Red Arrows “Scandal”?
Discussion
So the Red’s are flying with 7 aircraft this year, after two pilots were assigned elsewhere. Apparently there is some form of investigation being carried out by the head of the RAF.
I get these guys “work hard and play hard”, but this sounds a bit more serious than a drunken night out?
I get these guys “work hard and play hard”, but this sounds a bit more serious than a drunken night out?
Petrus1983 said:
Weirdly I was talking to a friend about pilots and drinking yesterday and she was telling me some of the stories from when her dad was a Tornado pilot in the RAF - she literally used the words “drinking culture”. Some good stories though - I’ve just sent the article to her.
When I first joined in the late 90s, there was definitely a drinking culture. Now.....not so much (unless you're not flying the next day 
). The rules for alcohol vs flying are closely aligned with the civilian rules, which are very strict and the RAF takes a extremely dim view of transgressions. It's simply not worth the risk of losing your job and/or pension nowadays.
Not a good period for the reds with a former one convicted last month of uploading indecent images.
Unfortunately drinking culture is/was very much part of the military I was in for 17 years. It was very much part and parcel of military/Squadron life pretty much until the end of my career, although I understand it has changed a lot in the 9 years since I left. It was pretty much a badge of honour to be able to party hard and turn up for work just about able to jump into an aircraft, even if you had to walk to work because you were unfit to drive. A culture that was rooted in young men in various wars getting wasted every night, because there was a reasonable chance they would be killed the next day and entirely understandable behaviour too. But, not compatible with peacetime flying and I am gobsmacked it has taken this long to change.
Unfortunately drinking culture is/was very much part of the military I was in for 17 years. It was very much part and parcel of military/Squadron life pretty much until the end of my career, although I understand it has changed a lot in the 9 years since I left. It was pretty much a badge of honour to be able to party hard and turn up for work just about able to jump into an aircraft, even if you had to walk to work because you were unfit to drive. A culture that was rooted in young men in various wars getting wasted every night, because there was a reasonable chance they would be killed the next day and entirely understandable behaviour too. But, not compatible with peacetime flying and I am gobsmacked it has taken this long to change.
Siko said:
Unfortunately drinking culture is/was very much part of the military
I have no military connections, but stumbled across a group of about 10 young British soldiers staying at a German hotel two weeks ago. They were by the bar watching football on the TV. Their behaviour was exemplary and a real credit to their organisation. None of them were drinking alcohol.I used to work in hotel in Lincoln and we used to have a lot of foreign fast jet crews staying with us who were training out of Waddington/Scampton
Put it this way....I've seen them go straight from the residents bar at 6am into the minibus to the airbase and straight onto fast jets. Supposedly they could alter the air supply to sober them up faster.....not sure how true that was.
Our bar was a Sports Bar with sports equipment on the walls and a staircase in the centre. It became tradition that the Norwegian Aircrew would take the ski's off the wall and try and ski down the staircase when pissed......
Put it this way....I've seen them go straight from the residents bar at 6am into the minibus to the airbase and straight onto fast jets. Supposedly they could alter the air supply to sober them up faster.....not sure how true that was.
Our bar was a Sports Bar with sports equipment on the walls and a staircase in the centre. It became tradition that the Norwegian Aircrew would take the ski's off the wall and try and ski down the staircase when pissed......
Ben Jk said:
ISupposedly they could alter the air supply to sober them up faster.....not sure how true that was.
I can confirm that little snifter of 100% Pure O2 does temporarily cure a hangover symptoms but, as a few others have mentioned, that "Drinking Culture" has now mostly died out in the RAF which is now way more focused towards gyms/fitness than ever before.IanH755 said:
I can confirm that little snifter of 100% Pure O2 does temporarily cure a hangover symptoms but, as a few others have mentioned, that "Drinking Culture" has now mostly died out in the RAF which is now way more focused towards gyms/fitness than ever before.
Yep exactly that, I left about 8 years ago and even then the drinking culture was on its way out, bop nights was about 4-5 people on a regular basis unless a function and by 5pm on a Friday most people had left camp. In my early career I think we managed around a month of continuous drinking in the evenings/weekends before we felt we needed to stop!
Now as has been touched on it’s the gym and I do know of a bar that’s been turned into an e-gaming centre.
Ben Jk said:
I used to work in hotel in Lincoln and we used to have a lot of foreign fast jet crews staying with us who were training out of Waddington/Scampton
Put it this way....I've seen them go straight from the residents bar at 6am into the minibus to the airbase and straight onto fast jets. Supposedly they could alter the air supply to sober them up faster.....not sure how true that was.
Our bar was a Sports Bar with sports equipment on the walls and a staircase in the centre. It became tradition that the Norwegian Aircrew would take the ski's off the wall and try and ski down the staircase when pissed......
Granted - this was back in 2003 so the culture has probably changed a lot now. Put it this way....I've seen them go straight from the residents bar at 6am into the minibus to the airbase and straight onto fast jets. Supposedly they could alter the air supply to sober them up faster.....not sure how true that was.
Our bar was a Sports Bar with sports equipment on the walls and a staircase in the centre. It became tradition that the Norwegian Aircrew would take the ski's off the wall and try and ski down the staircase when pissed......
LotusOmega375D said:
Siko said:
Unfortunately drinking culture is/was very much part of the military
I have no military connections, but stumbled across a group of about 10 young British soldiers staying at a German hotel two weeks ago. They were by the bar watching football on the TV. Their behaviour was exemplary and a real credit to their organisation. None of them were drinking alcohol.OnTheBreadline said:
I went to a local beauty spot last weekend, and there were half a dozen young squaddies there, and their behaviour was the exact opposite. Bottles thrown in to the river, bad language, shouting obscenities to girls using boats on the river etc. I get it, youngsters letting off steam, but they did themselves no favours.
Stick 'em in the Army! Oh hang on...Must of been bad as measures are usually taken to try and keep things under wraps. I saw a decrease in drinking during my time. Beer calls were getting less frequent and those attending decreasing. The station ‘bops’ (station piss up with disco) creased or were infrequent. I am in no way condoning the actions of some but they were part and parcel of being in the military and something I have fond memories of. Socialising, team building, letting off steam, whatever you call it, mostly it was good natured but sadly some took it too far on occasion.
I was very lucky to spend a few years on the Red Arrows and we did drink, party and have fun but most of the team understood their responsibilities as a serviceman and being in the public eye.
I was very lucky to spend a few years on the Red Arrows and we did drink, party and have fun but most of the team understood their responsibilities as a serviceman and being in the public eye.
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