Red Arrows “Scandal”?

[SpudLink]

I was at Silverstone last year when the Red Arrows display was 1 short. Some of the formations were changed, and some had an obvious gap.
The guy on the PA announced it was because a pilot had been taken ill suddenly that morning. I’m now wondering if that was a euphemism for hangover.

Edited by SpudLink on Wednesday 18th May 15:31

[Simpo Two]

SpudLink said:

because a pilot head taken I’ll suddenly that morning.

Gotta love predictive text, it's like doing the Times crossword. A pilot head... no that doesn't make sense, must be a pitot head. A pitot head suddenly took...? No, let me have another go...

[SpudLink]

Simpo Two said:

SpudLink said:

because a pilot head taken I’ll suddenly that morning.

Gotta love predictive text, it's like doing the Times crossword. A pilot head... no that doesn't make sense, must be a pitot head. A pitot head suddenly took...? No, let me have another go...

Doh! I should proof read my own posts.

[swampy442]

The reason behind why they're flying with with 7 is in fact, much less salacious, and doesnt involve drink (as far as I know) Standard press jumping to conclusions.
As a former blue as well back in the 90s, the groundcrew did some prodigious drinking, but the air crew rarely partook, they had a 12 hour 'bottle to throtle' rule. But the culture stems from the boss (Red 1) and if he's not a party guy, nobody is.

[anonymous-user]

swampy442 said:

The reason behind why they're flying with with 7 is in fact, much less salacious, and doesnt involve drink (as far as I know) Standard press jumping to conclusions.
As a former blue as well back in the 90s, the groundcrew did some prodigious drinking, but the air crew rarely partook, they had a 12 hour 'bottle to throtle' rule. But the culture stems from the boss (Red 1) and if he's not a party guy, nobody is.

What's the reason then?

And whats a "blue"?

[MB140]

OnTheBreadline said:

swampy442 said:

The reason behind why they're flying with with 7 is in fact, much less salacious, and doesnt involve drink (as far as I know) Standard press jumping to conclusions.
As a former blue as well back in the 90s, the groundcrew did some prodigious drinking, but the air crew rarely partook, they had a 12 hour 'bottle to throtle' rule. But the culture stems from the boss (Red 1) and if he's not a party guy, nobody is.

What's the reason then?

And whats a "blue"?

A blue is a ground maintenance engineer that fixes the planes that travel with the aircraft for displays.

Called a blue because they wear blue overalls as part of the dispatch routine.

[eccles]

swampy442 said:

The reason behind why they're flying with with 7 is in fact, much less salacious, and doesnt involve drink (as far as I know) Standard press jumping to conclusions.
As a former blue as well back in the 90s, the groundcrew did some prodigious drinking, but the air crew rarely partook, they had a 12 hour 'bottle to throtle' rule. But the culture stems from the boss (Red 1) and if he's not a party guy, nobody is.

I did see the aircrew drink once, it was at their 25 anniversary birthday party at the Fairford show in 1989.
It was put on by Shell UK and was held at a nearby army barracks. There were British Airways stewardesses hostessing the bash, an open bar, Chefs to cook you meals to order. All very posh.
The reds did a display over the venue, landed and the aircrew got a lift in a Chinook to the bash. It then went back to pick up the ground crew.
Being ex Hawk ground crew myself I knew a fair few of the lads off the Reds and a great evening was had by all with a lot alcohol consumed and much fun had. And none of us pulled a Hostie.

[Geneve]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67287479

[Fluid]

swampy442 said:

The reason behind why they're flying with with 7 is in fact, much less salacious, and doesnt involve drink (as far as I know) Standard press jumping to conclusions.
As a former blue as well back in the 90s, the groundcrew did some prodigious drinking, but the air crew rarely partook, they had a 12 hour 'bottle to throtle' rule. But the culture stems from the boss (Red 1) and if he's not a party guy, nobody is.

Aged like milk.

[S600BSB]

Two members of the team sacked and five disciplined. What a st show.

[Fluid]

I’ve read the reports and they are damming and shine the RAF in a really bad light. If they haven’t already, the whole leadership team should be dismissed from the service along with those named in the reports. Even the Scampton Station Commander is dragged over the coals in them.

[Alex Z]

It’s not pleasant reading. Hopefully the culture has genuinely changed.

[Simpo Two]

So now they just need nine ace aerobatic pilots who are also 100% politically correct. How many fighter pilots does the RAF have to choose from?

[MarkwG]

Simpo Two said:

So now they just need nine ace aerobatic pilots who are also 100% politically correct. How many fighter pilots does the RAF have to choose from?

What's "politically correct" got to do with it? Not behaving in a manner unbecoming was good enough for the previous crews.

[Tony1963]

Geneve said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67287479

And the BBC makes it even worse.



Acrobatics? Really?

[GliderRider]

MarkwG said:

Simpo Two said:

So now they just need nine ace aerobatic pilots who are also 100% politically correct. How many fighter pilots does the RAF have to choose from?

What's "politically correct" got to do with it? Not behaving in a manner unbecoming was good enough for the previous crews.

Perhaps the problem is that the Red Arrows culture HAS remained the same; its the world that has changed?

[Alex Z]

GliderRider said:

MarkwG said:

Simpo Two said:

So now they just need nine ace aerobatic pilots who are also 100% politically correct. How many fighter pilots does the RAF have to choose from?

What's "politically correct" got to do with it? Not behaving in a manner unbecoming was good enough for the previous crews.

Perhaps the problem is that the Red Arrows culture HAS remained the same; its the world that has changed?

If it’s no longer acceptable to get your cock out around people who don’t want to see it, then that’s a change for the better.

[S600BSB]

Alex Z said:

GliderRider said:

MarkwG said:

Simpo Two said:

So now they just need nine ace aerobatic pilots who are also 100% politically correct. How many fighter pilots does the RAF have to choose from?

What's "politically correct" got to do with it? Not behaving in a manner unbecoming was good enough for the previous crews.

Perhaps the problem is that the Red Arrows culture HAS remained the same; its the world that has changed?

If it’s no longer acceptable to get your cock out around people who don’t want to see it, then that’s a change for the better.

Quite right. Some of the reported behaviour is shocking. Good that action has been taken and members of the team sacked.

[aeropilot]

Tony1963 said:

Geneve said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67287479

And the BBC makes it even worse.



Acrobatics? Really?

I've seen worse from the terminally brain dead muppet journo's at the BBC......

[Eric Mc]

Tony1963 said:

And the BBC makes it even worse.



Acrobatics? Really?

"Aerobatics" is what is called a portmanteau word i.e. where two or more words are joined together. In this case the two words are "aeroplane" and "acrobatics".

I particularly like the trapeze manoeuver.