DIY Red Arrows
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DIY Red Arrows
The RAF Red arrows have competition:
From the Times
From the Times
High fliers take on Red Arrows
By Becky Barrow
(Filed: 21/01/2003)
A group of "horribly successful" middle-aged men plans to become an alternative to the Red Arrows after spending £300,000 on the ultimate boy's toys.
The men, who became friends through a mutual obsession with aeroplanes, have bought two Folland Gnats and plan to become the world's first private aerobatic display team.
For not much more than the price of a new Rolls-Royce Phantom car, they bought the planes from the RAF, whose Red Arrows team used them until they were replaced by Hawks in 1979.
Kenneth Lyndon-Dykes, one of Britain's top saddle makers, said: "My love of flying is inexplicable. It's a bit like vanilla ice cream - you can't describe the taste. You just have to taste it."
The team uses two other Gnats which are owned by an aircraft maintenance company. They are looking for sponsorship and plan to perform at various events this year, including the Henley regatta and Formula One car races.
Another team member, Mark Grimshaw, the customer director of Cable & Wireless, also has a helicopter, a Seneca for "general transport" and various other atypical forms of transport.
He says that his girlfriend, Louise, tolerates his passion despite the fact that most weekends are spent at North Weald airfield in Essex practising his "slow rolls" and "fast passes".
Mr Grimshaw said: "She likes the helicopter mainly because you can get it really close to the restaurant. But she only likes flying for a purpose."
His father, a member of the Black Arrows aerobatic team, the 1950s predecessor to the Red Arrows, advised his son against flying as a career. "He said to me 'Go and earn enough money to fly aeroplanes for fun'."
Mr Grimshaw has worked for Cable & Wireless for almost nine years, and insists that his flying career has not made the telecoms industry into a part-time hobby.
Like many interests, buying the Gnats was only the beginning of a long and expensive trip into the men's savings accounts.
The jets use about two gallons of fuel simply idling on the runway before take-off.
By Becky Barrow
(Filed: 21/01/2003)
A group of "horribly successful" middle-aged men plans to become an alternative to the Red Arrows after spending £300,000 on the ultimate boy's toys.
The men, who became friends through a mutual obsession with aeroplanes, have bought two Folland Gnats and plan to become the world's first private aerobatic display team.
For not much more than the price of a new Rolls-Royce Phantom car, they bought the planes from the RAF, whose Red Arrows team used them until they were replaced by Hawks in 1979.
Kenneth Lyndon-Dykes, one of Britain's top saddle makers, said: "My love of flying is inexplicable. It's a bit like vanilla ice cream - you can't describe the taste. You just have to taste it."
The team uses two other Gnats which are owned by an aircraft maintenance company. They are looking for sponsorship and plan to perform at various events this year, including the Henley regatta and Formula One car races.
Another team member, Mark Grimshaw, the customer director of Cable & Wireless, also has a helicopter, a Seneca for "general transport" and various other atypical forms of transport.
He says that his girlfriend, Louise, tolerates his passion despite the fact that most weekends are spent at North Weald airfield in Essex practising his "slow rolls" and "fast passes".
Mr Grimshaw said: "She likes the helicopter mainly because you can get it really close to the restaurant. But she only likes flying for a purpose."
His father, a member of the Black Arrows aerobatic team, the 1950s predecessor to the Red Arrows, advised his son against flying as a career. "He said to me 'Go and earn enough money to fly aeroplanes for fun'."
Mr Grimshaw has worked for Cable & Wireless for almost nine years, and insists that his flying career has not made the telecoms industry into a part-time hobby.
Like many interests, buying the Gnats was only the beginning of a long and expensive trip into the men's savings accounts.
The jets use about two gallons of fuel simply idling on the runway before take-off.
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Ah, an intrepid ppruner in the news!
Don't think much of the "world's first private aerobatic display team" bit though - I thought The Times would employ journos who could manage a quick web search if not some actual research before writing such guff.
Don't think much of the "world's first private aerobatic display team" bit though - I thought The Times would employ journos who could manage a quick web search if not some actual research before writing such guff.
