The Reds have been long-standing supporters of Great Ormond Street hospital.

Also, people do like to see the Red Arrows; add this to the package and it might convince more donors to go.

Those who attend will probably leave with a slightly warmer and fuzzier feeling about the RAF because the Red Arrows bothered to turn up.

And imagine the publicity if the team refused or were prevented from appearing because a bean-counter said 'no'.

Admittedly, there is personal and pecuniary gain - the latter for Great Ormond Street, the former for the sick children who just might, even if the link is indirectbe cured/enjoy a better quality of life thanks to the money raised.

Personally, I'd rather see the team support this sort of thing than be expected to turn up at taxpayers' expense to give Premiership football clubs which spend money like water the thrill of a cup final flypast...

Well that's ok then.
I am glad that my taxes are being spent wisely. Don't get me wrong, I am in favour of display teams and the Red Arrows are in my opinion one of the finest teams in the world. But, I don't want to see their allocation of defence spending being used on displays on the fringes of their remit. Of course if the full costs are being covered by the organisers of the private event that is a different story since I, as a taxpayer, would not be funding a charity collection. I would prefer to select my own charity myself (as I do) and would prefer HMG to properly finance hospitals.

Reds
 

Just seen them heading north east over the M4 A34 Junction

For those who were questioning the benefit of the Reds doing the private event today, they helped raise £73k for charity - a decent proportion of this was purely from items they themselves auctioned. All their costs were covered by the event organiser (Beardy!) and their personal appearance was greatly received (bigbluecar!) Perhaps not the traditional PR the RAF benefits from but a benefit none the less, in my opinion.:D

I am pleased that the event raised so much and that the reds generously donated towards it. Moreover I am pleased that the organisers covered the cost of the airframes, fuel, salaries allowances as well as the incidental expenses. I hope Des Browne uses this as justification to continue funding display teams, after all it saves £73k from the health budget.

Nice use of the word 'moreover'. You have a splendid career ahead of you! More use of the words 'stovepipe', 'underpin' and 'overarch' next please.

I have an overarching concern that underpinning the definition of career is the concept of bowling down hill out of control.
Couldn't manage stovepipe, must try harder.

Reds - Low Level - Wales - 17 Sep 07
 

Not all of the Reds came through the pass.I wish!

XX253 - 17 Sep 07 - Cad Pass

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0067REDS.jpg

XX266 - 17 Sep 07 - Cad Pass

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0078REDS.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0081REDS.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0082REDS.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0095REDS.jpg

Delightful pictures. These must have been taken at a favourite spot for such images.....do you have to wait around for hours to capture them!!

Teeej
Really super pics mate! Thanks for posting them!

Regards,


Sand

Are the lads in the back the engineers (the Blues)?

or a famil ride for the Blue Eagles??

Thanks for the comments!

Just up the road from Cader Idris. It is known as the 'fence-line' by aircrew and low-fly photographers and is one of a number of photographic spots. Yes sometimes a very long wait. The frustraiting part is watching fast jets coming out of adjacent passes and not turning into the one that you have chosen. All part of the fun though as you never know what is going to come around the corner!

The guys and girls in the RAF Valley Hawks are great though. They provide a good practice source for low-fly snappers, especially those starting out, with some great flying skills.

Yes. A link about them here

http://www.deltaweb.co.uk/reds/engineer.html

Some Hawks from this month.

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0729HAWK.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0186HAWK.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0748HAWK.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0618HAWK.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0068HAWK.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0689HAWK.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0588HAWK.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0171HAWK.jpg

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h2...C_0628HAWK.jpg

awesome pics Teej. What camera are you using? they're very crisp pics for a moving object

That must have been an instructor in the back waving who knew you would be there , fantastic pics

Thanks. I've been doing airshow photography for a couple of years. It's only since I've retired from the RAF this year that I've taken up snapping the low-fly routes.

All those images were taken with a Nikon D2X fitted with a Nikon Nikkor 300mm f/2.8. Perfecting and practising a good camera panning technique is also useful in achieving results.

