Red Arrows Borg
 

Just seen all ten frames transiting south, presumably to Farnborough. I was under the impression that we were only going to see '7 of 9' this season apart from the the 'Royal' displays. Are all 9 displaying at Farnborough?

Red Arrows Borg
 

Manger plus spare?

PP

If all else fails RTFQ :ugh:

Think I've just answered my own question, all 9 are doing flypasts of which there was one at Gainsborough in transit to Farnborough this morning but only '7 of 9' will be flying the displays.

Red Arrows Borg
 

I would have thought that 'manager plus spare' does indeed answer the question when discussing the make up of the 9 ship. Unless of course you've seen displays with Red 10 and the spare taking part. Didn't think so.

Apologies for trying to help...

There have been 9 in every flypast this year -Queen's Jubilee, for example (and over my house). There are only 7 cleared for aero displays, but they still have lots of jets. Let's face it, the traing machine can spare them now.

Courtney

Geeky question:

The BBC piece had pictures of a black Hawk leading the formation - in training. As I understood it (from Hawk ground school which although marvellous ;) was a few years ago now) the Reds have a different 'engine control box' which allows for faster spool up.

Have other aircraft (as Courtney says - must be spares around) recieved this mod or is the black one leading because it hasn't - but as dash one he doesn't need it? (Smooth flying, constant settings etc)

...must get out more....

I know it's not called a control box and I know it had a secondary caution linked to it..and i think it had two channels but I'm boring even myself now!

I believe that, while they didn't have enough serviceable red jets early in the 2012 training season, they borrowed a black one. It is best allocated to the boss for training for the throttle control reasons you give, and also because it doesn't have smoke.

I saw at least 1 training day this year with a Black Arrow leading.

Wot? :eek: Not one of these surely?? :eek::eek:

http://www.wingweb.co.uk/wingweb/img...er_Hunters.jpg

PP

Obviously basic math and attention to the question being asked was off the curriculum at Biggin/Cranwell the day you did selection.

So 10 frames minus "Manger plus spare" equals 8 :confused:

If it were to be a 9 ship display/flypast then 9 plus "Manger plus spare" equals 11 :confused:

As we all know this has been a tragic and unfortunate year for RAFAT, and it was well published that the team would only be flying 7 ship displays this year, so with the manager IN the spare as normal one would've expected to see 8 frames in transit, hence my question, but as CM rightly pointed out and as I later researched, all flypasts are being done as a 9 and the manager will be IN the spare making 10.

Having said all that I'd like to wish the Team a rewarding, albeit sad, season and hope to see them back to full strength next year.

Red Arrows Borg
 

Nope.

Red 10, the manager, is flying as part of the nine ship along with Red 8 for flypasts.

So, when you see a nine ship, it's the 7 display pilots plus Reds 10 and 8 (manager plus spare...)

There is no Red 9 this year.

The team intends to return to normal strength next season.

The 10th ac in a transit is Red 11, the Winco.

The black hawk will have a modded engine (limited number) but probably leading as no smoke pod mod.

Aircraft are borrowed during the winter trg/servicing season as the red aircraft undergo deep servicing.

At least that used to happen when I fixed em as a yoof.

GG

Thanks Genstabler, at last a sensible answer to the original question (CM notwithstanding )

It can be struggle, PP, can it not? I think he has got it now.:ugh:

Red Arrows Borg
 

I love condescending folk on here, it makes the website such a pleasure.

There were 9 on the ground at Farnborough yesterday!

Six got airborne about 1300 and disappeared leaving 3 on the ground.

Six returned and broke into the circuit to land about 45 minutes later (before the show proper started)

Nine remained on the ground for the rest of the day because the forecast front duly arrived and put paid to their display (one supposes)!

Airbus 380 was extremely impressive - stayed (just about) inside the airfield perimeter and never got above 160 kts (that's according to the Airbus Chief Test Pilot who was flying it - an ex-RAF Buccaneer mate who came for a beer afterwards).

Foldie:ok:

Red Arrows Borg
 

I would love to have seen that! Very impressive aircraft.

The Reds actually did a display at Cromer last year using the black hawk, who unsurprisingly was in the Red 1 position.

I can't think of any other time they've used a non Red Arrows hawk for a public display though.

It just takes time to get another one modded and painted.

Plus the time spent arguing about who needs them most, then re-negotiating the servicing contract at Valley.