Tuesday 20th July 2010

Red Arrows Disco Like It's 1998

Flyers' camp followers forced to rough it - can a WAG save the day?

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Battle of the Titans at Farnborough

PistonHeads had an appointment with the world's fastest man at the Farnborough Airshow yesterday, where Garlick and I found an extra couple of hours to take in the sights.

We gasped at startling displays by the Eurofighter Typhoon and various American F-fighters, 'oohed' at the scale of the Airbus A380 and 'aahed' at the carbon fibre technology of the new Boeing Dreamliner.

But neither of us would claim to be aviation enthusiasts (unless we're flying on a plane, when we're 100 percent for it), so much of what we saw was beyond our comprehension.

Airbus and Boeing 'head to head'

Which leads us neatly to the surprise discovery of a tired looking Disco in a corner of the show, not quite resplendent in the livery of the Royal Air Force Red Arrows.

Seeing a kindly-looking gent climbing behind the wheel, we couldn't resist asking why the merchandising wing of the nation's favourite aerobats wasn't thundering up and down Britain's highways in something more dashing. A Range Rover Sport, perhaps?

"We asked Land Rover and they told us to get lost," sighed our man, unaware of the knavish nature of our interest. "But that was a while ago now."

The Red Arrows are perennial stars

It seems to us there is only one possible remedy to this sad state of affairs. Range Rover's newest design executive Victoria Beckham must be instantly tasked with penning a new special edition for the Red Arrows.

We suggest the stonking new Range Rover TDV8 as base model, with a natty red interior featuring epaulettes and stitching details from Red 1's flying suit.

Oh, and we'd like bigger roundels on the doors, but VB should know exactly what to do.

Red, White and...

...Orange?

 

[smiffyraf1]

Not quite true im afraid.
The vehicle spotted was that of the Red Arrows merchandise vendor. http://www.redarrowsstore.co.uk/ Not in any way part of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/
The team are very proud to be supported by Land Rover and use a couple of Discovery's and a freelander2 to move between events.

Edited by smiffyraf1 on Tuesday 20th July 14:56

Edited by smiffyraf1 on Tuesday 20th July 15:00

[irodger]

It does mention in the article..."the logistical wing...".

So the Aircrew get plush new Landies and the stackers get a shed? Nothing unusual there then.

[Muzzer]

smiffyraf1 said:

Not quite true im afraid.
The vehicle spotted was that of the Red Arrows merchandise vendor. Not in anyway part of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.
The team are very proud to be supported by Land Rover and use a couple of Discovery's and a freelander2 to move between events.

This man speaks the truth.

I saw one of the Discos on the M25 a couple of weeks ago.

[smiffyraf1]

no not stackers, as i said not part of the team. The merchandise is a separate civilian company

[tylerama]

How fast do the wipers on that Boeing 787 Dreamliner have to go when it's whizzing along at 550mph !? What happens if they squeak ? Maybe there's a stalk on the control joystick with 'Int-1-2-3-4' right up to 100

[TheRoadWarrior]

tylerama said:

How fast do the wipers on that Boeing 787 Dreamliner have to go when it's whizzing along at 550mph !? What happens if they squeak ? Maybe there's a stalk on the control joystick with 'Int-1-2-3-4' right up to 100

Nah i'm betting they just Rain-X* it..




*Other products are available!

[stbauto]

Then that one SOTW????

[Chris-R]

smiffyraf1 said:

no not stackers, as i said not part of the team. The merchandise is a separate civilian company

Did they pinch those official team stickers then? Bl**dy contractors...

PS. Thanks for the update, article now reads merchandising, not logistics.

[mybrainhurts]

Somebody mention Victoria Beckham...?

Stephen Ireland's bird's on the case...just needs a touch of blue

[300KPH]

I must admit I misread the story to begin with. I thought, hmmm one of the worlds greatest display teams goes around in a clapped out Landrover, I had visions of Reds 1 to 7 packed into it. Then I read that Landrover told them not a chance when asked for a vehicle. I read this in disbelief as such a person should probably be fired for such a response and missing out on a huge oppertunity, I didnt believe the like could happen in 2010.
But then I see my fears are unfounded when some one posts pics of their new tasty Landrover vehicles. The story is a bit misleading to be honest.

[PaddyZulu]

tylerama said:

How fast do the wipers on that Boeing 787 Dreamliner have to go when it's whizzing along at 550mph !? What happens if they squeak ? Maybe there's a stalk on the control joystick with 'Int-1-2-3-4' right up to 100

If its doing 550 mph and its got rain on the windshields then the pilot will have more serious concerns than worrying about the wipers

[turbo-ww]

mybrainhurts said:

Somebody mention Victoria Beckham...?

Stephen Ireland's bird's on the case...just needs a touch of blue

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeese tell me that is a product of photoshop.....

[Ben Hughes]

PaddyZulu said:

If its doing 550 mph and its got rain on the windshields then the pilot will have more serious concerns than worrying about the wipers

Such as...?!

[S3_Graham]

Guys you should of said you were around! I'd of tried to pop over or atleast get you guys a look around some of our private aircraft.

[Brewsters]

Ben Hughes said:

PaddyZulu said:

If its doing 550 mph and its got rain on the windshields then the pilot will have more serious concerns than worrying about the wipers

Such as...?!

Such as.......being at 550 mph (470 knots), the aircraft will be high above the clouds.....

[tylerama]

TheRoadWarrior said:

tylerama said:

How fast do the wipers on that Boeing 787 Dreamliner have to go when it's whizzing along at 550mph !? What happens if they squeak ? Maybe there's a stalk on the control joystick with 'Int-1-2-3-4' right up to 100

Nah i'm betting they just Rain-X* it..

*Other products are available!

Haha, it'll streak off REALLY fast then !

[Chris-R]

S3_Graham said:

Guys you should of said you were around! I'd of tried to pop over or atleast get you guys a look around some of our private aircraft.

Dammit, we love a look around anything - what have you got? (Private aircraft may have to be our thing as I think I've blown our chances of an invite from the Red Arrows...)

[smiffyraf1]

Not at all! That could be arranged.

[PaddyZulu]

smiffyraf1 said:

Not at all! That could be arranged.

Owwww !, do I smell the makings of a PH Sunday Service at Scampton ?.............
No.1 on that list please