Red Arrows

[Tracer]

The Red Arrows were displaying in my area this morning, so we went up to a high place and watched them. Then came back a couple of hours later to watch the Vulcan.

Bliss!

[kylie_koyote]

Wow lucky you!!

[Tommy Smith]

You saw the Vulcan! Did the earth move for you? it is loud. Good weather where you are then?

[Fairblue]

Great stuff! They are a sight, aren't they?

[Kismet]

Always nice to see them!

[Spitfire666]

The Red Arrows were displaying in my area this morning, so we went up to a high place and watched them. Then came back a couple of hours later to watch the Vulcan.

Bliss!

I love the Red Arrows, and the Vulcan is simply amazing, really awe inspiring. I always remember seeing it giving a display (at Duxford, I think), Lucky you

[Tracer]

I feel very lucky to have seen them today. Weather wasn't good - low cloud initially, then lifted and broke up into some sneaky little cumulonimbus which luckily didn't grow too much. About halfway through the Red Arrows display we had a hard shower, but being English, we just stood there pretending it wasn't happening. A few miles down the road it was bone dry.

For the Vulcan, the air was less turbulent but cloud lowered again during its display. Luckily we all saw plenty, and there was no nasty contact with the south downs. We stayed dry that time too.

There is a higher place we can go with even better viewing but sadly this being Saturday lots of other people had the same idea and there was nowhere to park, so we operated Plan B as all good aviators must.

[tiffinata]

Had to google them.
If they're anything like our RAAF Roulettes they would be fantastic!

[Fairblue]

Had to google them.
If they're anything like our RAAF Roulettes they would be fantastic!

Well, naturally, we think our Red Arrows are the best, but having never seen the Roulettes in action I could concede they might be on a par. And both teams, apparently have a great sense of humour. Check this out.

http://news.defence.gov.au/2012/11/13/a ... -movember/

[Tracer]

There is a lady Red Arrows member I believe.....I hope she was excused the Mo-off

Yes they are just jaw-droppingly amazing. No matter how often one sees something like this, it is never enough.

[dadlamassu]

I was at Armed Forces Day on Saturday in Stirling:

Acrobatics demo - Apache


Combat demo - Junglies, Apache, Lynx

Noise demo - Typhoon

Show stopper - 2 Spitfires and 1 Lancaster

Then Red Arrows!

Pity the navy could not get their Stringbag and Sea Fury to Scotland!

[Fairblue]

I was hoping to go but had to cancel at the last minute. That would have been quite a show.

[Tommy Smith]

I was at Armed Forces Day on Saturday in Stirling:
Acrobatics demo - Apache
Combat demo - Junglies, Apache, Lynx
Noise demo - Typhoon
Show stopper - 2 Spitfires and 1 Lancaster
Then Red Arrows!
Pity the navy could not get their Stringbag and Sea Fury to Scotland!

Were the Stringbag and Sea Fury due? They said there was engine trouble a couple of weeks ago... Wonder whats up.

[RAAF Spitfire Girl]

Had to google them.
If they're anything like our RAAF Roulettes they would be fantastic!

Well, naturally, we think our Red Arrows are the best, but having never seen the Roulettes in action I could concede they might be on a par. And both teams, apparently have a great sense of humour. Check this out.

http://news.defence.gov.au/2012/11/13/a ... -movember/

Thanks for the link, FB
I've only seen our Roulettes in action and they're fantastic once had a 'private viewing' when they were practicing for a show up in Brisbane and we were out driving and saw them. Pulled over and had our own private show - great stuff; and we were buzzed when they finished
Maybe on one of our visits to the UK we'll see the Red Arrows, too...

[OzBiggles1963]

This is an old clip I found on Youtube while trawling aimlessly, lol, from 2006 I think, but these South African stunt pilots skimming & 'water-skiing' on a dam in their T6 Harvards [?] is just amazing. Is this even possible to do?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYqa6DFkVzQ

[Tommy Smith]

Lovely clip, haven't seen that for ages. Definitely possible to do, along with uphill landings and flying backwards, also on my list

[OzBiggles1963]

Lovely clip, haven't seen that for ages. Definitely possible to do, along with uphill landings and flying backwards, also on my list

It must require nerves of steel & absolute finesse on the controls. Flying backwards? [now that would be, um, different, lol].

[Tracer]

I sometimes wonder how they can ever adjust to other jobs, having done something like that.

[SaintedAunt]

Oh yes, they had the Red Arrows for the Tour de France, yesterday I think. I forgot seeing them in the pleasure of seeing the Lancaster and the Spitfire.

[tiffinata]

There were some models in the shop yesterday of the Red Arrows.
I was tempted.

Lucky you, SA! One day I'll see a Lancaster.

[Fairblue]

Oh yes, they had the Red Arrows for the Tour de France, yesterday I think. I forgot seeing them in the pleasure of seeing the Lancaster and the Spitfire.

Perfectly understandable, SA. One could argue that you could see the Red Arrows any day (figuratively speaking) but Lankeys and Spitfires don't zoom across your horizon every day.

[RAAF Spitfire Girl]

... along with uphill landings and flying backwards, also on my list

Don't know about flying backwards, TS, but if you want some uphill landings (and downhill takeoffs) come fly with MAF in Papua New Guinea. Lots of steep, short strips on mountain ridges with heartstopping drop off at the end of the strip

[Tommy Smith]

I have seen clips of mission pilots working out there believe me, seriously top stuff.

It is a mass of tiny fields round here and hilly so getting your eye in for the best emergency use of what you've got seems sensible.
(Flying backwards? Have managed low ground speed in a good headwind, so picking the right day and flying backwards down the runway is a possibility).

[Spitfire666]

Lankeys and Spitfires don't zoom across your horizon every day.

This is their schedule for 2014 http://www.raf.mod.uk/bbmf/displayinfo/
They did use to supply details of the places they would fly over to and from their home, but I cannot find that now.

[SaintedAunt]

Goodness, S666, they seem to spend all their time in the air in the summer! I see the TdF wasn't on their schedule but it happened!

[auster_aiglet]

They put on a very good show over Newcastle (Co Down!) on Saturday, along with the BBMF Lancaster and the Vulcan. The Vulcan actually did a flypast with the Canberra from the previous set before doing it's own thing. Also their were a couple of Gnats, which the 'Reds' used before they got the Hawks so it was a very good show indeed. And the weather held off very well for the duration too!

Best,
Myles