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Well, it kind of puts my cadet squadron to shame:
* Nine old wheelbarrows salvaged from somewhere, spraypainted red
* Nine old coveralls
* One pot red clothes dye
* One tape of assorted jet engine noises...
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...
...The Red Barrows!
* Nine old wheelbarrows salvaged from somewhere, spraypainted red
* Nine old coveralls
* One pot red clothes dye
* One tape of assorted jet engine noises...
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...
...The Red Barrows!
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Any military type, not necessarily fastjet.
Must admit, the same thought went through my mind, Smudger. I don't consider myself very experienced yet I can recall plenty of display accidents where the linking factor was low hours on a military type. Before you all jump down my throat, I refer to serving military, ex-military and never-been-military. Sorry to pour water on it.
Must admit, the same thought went through my mind, Smudger. I don't consider myself very experienced yet I can recall plenty of display accidents where the linking factor was low hours on a military type. Before you all jump down my throat, I refer to serving military, ex-military and never-been-military. Sorry to pour water on it.
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Yes, I don't want to appear to be a party pooper. I wish them the best of luck and I look forward to seeing them display. I flew the Gnat in the military (many years ago!) and it is no toy. I just don't want to see any more smoking holes at air displays. I admire their enterprise and I am envious that I don't possess the required wad to do it myself.. just be careful, that's all I'm saying.
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Ummm - you're acting like this is the first time Gnats have been put on the civvy register and flown - they've been flying for years, including aeros and formations such as the Delta Hunter & Gnat duo out of Kemble.
The only news here is a pair of them changing hands a new team being formed as a result - the Gnats in civilian hands thing must have been going for at least a decade now.
The only news here is a pair of them changing hands a new team being formed as a result - the Gnats in civilian hands thing must have been going for at least a decade now.
New Red Arrows
My previous scepticism on this enterprise was based on it not being done properly.
Personally I thought it was a hoax - but I now hope to see some Gnats in formation at an airshow near me.
PS- Any chance they could club together and buy a Vulcan?
Personally I thought it was a hoax - but I now hope to see some Gnats in formation at an airshow near me.
PS- Any chance they could club together and buy a Vulcan?
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Should be OK if they can get 20 - 30 hours a month and keep current flying 2 or 3 displays a week.
Overheard in a bar at one of the many airshows I displayed at.........
"A fool and his money are soon flying more aeroplane than he can handle"
Hope I'm wrong but there are some good life assurance policies available for display flying.
Overheard in a bar at one of the many airshows I displayed at.........
"A fool and his money are soon flying more aeroplane than he can handle"
Hope I'm wrong but there are some good life assurance policies available for display flying.
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Woff1965 - you could have seen Gnats in formation at Kemble last year. And certainly will this year:
http://www.classicjetairshow.co.uk
http://www.classicjetairshow.co.uk
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Reichman
Reichman,
In response to your other post thread now closed. Don't be silly, I certainly don't want to see a smoking hole from this lot. I have however seen a number of people with more money than sense do exactly that. Alot of pilots seem to think that they can do what takes years to perfect just because they have a few hours under their belt and a fistfull of money.
And by the way I have 3600hrs of high performance military flying experience and been there done that.
That said, best of luck to them
In response to your other post thread now closed. Don't be silly, I certainly don't want to see a smoking hole from this lot. I have however seen a number of people with more money than sense do exactly that. Alot of pilots seem to think that they can do what takes years to perfect just because they have a few hours under their belt and a fistfull of money.
And by the way I have 3600hrs of high performance military flying experience and been there done that.
That said, best of luck to them
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His father, a member of the Black Arrows aerobatic team, the 1950s predecessor to the Red Arrows, advised his son against flying as a career. "He said to me 'Go and earn enough money to fly aeroplanes for fun'."
Becky is a sweet girl. I have been on the receiving end of her description of aviation. She knows the City well, but flying is not her strong point.
Anyway best of luck to these guys.
Anyway best of luck to these guys.
