UK Defence Forum

The Scottish Air Show was much the same, could barely see the Spitfire and Hurricane with them so far out to sea with the sun in the crowd's eyes, just sillhouettes. They really need to run that show earlier before the sun gets over there.

But the distance was killing it. Vulcan the year before got to fly nearly directly overhead, point the nozzles and give half the crowd a vibration induced orgasm. Last time though it just flew around out at sea.

The Red Arrows, 22nd July 2016, Portsmouth.

RAF Red Arrows in formation through the Mach Loop, Snowdonia, Wales.

^ Yes, ten. The extra is called Red Ten, he's the Supervisor.

............

The Defence Secretary confirmed that the Red Arrows aerobatic team will get new planes.

Sir Michael said it was too early to say which aircraft would replace the Hawk jets the team currently flies, but added that they need to be replaced and a decision will be made over the next couple of years. He's quoted as saying by the BBC:

"The Red Arrows are going to be here to stay for a while yet. They are a key part of our defence engagement, as we call it, around the rest of the world, and I don't think the public would let us lose the Red Arrows."

The Red Arrows are currently taking part in a 60-day world tour aiming to promote "the best of British", which includes its first ever display in China.

http://forces.tv/52748876

Great! So what are the leading contenders(?) and would this be in association with the future replacement of the Hawk trainer aircraft?

Grob 120TP
Beechcraft T6
Hawk 120

or refurbished legacy hawk for 736, 100 and a few other units including the arrows

or Scorpion if we buy some for the navy cheap to buy and operate.

bobp wrote:or Scorpion if we buy some for the navy cheap to buy and operate.

would suggest if we get scorpion it would be for 100 to however it wouldn't look good them flying an American or German Aircraft......so wonder if BaE will make it worth their while?

Red Arrows should only ever be British aircraft.

If they can't be in British aircraft, then they shouldn't exist.

Answer is simple: Hawk T2. Job done. If further ahead, then use the Dart.

https://dartjet.biz/

Forgot about the dart, I see the images in the link show them in Red Arrows colours.

T2s with slatted wings suggested as likely option by combat aircraft:

http://www.combataircraft.net/2016/11/0 ... e-options/

Wow, I've never seen any mention of the Dart before. Is it a realistic option? Seems to be a great idea in the cgi but who is backing the development? Who is looking to build it?

dmereifield wrote:T2s with slatted wings suggested as likely option by combat aircraft:

Sounds interesting never heard of that option with the wings.

That's what they are working on with India apparently:

http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/ ... -jet-india

Some mention of integrating brimstone and ASRAAM too.

The orders from Saudi Arabia and Oman are going to keep the UK production line going until 2018, apparently, so the MoD will need to pull their finger out if they do intend to place an order....

Red Arrows at Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) 2017

Published on 19 Nov 2017

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows, provided the opening act on the first day of The Royal International Air Tattoo 2017, at RAF Fairford, with a full display following a flypast with the United States Air Force Flight Demonstration Team, The Thunderbirds. The Red Arrows are equipped with the British Aerospace Hawk T1, a jet training aircraft. The Thunderbirds use the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Winter training for 2018 season begins

Red Arrow aircraft crashes at RAF Valley on Anglesey, Wales.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-nort ... s-43476222

Hearing conflicting info regarding seeing a chute. Good grief I hate the modern age of I HEARD THIS, THEY SAY THEY SAW on social media.

Can only hope until further information from a more reliable source, I suppose.

Hopefully this doesn't get used as an excuse to disband them.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mod- ... red-arrows

Awful.

This may have been raised before, but as the RAF is standing up two or three additional Typhoon squadrons, how about making one of those the Red Arrows, using some of the Tranche one airframes. The Arrows used to have a point air defence role in the 1980s with the Hawk T1A so there is a small precedent. Get BAe and the other members of the Euro fighter consortium to chip in towards operating costs and you have a great advertising tool for the Typhoon, and a chance to see the plane shown off to its limits. One can dream I suppose.

SKB wrote:

It’s not 1st April yet!