it may be the end of the red arrows.

[Saitek]

They better not... thats one of the few things Britain has left that is the better than most if not all, that they haven't ditched. :-/ :-/

Ben

[gaztop]

If we all wrote to the Arses at the MOD and made our feelings known, maybe they would consider the impact of not having a Display Team.

RED ARROWS-BEST IN THE WORLD-NO ARGUMENTS PLEASE

[Craig.]

all the MOD would see is a nice sum of cash in the bank where they wouldnt be paying for the red arrows. The only thing that can be considered a saving point, is the fact the arrows are considered one of the best diplomatic groups the military has. As strange it may sound, that is their main job.
Also did you know small events can get a free red arrows display, if the event is on one of the routes the arrows have to take between airshows they will usually be more than happy to do a fly by and in many cases a short display for free. Many event organisers say they wont bother as they have no chance of getting them not realising that it costs nothing to try and you stand a chance of getting lucky.

[Hagar]

Can somebody give me a link to this story. I've not seen anything or heard any reports on the radio news. You might all be getting your bowels in an uproar over nothing.

[Felix/FFDS]

Actually, not a bad idea.

As an alternative, and at a lot lower cost, each squadron should commission at least three each of the classics to be built - Gloster Grebe, AW Siskin, Gloster Gamecock, Hawker Fury, Bristol Bulldog Gloster Gauntlet and Gladiator - and train their pilots to fly the things properly, and put up real shows.

None of this monkey business with slow, tied together Moths!

No.1 squadron could go whole hog and commission 12 Furies and learn to fly the No.1  formation again!

[xFLAMESx]

Personally I'd like to see the Gnat being used by The Reds again.
As for cutting costs like Craig says - get the new Hawk.
Are they Government/MoD really THAT stupid?
On second thoughts, don't answer that.

[glb]Thanx. Carl[/glb]

[HawkerTempest5]

I remember reading somewhere that it cost less to maintain the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight than it does to run the RAF's fleet of company cars. Although BBMF is run mostly on a voluntary basis it is funded by the MoD. Reading this kind of thing makes me worry about the future of the Reds and BBMF and with a Hurricane down you just wounder weather BBMF will get the funding to repair it or weather they will end up selling another Spitfire

[xFLAMESx]

Roger has a point,
although the damage was fairly minor the cost of repair on a warbird like that could and probably will run way into the thousands.
As for the Reds, if they replace the planes it will probably be just another American plane in service with the RAF.
No offence intended to our cousins across the pond but, the Reds should use British aircraft.

[glb]Thanx. Carl[/glb]