Thanks. Those photographic spots are very well known to aircrew. Weather permitting Mon-Fri there is probably a snapper(s) somewhere on that point and several others. The waiving images were taken at the Bwlch which has three main photographic levels. Some of the guys/girls wear reflective vests so as to be noticeable to the aircrew. Sometimes you'll get 'two-fingers' to denote that they will be coming back round for a second pass.

Ahh, the two fingers denoting another pass.... thanks !!

I'll have to remember that excuse next time I'm upset at somebody :)

Thanks Teeej, you've answered some questions I've always wanted to ask.. I might just go there.. I have recently bought a Canon 400D and am looking to make the change from shooting cars to aircraft. Are there any good b&b/digs?

On another general geeky note.. are the Red Arrows g'crew blue denims certifiable to fly fast jet in?

Red Arrows groundcrew flying coveralls are made to the same specs as the pilots' red suits otherwise they would not be cleared for flight in a fast jet.

What's the hole in the top of the fuselage for, in line with the trailing edge of the wings?

Cheers,
ASI

I've sent you a PM.

I think it might have something to do with the auxiliary power unit. Is it the vent/exhaust?

Yep, starter exhaust.

When I did the Flying Supervisors' Course, they made a big issue of the number of accidents/incidents when pilots were 'showing off' to the camera.

So perhaps it's best not to advertise your presence by wearing a road-digger's yellow coat or whatever - just in case some fun detector should say "Hmm, don't like the idea of the chaps posing for snappers - someone might go a little too low or do something silly. Best we stop this sort of thing....."

I would suggest you just lurk in the weeds with your cameras - and don't tell people when you're there.

Excellent photos, by the way!

Thanks! Points noted BEagle. I personally don't wear any high viz, but some of the guys also do it for safety reasons. Sometimes you can be the only person on that whole mountainside and some of the locations are pretty remote. The last thing they want is to go rolling off a crag, hit their head go unconscious, and not get found quickly after they go overdue. I would certainly advocate that if there is a group of people on the hillside then they shouldn't use them.

Ex Reds
 

Was browsing websites about Red Arrows aircrew and am aware of the 3 year tour. Looked at 1990 and saw a Flt/Lt Paul Rogers who completed 1 year (according to the stats). What happened to him and why did he only do 1 year, just curious....

Thanks

Reds' New Paint Scheme
 

What do people think of the new paint scheme, which can be seen on the RAF website? To quote Jas Hawker:

“We needed to keep a careful balance between making our famous aircraft unrecognisable and reminding people that we are proud to represent the Royal Air Force. This is especially important when many Royal Air Force personnel are away from home, serving overseas in front line operations such as Afghanistan and Iraq. We are a visible way of reminding people of our colleagues’ hard work and professionalism in the line of duty. The change to our aircraft paint scheme will help us to do this more effectively.”

I think it looks too busy. Preferred the old one.

That mirror writing on top of the wing is pretty clever though...

What's the difference?

The big ROYAL AIR FORCE written along the side of the fuselage?!?!

Is it just me or does anyone else hate the stupid slope on the As and Y? So corporate, so naff!:ugh:

They did this on the Gnat, albeit under the forward fuselage. IMHO it looks naff:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcms/mediafi...C192BE7C5D.jpg
If any change was needed at all, I would have prefered the royal blue to extend below the white go-faster stripe full length.
The Gnat version:
http://www.militaryairshows.co.uk/ne...g_1059exp6.jpg
What goes around etc etc obviously somebody was due promotion!!

I thought the Gnat went out years ago.

Fantastic bit of politicking by Red One there.
To make a connection between "Red Arrows" and "Operational Theatres" via paint schemes and the corporate logo deserves an AFC all by itself. :yuk:

It looked good on the Gnat, whereas this abomination looks horrible, and the silly font on the As and Ys looks silly.

Bloody corporate logo.

I do find the 'Y' and 'A' slope rather annoying.

True... very politically correct!

I will so laugh if somebody at an airshow changes the 'O' of Force to an 'A'

Priceless

Anybody a 'Photoshop' geek?

the new version probably cost a mint in 'consultancy' fees....

the old Gnat version was done on a fag packet by station painters.:}

http://www.ukmams.co.uk/red.jpg

Sure other will make a better job but...

and not a geek will have you know!! :=