Red Arrows: Inside The Bubble
Discussion
Bullett said:
It was ok but I thought it was very lightweight and relied too much on fake drama, it's raining what are they going to do!!!!!
They mentioned the selection process but didn't really do anything on it, nothing about keeping them in the air. Could have been so much better.
Yep, it really wasn't that informative but I did enjoy. Would like to have seen more on the background circus that follows them about but I guess there's only so much they want to show on TV for operational and security reasons.They mentioned the selection process but didn't really do anything on it, nothing about keeping them in the air. Could have been so much better.
Putting in on at the end of July when a lot of people will have seen them doing displays this year really limited the "drama" they were trying to create though.
I did wonder at the final say for the years display to go ahead. Would there ever be a case for, "Nah, not good enough. Years display for the Red Arrows scrapped"? Obviously if they are not safe in the air I suppose, that is with all the safety needed for such a display.
Usual caveat, I am not a pilot nor have I ever been so this is from my understanding from outside the requirements.
Usual caveat, I am not a pilot nor have I ever been so this is from my understanding from outside the requirements.
chrisxr2 said:
No chance to watch it as I am out in the desert in the UAE, but it sounds like there was next to nothing on the ground crew who actually keep the things in the air, always the same. Chris.s ex RAF Avionics tech.
Do you mean the ground support team (referred to as the 'blues')? If so, it was certainly stated yesterday that for all the work the Red Arrows do, it would not be possible to exist without the 'The Blues' (so certainly recognition there). 
jmorgan said:
Always a pleasure to see the Arrows in action. From a photography point of view, it's a real shame when there is significant cloud cover as it really dulls the background.
Unfortunately similar situation at Biggin Hill (despite my anti-cloud dance). I was using a 70-200 and I still really struggled with zoom. Some of the other chaps there has some proper lenses (100-400 etc). A chap I spoke to recommended a teleconverter (1.4) but proper Canon ones aren't exactly cheap!
Edited by g3org3y on Monday 28th July 12:56
g3org3y said:
Unfortunately similar situation at Biggin Hill (despite my anti-cloud dance). I was using a 70-200 and I still really struggled with zoom. Some of the other chaps there has some proper lenses (100-400 etc). A chap I spoke to recommended a teleconverter (1.4) but proper Canon ones aren't exactly cheap!
OT I know butEdited by g3org3y on Monday 28th July 12:56
I bought mine second hand the week before, a Canon 70-300 from MPB and the IS and USM and Auto focus were pretty much bang on and I am chuffed with the results. The old Sigma I have might auto focus by next week and might have a blur resembling something you cannot quite make out. That and the new (second hand) one was on a cropped sensor so 480mm effective I think? the IS though is absolutely superb.
Cropped. School boy error though, tracked the left hand plane on zoom and forgot the other would blur.
No want to upgrade the body to a better pixel jobby.
I enjoyed it, I just wish it was perhaps half an hour longer to focus more a little on the work of the Blues. They could have scrapped repeatedly going over the end of briefing room questions ritual every time.
"1?"
"No"
"2?"
"No"
"3"
"No"
...... repeat for all nine, several times.
The rollbacks were v.cool though, especially as they showed the difficulties that the newbies had getting to grips with them.
"1?"
"No"
"2?"
"No"
"3"
"No"
...... repeat for all nine, several times.
The rollbacks were v.cool though, especially as they showed the difficulties that the newbies had getting to grips with them.
Bullett said:
It was ok but I thought it was very lightweight and relied too much on fake drama, it's raining what are they going to do!!!!!
They mentioned the selection process but didn't really do anything on it, nothing about keeping them in the air. Could have been so much better.
There was another BBC documentary focused on the selection process 8 years ago. It covered the test flights where those on the shortlist needed to demonstrate their ability to improve rapidly (to allow for pilots who coming from frontline types as opposed to instructing on the Hawk in their most recent tour) as well as the social 'fit' and final interviews.They mentioned the selection process but didn't really do anything on it, nothing about keeping them in the air. Could have been so much better.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007chb0
Thought the latest documentary underlined the professionalism very nicely. It was probably commissioned in the wake of the 2011 deaths and soul searching so the RAF were probably had a very specific message in mind in terms of showing the team returning to business as normal with emphasis on engineering and flight safety.
jmorgan said:
OT I know but
I bought mine second hand the week before, a Canon 70-300 from MPB and the IS and USM and Auto focus were pretty much bang on and I am chuffed with the results. The old Sigma I have might auto focus by next week and might have a blur resembling something you cannot quite make out. That and the new (second hand) one was on a cropped sensor so 480mm effective I think? the IS though is absolutely superb.
Cropped. School boy error though, tracked the left hand plane on zoom and forgot the other would blur.
No want to upgrade the body to a better pixel jobby.
OT sorry chaps -I bought mine second hand the week before, a Canon 70-300 from MPB and the IS and USM and Auto focus were pretty much bang on and I am chuffed with the results. The old Sigma I have might auto focus by next week and might have a blur resembling something you cannot quite make out. That and the new (second hand) one was on a cropped sensor so 480mm effective I think? the IS though is absolutely superb.
Cropped. School boy error though, tracked the left hand plane on zoom and forgot the other would blur.
No want to upgrade the body to a better pixel jobby.
The 70-300 lens - L or non-L. The latter is held in high regard and is good value!
Back on topic:
I'm not sure when I'm seeing 'Red 2/Stew' again. I know he has a very busy schedule of shows this summer (understandably). They are uber strict in terms of time off and holidays (i.e. basically none!)
I'm more than happy to ask him any questions you guys have regarding the Red Arrows etc and hopefully get a bit more insight into things. Post here or via PM if you can think of anything and I'll do my best to get some answers.
g3org3y said:
I'm more than happy to ask him any questions you guys have regarding the Red Arrows etc and hopefully get a bit more insight into things. Post here or via PM if you can think of anything and I'll do my best to get some answers.
I'd be curious to hear what they feel about the three bird strikes they had in quick succession recently, all in the space of a fortnight. Did they amend their routine in any way to try and mitigate the chances of it happening again - or is that even possible at short notice.Their displays at Farnborough were spectacular - some of the best I've seen.
For anyone who missed it, or who is overseas like me, it's on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KlStllnBFU
I watched it last night, I wish it was a series instead of a one off. Some of the in flight shots were breathtaking. Oh to just be 1 of the 10 engineers selected.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KlStllnBFU
I watched it last night, I wish it was a series instead of a one off. Some of the in flight shots were breathtaking. Oh to just be 1 of the 10 engineers selected.
GarageQueen said:
did anyone get a clear idea of what the commands in the air were? sounded a bit snorkel like?
Only that in paired moves it's the guy on the right that issues the commands, and they always make a point of saying "right" at the end of the command, and make it two syllables ("right-ar", and not in a West Country accent) so that they both know to go on the 'ar' rather than trying to decide when the 'right' might be finishing.Interesting programme, every documentary these days has to have a bit of jeopardy to keep viewer interest - will the crossrail tunnel borer come out in the right place, will we finish this bit in time - annoying, but doesn't matter how technical the subject matter, it's always there.
Anyone else think the leader (not the 'tached guy, the other one) looked a bit like Nick Clegg?
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