Red Arrows in transit. One with smoke on
Red Arrows in transit. One with smoke on
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595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,896 posts

94 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
We live under the Daventry Radar Corridor (map: https://x.com/360radaruk/status/724685785170083841... ) so see lots of interesting military planes all the time.

We were sitting outside last night and heard the unmistakable sound of the Red Arrows approaching. When they came over, there were two groups of planes in a V as usual, but in the second group the central plane was trailing red smoke. Did this as far as we could see them into the distance.

Never seen them trailing smoke whilst transiting before, and they weren’t over flying anything of interest as far as I know. Could it just be that the pilot had forgotten to turn it off?

GiantEnemyCrab

7,834 posts

219 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
595Heaven said:
We live under the Daventry Radar Corridor (map: https://x.com/360radaruk/status/724685785170083841... ) so see lots of interesting military planes all the time.

We were sitting outside last night and heard the unmistakable sound of the Red Arrows approaching. When they came over, there were two groups of planes in a V as usual, but in the second group the central plane was trailing red smoke. Did this as far as we could see them into the distance.

Never seen them trailing smoke whilst transiting before, and they weren’t over flying anything of interest as far as I know. Could it just be that the pilot had forgotten to turn it off?
I'd guess one of the other planes in the V would have seen it and told him if he had forgotten it?

595Heaven

Original Poster:

2,896 posts

94 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
GiantEnemyCrab said:
I'd guess one of the other planes in the V would have seen it and told him if he had forgotten it?
That was my thinking too! We must seen them 15 times a year over the house and I’ve never seen the smoke before!

Looking at the picture (I didn’t have my phone with me when they were directly overhead) there seems to be eleven planes?? Quite often see the tenth plane on its own after the main display team have gone over, but never eleven. Double strangeness.


48k

15,358 posts

164 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
595Heaven said:
Never seen them trailing smoke whilst transiting before, and they weren’t over flying anything of interest as far as I know. Could it just be that the pilot had forgotten to turn it off?
It does happen, infact only recently I saw a video on Faceache of them overflying a wedding celebration during transit, in formation with smoke on.


Edit - video links :

https://www.tiktok.com/@truckerdory/video/75266074...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c8e48ep42klo


Edited by 48k on Monday 18th August 14:20

Dashnine

1,598 posts

66 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
The Reds were transiting to the south coast for displays over the next few days. They usually take a couple of spare aircraft in case one or more of the regular 9 go technical. Flown by Red 10 (Safety Supervisor and show commentator) and Red 11 ( Commanding Officer).

No idea why trailing Red smoke, possibly for visibility for joining aircraft or from the ground while transiting a particular air space, unlikely to be in error.

Edited by Dashnine on Monday 18th August 13:13

Simpo Two

89,407 posts

281 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
Dashnine said:
No idea why trailing Red smoke, possibly for visibility for joining aircraft or from the ground while transiting a particular air space, unlikely to be in error.
Or the 'off' button didn't work?

MB140

4,683 posts

119 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Dashnine said:
No idea why trailing Red smoke, possibly for visibility for joining aircraft or from the ground while transiting a particular air space, unlikely to be in error.
Or the 'off' button didn't work?
Could be an air test. I know a couple of the red arrows ground crew, strangely pumping diesel full of a dye on the ground isn’t allowed. I believe it’s an air test requirement to confirm serviceability

So if they have been working on it maybe it was an air test. I very much doubt it was just someone forgot. There are 10 pilots and probably transit ground crew up there. I’d be astounded if it was by accident. There is a big indicator right im the pilots view when the pump is active. It would be hard to miss.

48k

15,358 posts

164 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
MB140 said:
Simpo Two said:
Dashnine said:
No idea why trailing Red smoke, possibly for visibility for joining aircraft or from the ground while transiting a particular air space, unlikely to be in error.
Or the 'off' button didn't work?
Could be an air test. I know a couple of the red arrows ground crew, strangely pumping diesel full of a dye on the ground isn’t allowed. I believe it’s an air test requirement to confirm serviceability

So if they have been working on it maybe it was an air test. I very much doubt it was just someone forgot. There are 10 pilots and probably transit ground crew up there. I’d be astounded if it was by accident. There is a big indicator right im the pilots view when the pump is active. It would be hard to miss.
There are two sets of indicator lights for the smoke colours it would be impossible for the pilot not to know smoke was on.


Petrus1983

10,444 posts

178 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
48k said:
It does happen, infact only recently I saw a video on Faceache of them overflying a wedding celebration during transit, in formation with smoke on.


Edit - video links :

https://www.tiktok.com/@truckerdory/video/75266074...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c8e48ep42klo


Edited by 48k on Monday 18th August 14:20
When I first saw this it made me so happy - what an amazing thing to happen - fair play to all beer

droopsnoot

13,590 posts

258 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
MB140 said:
I know a couple of the red arrows ground crew, strangely pumping diesel full of a dye on the ground isn’t allowed.
Probably don't want to get caught using red diesel.

getmecoat

Mr E

22,520 posts

275 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
They passed over my house yesterday evening in 2 formations of 5. Rear formation outriders running white smoke.

I presumed it was “yes, it’s us. Yes, we have a cool job. K thx bye” type of thing.

andyb28

1,008 posts

134 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
Its Clacton Air Show this week, I am looking forward to seeing them smile

Dashnine

1,598 posts

66 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
They did a flypast at our local primary school fete a few years ago, the organiser was called by the RAF to say they were sorry but were going to be a little late as they had to refuel, so she asked if they’d put the smoke on to compensate - not normally the case on enroute flypasts - and they did while in the big V formation. Very, very cool - best fete ever.

And just to add they do use the smoke in other ways - when Red 1 is first to land he’ll release a puff of smoke so the others can see the wind conditions at the end of the runway.

Gary C

13,927 posts

195 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
I saw them when I was on holiday at shell island in Wales in the mid 70's. They were practicing and it was like a private display just for us few.

The bomb burst on a beautiful clear day was amazing.

Simpo Two

89,407 posts

281 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
48k said:
There are two sets of indicator lights for the smoke colours it would be impossible for the pilot not to know smoke was on.

The thing I spot with those is that they're mirror image. Must be for a reason but I can't see what.

Glosphil

4,673 posts

250 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
48k said:
There are two sets of indicator lights for the smoke colours it would be impossible for the pilot not to know smoke was on.

The thing I spot with those is that they're mirror image. Must be for a reason but I can't see what.
The clock top right isn't mirror imaged.

Simpo Two

89,407 posts

281 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
Glosphil said:
The clock top right isn't mirror imaged.
I was referring to the indicator lights for the smoke.

StoutBench

1,371 posts

44 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
They did a flyover for a terminally Ill child last week so could be something similar.

Glosphil

4,673 posts

250 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Glosphil said:
The thing I spot with those is that they're mirror image. Must be for a reason but I can't see what.
The clock top right isn't mirror imaged.
I mean the lights for the smoke...
Oops. Apologies. It also wasn't a clock like I thought, but an instrument of some sort.

768

17,176 posts

112 months

Monday 18th August
quotequote all
Just another tiny bit of information that adds more weight to it not being an error; they only have a small amount of the red and blue dyes available, maybe a minute's worth, something of that order. So even if they somehow managed to leave it on during a display, they aren't going to get far with it.