Red Arrows

[fatboy69]

The Reds have just flown over my house in Gloucester at approx 1000 feet with white smoke trailing behind them.

Anyone know what they are doing around here at this time of night?

Awesome to see them so low.

Google search shows they were at Swanage Regatta @ 1pm with no other displays due until 11 August when they are flying in Russia!

Strange to see them so low & so late in the day with smoke trailing yet somehow a great end to the day.

There were, I believe, 8 abreast so I assume the 'missing man' is a tribute to one of the lost pilots from last year.

Edited by fatboy69 on Sunday 29th July 19:10

[Steve_D]

They fly displays which are bought and paid for.
They may do 2 or 3 displays in a busy day. You can request a fly-by if it is close to the route between displays or base. You only get smoke if they have some left and that will normally only be white (diesel).

Steve

PS Why would you fly high when you have so many excuses to fly low.

Edited by Steve_D on Sunday 29th July 20:46

[FW18]

I saw them too, just as I was coming out of work. As far as I'm aware there is nothing on in Gloucester today.

[Chrisgr31]

fatboy69 said:

There were, I believe, 8 abreast so I assume the 'missing man' is a tribute to one of the lost pilots from last year.

Edited by fatboy69 on Sunday 29th July 19:10

They are displaying as 7 or 8 this year arent they? They will be 9 for fly pasts

[fatboy69]

They flew with 7 @ RIAT, 7 @ Farnborough (I think) & 9 when the flew over the Olympic stadium on Friday although the nose lights on 2 & 8 were switched off as a tribute to the two pilots they lost year.

I am sure there were 8 flying over Gloucester tonight although I cannot be sure.

[fatboy69]

They flew with 7 @ RIAT, 7 @ Farnborough (I think) & 9 when the flew over the Olympic stadium on Friday although the nose lights on 2 & 8 were switched off as a tribute to the two pilots they lost year.

I am sure there were 8 flying over Gloucester tonight although I cannot be sure.

[fid]

Lyme Regis at 1600.

[davepoth]

Display is seven this year, but they take a spare plane with them.

[Simpo Two]

Seven... is this a permanent change I wonder?

'Diamond Seven' sounds like a party pack of cheap lager...

[fatboy69]

They are displaying with seven this year because they did not have enough time to train two new pilots therefore the decision was taken to display with seven for one year only.

Back to the full nine for next season.

[fatboy69]

davepoth said:

Display is seven this year, but they take a spare plane with them.

They had 10 parked up at RIAT!

[ninja-lewis]

Simpo Two said:

Seven... is this a permanent change I wonder?

'Diamond Seven' sounds like a party pack of cheap lager...

No. In addition to the loss of Flt Lt Jon Egging last August, Flt Lt Sean Cunningham was killed in an ejection accident last November after the season ended and Flt Lt Kirsty Moore left the team shortly before the current season began. There wasn't enough time to train more replacements.

Hence the decision to carry out displays this season with 7 aircraft while flypasts will involve 9 aircraft with the assistance of Red 10 and a former Red Arrows pilot in a spare aircraft. They should be back to 9 next season.

As for 'Diamond Seven' - it's surely got to be 'Borg' (7 of 9).