Red Arrows
 

Could someone please help settle an argument.

I'm trying to find out the approx speed that the Red Arrows are flying during their air displays.

Thanks.

Not as fast as their ego's.

But well done chaps at the Akrotiri families day.

After you had finished, the car park was clear within ten minutes and meant everyone could go home.

419 - why don't you send them an e-mail and ask the question? They're there to act as a publicity machine, and answering questions from their fans is part of the job...

.........as well as playing golf and modelling the latest fashions in sunglasses. Oh, and playing more golf!

In answer to your question...

Neeeeoooow... punchy...punchy....fast...fast..whoosh....whoosh...lookatmel ookatme!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I hope that clears everything up.

What on earth is wrong with some folk. The Arrows are indeed the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team and right back to the 1960's have always been fine ambassadors for the RAF and the UK generally. Having watched them from the first season on Gnats and been the flying display director at Sywell back in the early 1980's for their first public display on the Hawk it has indeed been a priviledge to admire their skills. I am grateful that such a team has been on the display scene for the last four decades. Thanks to all members present and past.
Cheers,
Trapper 69
:D

G-KEST

You're so right, they always give me a hard on when I see them, and then when they actually fly too, well...............:mad:

SH

Just don't ask about their recent war record........

I can't give you the speeds throughout the display, but I have a fairly accurate idea what speeds they do right at the beginning and right at the end :ugh:

About 360 indicated for most of the formation stuff, the synchros get up to a little more. Flown on a couple of trips with them and they deserve credit for the job they do in the face of unfair jibes from a lot of wannabees IMHO

I have known a few of the team members over the years and have had a bit of an insight into what the guys do. I have also flown with them on a number of occasions. I can assure you that the flying they do is very exhillarating and also very very impressive from inside the cockpit. The training regime is extremely tough and the boys work very hard, particularly in their first year. I have been very impressed with they way that the team deals with the admiring public, they are always very welcoming to all. It makes me proud that all the work they put in during their traing season as well as the time away they endure during the display season pays off and that hundreds of thousands of people want to go and see them. They remind people that the RAF is still there - we get very little publicity otherwise.
I believe that the need to slag them off is probably just jealousy. They are just a bunch of normal aircrew mates albeit selected to do they job from a large pool of us who would jump at the chance. Give them a break and perhaps take the time to say well done. They certainly took the time to congratulate the GR4 boys in Cyprus as they returned from the Gulf!!

The Reds are probably the only RAF folk the great unwashed actually know about these days - apart from gits who get themeselves into The Sun......

Long may they be spared from the beancounters' attentions!

Maple 1

"Just don't ask about their recent war record........"

At least one of their number earned a DFC during the last GW, which is probably a better war record than most of the current pprune community.

Why are so many people bitter about them - or is it just jealousy?

I wouldn't / couldn't do their job for anything, but think that they do it bloody well.

Most main section speeds around 360, as mentioned earlier, synchro loops and rolls slower, 320-330. Hope that helps.

I had the distinct pleasure to fly in Red 2 on a display a couple of years ago. The team impressed me with their professional approach and the obvious skill with which they fly. Some of the manoeuvres are difficult to describe, let alone execute.

Lots of people knock them, as evidenced here, but I have nothing but admiration for the job they do. I couldn't do it, that's for sure.

As for the speeds, Tarnished gave a sensible answer a few posts ago.

Autorev, what I was refering to was their role as 'ramp thieves' in Cyprus during the recent Gulf unplesentness, nothing more, nothing less. The lads and lasses struggling to find space for all the operational types on the base weren't overjoyed to have the Reds pitch up to do thier pre-season training - I think they should have gone and done it elsewere rather than increase the workload in the middle of live ops - unless PR is more important?

I'm jealous of all flying types, but not enought to be unable to be objective about that perticular incdent!

Never let the truth get in the way of a good whinge, Maple 01. They spent the first part of SPRING HAWK that year at St Mawgan because there was no ramp space, only arriving in Cyprus after pretty much everyone else had left. There was no conflict for ramp space so I'd give up on the cheap, ill-informed jibes.

The public perception of the Reds is almost wholly positive and that reflects upon the greater RAF - now, is that a good thing or not?

And ask the warlike bods how their formation aeros are! Both jobs take skill, bravery and application and both groups have it in spades. Valid comparisons are difficult!

Red Arrows
 

Can't knock the Reds. they are great and neccessary ambassaders for the force, like others have said, they are about the only image of the RAF that the public are allowed to be aware or proud of these days. Saw them at Biggin yesterday, the flat display unfortunately, but still very professional and excellent entertainment. What more could we ask for?

Ham Phisted
I'll just go and tell the 'ramp rats' they were wrong then, must have been a figment of their imagination :hmm: