Red Arrows

As usual have just closed the Chatsworth country fair with an incredible display, they really are the best in the world. They have moved the head on together fly pasts to over the grounds more this year for obvious reasons, as did the ariel stunt display team yesterday, and what was nice was I did'nt hear anyone in the crowd complain about the view as it was'nt quite as good as normal as they we're a bit more behind the trees. They also have some snippets of the leader giving flight commands over the PA, great stuff.
 
Saw them yesterday at Ayr, they are pretty spectacular.
Also at Ayr was the Vulcan bomber that was doing its final show before being retired, what a plane and an awesome noise.
 
Yep, the Arrows are fantastic.
I saw the Vulcan fly in Swansea this year and its majestic. - just like Concorde was.
 
Saw the Red Arrows at Eastbourne this year - they are fantastic, and have no equal. There's a documentary about their selection and training process done a couple of years ago that I never get tired of watching.

As for the Vulcan, I didn't see it this year, which is sad, but I do remember seeing an operational one do a flyby back in the late 80s (I assume it was operational, not checked) when I went to a graduation ceremony at RAF Cranwell. That noise :wub:
 
One of memories of the 2012 Olympics was being in Hyde park on the Night of the Opening Ceremony as the Red Arrows came across the Park in formation - smoke On on their way to the Stadium - the Cheer was deafening .

For me they stand out as something that is world class , the selection program was brilliant .

Not seen the Vulcan this year but its been brilliant to see over the years at sow and the guys who have kept it going have done a brilliant Job - We will miss it.
 
I bet the Olympic opening night was fantastic and fitting they had the arrows flying. Has anyone seen the heart stunt? 2 fly straight vertically fuselage to fuselage to approx 3 thousand feet, then just before they break left and right it's smoke on, break away to arc back down together forming a massive heart shape, as they cross at arc base it's smoke off and the team leader fly's at 600mph diagonally towards the heart with smoke on 2 seconds before reaching the heart, upon reaching it it's smoke off as he screams through the massive shape then smoke back on just before heart exit to make a perfect arrow through it. We we're so lucky as the heart lingered in the sky for ages as no wind. Brilliant.
 
Was at Warwick Castle yesterday for a big Jaguar event.

Fantastic to see and hear the Spitfire fly past several times banking and fairly low.
Glad it wasn't forced to be miles away.
 
Number5 said:
Yep, the Arrows are fantastic.
I saw the Vulcan fly in Swansea this year and its majestic. - just like Concorde was.

Bing said:
Saw the Red Arrows at Eastbourne this year - they are fantastic, and have no equal. There's a documentary about their selection and training process done a couple of years ago that I never get tired of watching.

As for the Vulcan, I didn't see it this year, which is sad, but I do remember seeing an operational one do a flyby back in the late 80s (I assume it was operational, not checked) when I went to a graduation ceremony at RAF Cranwell. That noise :wub:

The Vulcan was spectacular at Eastbourne. I was on Beachy Head and it loomed up from below the cliff edge at almost zero knots, filling the sky with its sheer size and the most awesome noise. The Red Arrows were spectacular, but they were nothing compared with the majesty of the Vulcan (Thanks Number5, that's is exactly the phase I would have struggled to find :) ).
 
cj10jeeper said:
Was at Warwick Castle yesterday for a big Jaguar event.

Fantastic to see and hear the Spitfire fly past several times banking and fairly low.
Glad it wasn't forced to be miles away.

Any photos ... of the Jags ... I was at the Event in Holyrood this weekend and there was Car One of the new Lightweights there along with Project 7 parked next to it . Harry Metcalf and Iain Callum were there - also biggest collection of Ecurie Ecosse Cars including a Z4 .
 
john-e89 said:
Has anyone seen the heart stunt? 2 fly straight vertically fuselage to fuselage to approx 3 thousand feet, then just before they break left and right it's smoke on, break away to arc back down together forming a massive heart shape, as they cross at arc base it's smoke off and the team leader fly's at 600mph diagonally towards the heart with smoke on 2 seconds before reaching the heart, upon reaching it it's smoke off as he screams through the massive shape then smoke back on just before heart exit to make a perfect arrow through it. We we're so lucky as the heart lingered in the sky for ages as no wind. Brilliant.

Not seen that before, so over to YouTube I went

[youtube]https://youtu.be/psNkbVxQYDA[/youtube]
 
ZermattV said:
cj10jeeper said:
Was at Warwick Castle yesterday for a big Jaguar event.

Fantastic to see and hear the Spitfire fly past several times banking and fairly low.
Glad it wasn't forced to be miles away.

Any photos ... of the Jags ... I was at the Event in Holyrood this weekend and there was Car One of the new Lightweights there along with Project 7 parked next to it . Harry Metcalf and Iain Callum were there - also biggest collection of Ecurie Ecosse Cars including a Z4 .

I have a few photos and if get time can post them. Project 7 was there along with TWR racing car and the new 2016 XF. Probably 1,000 Jags so pretty much everything from old classics to blinged up rapper cars...
 
How Many Project 7s do they now have as there was one in Edinburgh as well - the Edinburgh Car was in BRM style colours
le colours i.e. orange Nose
 
I've been attending airshows for years (since early 60s as a small child). I'm delighted to read the responses on this forum but sadly airshows are nothing like as special and exciting as they used to be. . . . .
Lack of variety of exhibits and the lack of new types and examples on display have made air shows predictable and in some cases boring.
Increasing (and likely, more prescriptive, rules and regulations) have limited the content and experience, together with cutbacks and demands on air forces world wide.
I'm so pleased I got to see some wonderful shows and brilliant performances over the years - I doubt such experiences will ever be repeated.
The Red Arrows are brilliant but have been presenting basically the same show for over 40 years - it's rare to see them add something different and consequently, for me, their shows are more about where they are seen rather than content. Admittedly, having attended so many shows I am a bit jaded.
The Italian Frecce Tricolori, Russian Knights, Patrouille de France, Patrouille Suisse, aerobatic teams have all surprised, delighted and impressed over the years.
Airshows need to inject something new and innovative (more use of pyrotechnics has been a useful development recently as has the drama of the Vulcan display) if they are to overcome the limited variety of types, lack of excitement and increasing safety demands.
For all that, it's still wonderful that The Red Arrows can bring about such responses :thumbsup:
 
john-e89 said:
I bet the Olympic opening night was fantastic and fitting they had the arrows flying. Has anyone seen the heart stunt? 2 fly straight vertically fuselage to fuselage to approx 3 thousand feet, then just before they break left and right it's smoke on, break away to arc back down together forming a massive heart shape, as they cross at arc base it's smoke off and the team leader fly's at 600mph diagonally towards the heart with smoke on 2 seconds before reaching the heart, upon reaching it it's smoke off as he screams through the massive shape then smoke back on just before heart exit to make a perfect arrow through it. We we're so lucky as the heart lingered in the sky for ages as no wind. Brilliant.
They did that at Ayr on Saturday :thumbsup:
 
Having been "involved" in the RAF for a number of years, i've had the benefit of seeing many air displays (and living close to the BBMF I see them flypast every weekend as well). The Red Arrows are excellent, and are fantastic precision flying - but I still prefer the older aircraft. Must be an age thing, but anything my father was involved with (Vulcans, Bucaneers, Lightnings, and even Hunters) still bring a lump to the throat when I see them fly. Seeing a Lightning climb vertical on full reheat is something else - and it still holds the record for fastest vertical ascent aircraft, not bad for a 50's piece of technology.

It will be a shame for the Vulcan to retire at the end of this season - I am planning to see one of the last displays at Southport on 19th Sep - I have many fond memories of them, as my Dad served on 27 Sqn (Dumbo), and when taking off in the mid-70's, they shook our house which was near the end of the runway (in those days it was single glazing) :)

Bing said:
As for the Vulcan, I didn't see it this year, which is sad, but I do remember seeing an operational one do a flyby back in the late 80s (I assume it was operational, not checked) when I went to a graduation ceremony at RAF Cranwell. That noise :wub:

We also had a vulcan flypast at my graduation in '89, Bing :thumbsup: - but, being on the square I wasn't allowed to look... or at least, wasn't allowed to be seen to look :wink:
 
It is possible I was at your graduation ceremony - it would have been 1989 now I've taken the time to work it out. How weird... Though I know there is more than one grad ceremony a year. It would have been June/July if memory serves.

I was with the daughter of the commander of the RAF Regiment there :D
 
The best Red Arows experience I had was at RAF Leuchars, sitting out on the wing of a USAF KC-135 (I think - tanker aircraft), sipping on a JD & coke from their travelling wet bar. Higher than the crowds and closer to the display line with an unimpeded view 8)
 
Bing said:
It is possible I was at your graduation ceremony - it would have been 1989 now I've taken the time to work it out. How weird... Though I know there is more than one grad ceremony a year. It would have been June/July if memory serves.

I was with the daughter of the commander of the RAF Regiment there :D

Um.... her last name wasn't Sommers was it? I graduated in June/July (June 22nd to be exact - ended up being my Wedding anniversary as as well) so looking likely you were at my graduation, Bing :)
 
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