stars of the show

[Craig.]

As always.
A few new formations it seemed. One included here see if you can spot it.

[61_OTU]

Curse you, your posh camera, and your working hard-drive...



Great shots Craig, what was with R2-D2 in Red 1 though?

"Stop smoke.....boop!"

Steve

[Willit Run]

Great shots, Craig!!!!

 I would love to see them perform live sometime but, I don't think they cross over the Pond do they?

[edzmen]

Great shots, Craig!!!!

 I would love to see them perform live sometime but, I don't think they cross over the Pond do they?

I think they have done on a couple of occasions, so I wouldn't rule it out.

If they can manage to get the whole team to Cyprus for winter training, I'm sure they could make a quick 'hop' across the pond to the US. Even if its just the East coast only.
But I guess they have more than enough work over the course of a season, with the UK and Europe...

Shame though...

[Omag 2.0]

Amazing! That last shot is razorsharp!  :o

[Woodlouse2002]

I havn't seen the formation in the 3rd shot before.

[Craig.]

Thanks guys.
Woody that would be a new one this year. Its called stingray.
I am not sure about this R2-D2 thing?
They do goto north america on occasion. They just got back from an airshow tour of the middle east.

[flymo]

i think the reds fo the major US airshows every other year.

sweet shots. some of my shots had a cable in the way

[61_OTU]

I am not sure about this R2-D2 thing?

Sorry.... guess you had to be there (next to me that is )

They had Red 1's instructions fed over the PA. When he gave an instruction like "smoke on" he followed it up with a command to execute it, so they all were in time. The execute command could have been "Mark!" or "Go!"....but it sounded for all the world like he was saying "Boop!".....I thought it was an R2-D2 impression.....made me laugh at the time

[Craig.]

Oooh that. I am with you now
yeah, have you noticed the guy sounds the same as every other red 1?

[SHV0151]

I saw them at the Reno Air Races in Nevada last year.  So I guess they come to the west coast

[C]

Sorry.... guess you had to be there (next to me that is )

They had Red 1's instructions fed over the PA. When he gave an instruction like "smoke on" he followed it up with a command to execute it, so they all were in time. The execute command could have been "Mark!" or "Go!"....but it sounded for all the world like he was saying "Boop!".....I thought it was an R2-D2 impression.....made me laugh at the time

It would have been go. I think it's a technique which is standard in RAF formation flying and order eg "smoke on" followed by an abrupt word "go" to initiate the execution. It is short and clipped, and often artificially pitched high so it is very audible and the other 8 pilots are in no doubt of the timing of the command.

It's even better if you can get close to a radio receiving the Red's dedicated radio frequency.

[61_OTU]

It is short and clipped, and often artificially pitched high so it is very audible and the other 8 pilots are in no doubt of the timing of the command.

Thanks Charlie, I suspected that's what it was, and to be fair to them all it clearly works, they nailed it on the smoke every time. Tremendously impressive stuff.

[beaky]

Damn sporty flying! I love those pictures...

[C]

They do goto north america on occasion. They just got back from an airshow tour of the middle east.

I can't remember the last time the Reds went to the states, if they have been at all in recent history. There would be little point in them going anyway as the market for BAE Systems aircraft in the US is almost non existant, but is a lot bigger in the places they do tour, which is generally the middle and far east...

I doubt they'd be able to fly to the States anyway. With the middle and far east they can do it in several short hops...