Britain's Ultimate Pilots: Inside The RAF

[marksx]

New 4 part documentary starting this Sunday on BBC2:

http://www.tvguide.co.uk/detail/2221605/112056650/...

Facebook video:

https://www.facebook.com/royalairforce/videos/1015...

[Mr_B]

I like the Red Arrows, but hope this show doesn't focus on them so much as there's been a few documentaries on them. Rest sounds great though.

[Simpo Two]

Yes, I'd like to see what the other fast jet pilots do.

[speedtwelve]

FJ pilots mainly prop-up bars yarning about how amazingly attractive they are.

[rs4al]

speedtwelve said:

FJ pilots mainly prop-up bars yarning about how amazingly attractive they are.

How do you know there is a typhoon pilot in the room ?

....he'll tell you...

[frodo_monkey]

rs4al said:

How do you know there is a typhoon pilot in the room ?

Look around you - if you're on ops, there won't be a Typhoon pilot there.

[speedtwelve]

[Melchett]Behhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh![/Melchett]

[Eric Mc]

rs4al said:

speedtwelve said:

FJ pilots mainly prop-up bars yarning about how amazingly attractive they are.

How do you know there is a typhoon pilot in the room ?

....he'll tell you...

That used to be a reference to Harrier pilots.

[ecsrobin]

I think this sums up the FJ boys http://youtu.be/1BzU1sYPjzo

As for the TV show, it's 4 episodes, dead sparrows, BBMF, Chinook display and Typhoon so an hour on each team.

[anonymous-user]

Question for our fast jet anoraks: How old are the Hawks now, and are they still in service as frontline trainers? (or is it all FlighSim now??)

[stevesingo]

FANTASTIC...

Waste of resources!

Can someone can tell me what this delivers in operational capability in an age of austerity for the rest of the military?

[CrutyRammers]

stevesingo said:

FANTASTIC...

Waste of resources!

Can someone can tell me what this delivers in operational capability in an age of austerity for the rest of the military?

Display teams aren't generally for the rest of the military, they're for the public. Pride in your country, that sort of thing. All very outdated now I gather.

[perdu]

CrutyRammers said:

stevesingo said:

FANTASTIC...

Waste of resources!

Can someone can tell me what this delivers in operational capability in an age of austerity for the rest of the military?

Display teams aren't generally for the rest of the military, they're for the public. Pride in your country, that sort of thing. All very outdated now I gather.

It seems you are right CR

[SlipStream77]

stevesingo said:

FANTASTIC...

Waste of resources!

Can someone can tell me what this delivers in operational capability in an age of austerity for the rest of the military?

It's a recruiting tool, kids see the Red's and they inspire them to want to fly.

It's also a worldwide demonstration of the abilities of the RAF, they are extremely highly respected and rightly so.

The hawks they use can also be weaponised if necessary, so they have potential operational use too.

[Geneve]

The Reds are a 'national treasure'.

In financial terms, perhaps, an indulgence. But, they advertise Britain, at its best, demonstrating British standards of skill, capability and discipline to the World, and most people are very proud of that.

[ecsrobin]

stevesingo said:

FANTASTIC...

Waste of resources!

Can someone can tell me what this delivers in operational capability in an age of austerity for the rest of the military?

It is the largest promotion tool for the military, all you have to do is look on social media to see how many people follow and interact with the RAFs display teams.

I know many current RAF pilots who joined the military due to seeing the RAF display teams. So I'd say money well spent.

[Yertis]

stevesingo said:

FANTASTIC...

Waste of resources!

Can someone can tell me what this delivers in operational capability in an age of austerity for the rest of the military?

Any organisation with any kind of aspiration towards excellence will have its halo product, and for the RAF I'd argue the Reds perform that function. In "The Right Stuff" mention is made of "no bucks, no Buck Rogers" – with out funds you don't get anywhere, so keep the taxpayer on your side. Given that the RAF do most of their actual work out of the public eye the Reds show that not only do we still have an air force, but it's also skillful in whatever it undertakes.
As well as delivering a public demonstration of excellence (and I understand that the Reds are considered one of the top two or three teams in the world) within the RAF Reds will undoubtedly be seen as a benchmark for some aspects of operational flying.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

Max_Torque said:

Question for our fast jet anoraks: How old are the Hawks now, and are they still in service as frontline trainers? (or is it all FlighSim now??)

The Hawk T1 entered service in 1976 (the Reds got them in 1979).

A mixture of T1 and T1A (the version that can carry weapons) are currently operated by 208(R) Sqn at RAF Valley in the Advanced Flying Training and Tactical Weapons Training roles. However IV(R) Sqn are gradually taking over these roles with the newer Hawk T2.

100 Sqn at RAF use the Hawk T1A in the Mixd Target Facilities role, ie they play 'Red Air' for excercise purposes. They also provide the airborne assets to JFACTSU (Joint Forward Air Controller Training and Standards Unit).

And then there's the Reds...

[Boatbuoy]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

Max_Torque said:

Question for our fast jet anoraks: How old are the Hawks now, and are they still in service as frontline trainers? (or is it all FlighSim now??)

The Hawk T1 entered service in 1976 (the Reds got them in 1979).

A mixture of T1 and T1A (the version that can carry weapons) are currently operated by 208(R) Sqn at RAF Valley in the Advanced Flying Training and Tactical Weapons Training roles. However IV(R) Sqn are gradually taking over these roles with the newer Hawk T2.

100 Sqn at RAF use the Hawk T1A in the Mixd Target Facilities role, ie they play 'Red Air' for excercise purposes. They also provide the airborne assets to JFACTSU (Joint Forward Air Controller Training and Standards Unit).

And then there's the Reds...

What about the other oddballs? Does CAM still fly it's 2 T1/T1A Hawks out of Boscombe Down? And then there's 736 NAS (ex-FRADU)? Ok, so they aren't RAF, but they are in the UK fleet right? Or has all of that lot gone now?