I was thinking in these days of austerity why can't the jets be currently used models such as the typhoon? Then they could be dual-role, pressed into service if needed.. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will shoot-down that idea, but i'd be interested to know why not?
Hawk (in any form) seems unlikely, certainly if the industrial (and export) opportunities are a genuine and serious consideration. It's had a damn good run, but it's reached the end of line, developmentally.
Some (UK built?) version of the Northrop Grumman / BAE T-X offering may be a possibility, I imagine. In which case, you'd maybe want to look at replacement of the Hawk 'legacy' & T2 fleet early for commonality (and you're gonna need a damn site more than ten aircraft to keep The Reds going for another forty years).
Shame AT2000 / Mako - HEAT didn't result in metal (composite, actually - or so I assume) being cut, though.
Please, please - just don't let it be some pathetic prop job in the form of the Tucano replacement....
Some (UK built?) version of the Northrop Grumman / BAE T-X offering may be a possibility, I imagine. In which case, you'd maybe want to look at replacement of the Hawk 'legacy' & T2 fleet early for commonality (and you're gonna need a damn site more than ten aircraft to keep The Reds going for another forty years).
Shame AT2000 / Mako - HEAT didn't result in metal (composite, actually - or so I assume) being cut, though.
Please, please - just don't let it be some pathetic prop job in the form of the Tucano replacement....
I'd imagine that if they had, it would have formed the basis of their original pitch for the T-X requirement, rather than Hawk. Highly unlikely, although in a perfect world, it would be a most pleasing outcome for all.
I do hope that, if the job is done, it is done properly, which means high - performance of course.
When I was privy to a certain War Book, the Reds were , I believe, a designated combat reserve?
Why not, so long as a bucket of grey could be sloshed over them and weaponry activated?
Problem solved: Typhoons.
Where do I sign?
When I was privy to a certain War Book, the Reds were , I believe, a designated combat reserve?
Why not, so long as a bucket of grey could be sloshed over them and weaponry activated?
Problem solved: Typhoons.
Where do I sign?
Originally Posted by andytug
That would be some noise in a display..... one with full burner on already sets off every car alarm in a mile radius, so ten of them....
How about 22 of them and paint them black
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Daily Wail reports that China has offered to make copies of Halk trainer four Red Allows.
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Thanks, PN 
Interesting problem, innit!!
Interesting problem, innit!!
