FlightMan

One of the few things left that make me proud to be British!

Reffro

Makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time I watch them.

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I always get a tear in my eye. It doesn't matter how many times I see them they always make me proud

Iain Young

Not bad. But it would be nice if they varied their act a bit. Seen them several times over the last few years, and they've done exactly the same display every time...

Matteeboy

Just read "Sniper One" a true account of a siege in Iraq - sold in Tesco.
Has exactly the same effect! Brilliant soliders, brilliant training.

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

That is a GREAT book, totally unputtadownable (made up word )

Sniper One - Sgt. Dan Mills - Penguin Books

Matteeboy

I finished it last night - go so into it that I suddenly reached 1am without realising (considering that we have a 7 week old boy and so don't sleep as much as usual)!

My sister's bf was a sniper and used that Barrett too - awesome weapon.

Leslie

I agree with Flightman. They do change their display each year in fact, their display is the one with a touch of class which is never equalled.

I was lucky enough to fly on the Plymouth Air Display with them once, I knew the bloke I flew with very well. He was one of the two aerobatic "maniacs" and it was an experience never to be forgotten. He let me do a bit of formation flying too since I used to really like that exercise. I used to know Ray Hannah in their early days. Very impressive man.

Les

Iain Young

Well if they do, they don't change it much. I've seen them do what appears to be exactly the same display every year for the last 5 years (at Silverstone GP, air shows etc). Never seems to change as far as I can see.

I can appreciate the skill involved, but once you've seen the same thing over and over again it gets a bit tired. Having said that, they are a lot more interesting than the Red Devils or the Blue "Somethings" (the helicopter team which the name has escaped me for the moment).

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I don't understand how you can find their display boring There are nine fast jet pilots flying just feet from each other at speeds of over a few hundred MPH (not sure exactly how fast ) using just their flying skills and eyes to keep the tight formations.

I find that amazing every time I see them

Iain Young

I never said the word boring once. I said, I can appreciate the skill involved. It's just the excitement wears off watching exactly the same thing over and over and over again...

Time for some new routines I think....

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

Iain I was aiming that more at Nat really but I'll include you in it too if you like

They do change their routine every year but I imagine there's a limit to exactly how much one can do with nine fast jets

Iain Young

Fair enough . Some different formations and tricks would be good (something other than the heart with the arrow through it). Maybe some simulated dogfights as well

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I've seen the Blades a few times and they're good but I prefer the Reds because they're in jets

Leslie

The Blades are good too, different style though.

Les

Iain Young

Not seen them. What do they fly?

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

Extra 300's

The Blades

BOB.T

You can't do what an Extra 300 will do in a Hawk, they're two different beasts. That said, the Blades display I saw I thought was tame.

The Reds display isn't all about be outright exciting. It's more about the precision, seamless formation changes...it's British! Also, I think it would be a shame to lose the heart, it's iconic now!

Iain Young

Thanks

davyboy

Kind of like saying...the Pyramids or the Grand canyon is nice, but can't they do anything else?

BOB.T

Ah, the Grand Canyon, now that is awesome!

Iain Young

Erm, not really. They could change their routines. They just don't (I suspect the training would be too expensive - better to do what you already know).

I have to say though I've seen the arrows about 15 times over the last couple of years or so. If I'd seen the Sphynx that many times I'd be getting tired of that too

Hoppy

That's it! Well put Bob I have seen the Reds plenty too, and I never get tired of them. That heart is always a lump in the throat.

It aint broke, so don't fix it. Although that Sphinx could do with some mortar around the chops

DaveD

iTrader: (2)

Yep, don't forget that the Hawk planes that they fly are basic fast jet trainers - they don't do back-flips and the like! They are a stable platform that can be used to show precision flying, and that's what the Reds do.

They come in to visit us in Bristol once a year, and it's always amusing to see just how low over the A38 they can fly into Filton!

Leslie

Right on the nose Bob, as I said, they add the touch of class to formation aerobatics. Everyone likes to see the heart too.

The Hawk is a good handling machine,I have flown it a fair bit and it is pretty manoeuverable. Not supposed to do flick rolls all over the place although it would do one quite easily. They don't like you to overstress the wings with flick manoeuvres anyway. We used to do a flick roll at the top of a loop in the Jet Provost and the Chipmunk until they got snooty about it and stopped us!

Les