Red arrows confusing display team make up
 

It seems the team are suffering an Annus horribilis this season. Transparency and truth seem to be at odds over the team now flying a seven ship full display formation as the official RAF website still shows 9 display pilots. I suspect this has not been changed otherwise it would identify the 2 team members who have moved on to 'New Duties'. Having led 2 RAF display teams and 2 civilian display teams and have undertaken over 2000 displays worldwide I know at first hand the extreme pressures placed on all display participants. I wish the team the best and look forward to seeing them display in their new format. Have a safe 2022

Cosford Airshow 12th June.

https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams...rows/the-team/

He had it as HTTPS which is a secure link, removing the S fixes it.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/...rows/the-team/


Wasn’t there 9 on the Jubilee Flypast? I suppose they must have borrowed a couple pilots as it was a straight forward flat display.

UPDATED RED ARROWS WEBSITE
 

Glad to see website updated to show the 7 display pilots but obviously done in a rush as the text for the team leader still says he leads 9 aircraft display team and display sequences still show 9 aircraft in the team. I am sure someone will attend to this and set the record straight. 10 aircraft flypast at Cranwell with me tucked in behind the leader. Happy Days.


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a9c6e0bba9.jpg

That was stated from the outset - https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...rafat-in-2022/

Mrs DD was PRO for a well known RAF Display Team in the noughties; averaged several newsworthy items on the Team's website every week. I notice that the BBMF's latest news item is a charity Dakota-pull from November 2021.

Appalling that with all the money still being poured in to airworthiness, crewing, fuel and so forth of these teams, who's raison d'etre is publicity, that the actual publicity-machine is so broken.

7 ship will become the norm moving forward, cost cuts and all that!

“Introducing the 2030 Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrow!”

Odd to see one of the team has been in it for 5 years.

You just cant drop that great picture on us rat without the story! When was that pic taken? Did you fly both the Gnat an Hawk on team display? Civy Gant painted up?

"Red Arrows confusing display team make up"???? The Red Arrows wear make up?!! Goodness me, sign of the times, I suppose.

I think Monty is still there and he must have had 16 years+ away from the frontline flying Hawks, with a short break for Aussie staff college. He has spent around a decade in the Reds in that time, so it really has been a flying club for him and I think his current stint as OC RAFAT has been extended too.

Who knew the Reds could be a dedicated career.

https://www.military-airshows.co.uk/team1.htm

Scroll down for both the original team members and the reason Bondy’s back again.

That explains the recovery to a full nine but doesn’t explain why two more pilots have left, dropping the team to a 7.

Costs? Everything else is downsized

The RAF are playing that one close to their chests (rightly IMO). The official reason is 'moved to other roles within the RAF'. We've all seen the press coverage . The RAF has a duty of care and confidentiality to those who serve, so unless something emerges like a court martial it's not fair to those who have left the team to speculate.

I watched the Reds at Teesside yesterday, all in all I think that they probably rescued the day there.
They arrived and landed, Displayed then landed, then departed again. Three displays for the price of one.
The display was good and tight dispite low cloud an a high wind across the runway, and the groungcrew mingled with the attending crowd, providing photo opps etc.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5e8f22474d.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c7cb6773b5.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a51da2a906.jpg
Teej...

Thanks for that teej! Interesting that your one airborne picture shows a 9-ship. Was that part of the display, or was the display 7-ship, as announced?

airsound