Reds in US this year
From their website:-
The Red Arrows’ Hawk T1 jets will be flown to North America over three days.
This is because, as primarily training aircraft, they were not intended to refuel in the air and do not have the range to make the transatlantic crossing in one sortie.
After leaving the team’s base of RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, UK, they will be flown via several stops, including airfields in Scotland, Iceland and Greenland, before reaching Canada and eventually Halifax – the first major location of the tour.
This is because, as primarily training aircraft, they were not intended to refuel in the air and do not have the range to make the transatlantic crossing in one sortie.
After leaving the team’s base of RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, UK, they will be flown via several stops, including airfields in Scotland, Iceland and Greenland, before reaching Canada and eventually Halifax – the first major location of the tour.
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Goose Bay
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They went through Lossiemouth, Reykjavik, Narsarsauq, Iqaluit and Goose Bay before ending up in Halifax.
I saw saw the first wave of 5 arrive in Goose Bay followed a few hours later by the second wave of 6. The 12th went u/s in Iceland and came through about a week later.
They were accompanied by 2 Voyagers, an A400 and a RDAF Challenger.
I saw saw the first wave of 5 arrive in Goose Bay followed a few hours later by the second wave of 6. The 12th went u/s in Iceland and came through about a week later.
They were accompanied by 2 Voyagers, an A400 and a RDAF Challenger.
A while back the US Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Team went to to Europe.
They flew direct to Sweden from the USA....with air refueling support for their F-18's.
The flight over took just over Seven Hours flight time.
They flew direct to Sweden from the USA....with air refueling support for their F-18's.
The flight over took just over Seven Hours flight time.
Reminds me of the time standing in the shade of the Vicky Ten in the static park at Nellis in '97 at the USAF Golden Anniversary Airshow and listening to the crew politely explaining to the little old American lady that they flew it over, when she enquired as to how they got it such a big thing over to USA when she found out where they had come from.......
The poor dear did not understand as she probably did not realize it is almost as far, within about two hundred miles, across the United States as it is from the UK to the USA.
Having seen most of the Display Teams in action....the Reds stand out due to the numbers of aircraft they fly in one bunch and the formations they fly.
The American Teams fly fewer aircraft, closer together, and use front line aircraft rather than trainers.
Each team puts on a good show....but a bit different.
A good Blue Angel video......
Having seen most of the Display Teams in action....the Reds stand out due to the numbers of aircraft they fly in one bunch and the formations they fly.
The American Teams fly fewer aircraft, closer together, and use front line aircraft rather than trainers.
Each team puts on a good show....but a bit different.
A good Blue Angel video......
Probably a bit confused because the only RAF contribution to the flying display was the BBMF Spitfire Vb, painted back into its wartime Eagle Sqn markings for the show, and dismantled and airlifted to Nellis, which the commentators kept making a big thing about......
May 1972 they still had the Gnat (very fuel concious!) and their first trip to America went Keflavik, Sondrestrom, Frobisher Bay, Goose Bay, Bagotville and onwards! Support a/c were two Vulcans (one flying an hour ahead to pass actual wx. before PNR, and one with the team providing nav/comms.) We picked them up over Stornoway after their final refuel. Won't say the trip was uneventful but it was very rewarding and great fun! There was also a C-130 support a/c involved! Route doesn't seem to have changed very much. Great days and great team led by "Widgie" Dick.
Bill
Bill
That 1972 deployment was for an airshow at Dulles Intl, and possibly elsewhere. On the back of the Dulles show appearance, BDS Washington convened an 'Exchange Officers' Conference' that proved quite fun as I recall, with circa 100 of us in attendance.
I'm sure I posted this before somewhere - in Oct 71 I was on a 30 Sqn crew that took half a dozen officers associated with The Reds, including their Eng Off and one of the senior pilots Al East, to have a look at the options for the following Spring's planned tour of The States. The skipper was John Hext, who was very popular with the team as he always joined in well and complied with their needs - I gather on many Red's tasks some Herc' captains had adhered too closely to the planned chock times as if it was a normal Ascot task which didn't go down too well!
Day one we flew to Sondestrom, next day to Narssarssuaq ( Bluey West One in WW2 ferry crew parlance ), then on to Frobisher and finally Goose Bay. John was angling all the time to be given the trip the following year and he asked me to be his nav'. It was going to be 5 weeks,( and standing by for incoming ), I just didn't fancy being away from my wife and 2 very young children for that long and I was never that fond of the US - so I politely declined. Alex Nash, who later become a rotary pilot, replaced me.
I gather from what someone posted here a year or two back that 2 Hercs' supported the 5 week trip.
Day one we flew to Sondestrom, next day to Narssarssuaq ( Bluey West One in WW2 ferry crew parlance ), then on to Frobisher and finally Goose Bay. John was angling all the time to be given the trip the following year and he asked me to be his nav'. It was going to be 5 weeks,( and standing by for incoming ), I just didn't fancy being away from my wife and 2 very young children for that long and I was never that fond of the US - so I politely declined. Alex Nash, who later become a rotary pilot, replaced me.
I gather from what someone posted here a year or two back that 2 Hercs' supported the 5 week trip.
And seventy-one years earlier .....
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54 Squadron did it in three hops, Stornoway, Meeks Field (Keflavik) Bluie West One (Narsarsuaq) – Goose Bay. Six Vampires - (Mk 3) The ground crew followed in Yorks.
Reedorlabahtit ! https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarch...0-%201135.html
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/...ly-1948-136227
...
How will they have crossed the pond ?
Reedorlabahtit ! https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarch...0-%201135.html
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/...ly-1948-136227
...
Don’t fault you for that decision....five weeks away from home representing the Reds, the RAF, participating in and being a part of air shows, enjoying the fellowship of fellow airmen....with two trans-Atlantic crossings.... yeppers home and heath beats all that by a mile it does.
Danger Men documentary 2008
11 years back, there was a Channel 5 documentary when Jas Hawker was in charge, when they went across to Canada....interesting to see how the team prepped and made their merry way across the pond for the Montreal air show with the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels and local Snowbirds.
The Blues put on a very good show.
I remember seeing them when they had F-11's and thinking them impressive....then the nest year they showed up with F-4 Phantom aircraft and they WERE very impressive if only for the sheer noise they made!
I remember seeing them when they had F-11's and thinking them impressive....then the nest year they showed up with F-4 Phantom aircraft and they WERE very impressive if only for the sheer noise they made!
