Not FPV but something which most or all of us may be interested in.
If sufficiently moved, please sign the petition.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/488486/EXCLUSIVE-Queen-Red-Arrows-axe-50th-anniversary (http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/488486/EXCLUSIVE-Queen-Red-Arrows-axe-50th-anniversary)
I'd rather pay for these than some of the crap the government insists I pay for, so I'm all for it - signed.
11 million per year... that's the same amount of money the Queen gets each year from the taxpayers.
It would be a travesty to see the Red Arrows disbanded. Signed.
I will of course sign the petition, but sadly I fear it will do no good in this economic environment we are in now. I'd hate to see them go
I'm torn over this. To say that the money would only get spent on something worthless is the very definition of a false dichotomy. Essential services are being squeezed and children's education and people's health are the sorts of things that are suffering.
I love the Red Arrows I really do but I'm not sure that this expensive hangover from the jet age can really be justified in these circumstances, especially when the actual benefits are so vague and difficult to quantify. And that's as someone who dearly loves watching them. Anyone who doesn't even like them would probably be even more keen to see the money spent elsewhere.
That's the issue isn't it, the value to the economy of Great Britain is hard to quantify but I would suggest that there is a value in military sales terms which account for at least £12.3bn revenue and whether the removal of such an iconic brand would affect these sales in any way? And that's just the revenue from military sales. The Red Arrows do bring in tourism as well and paint a typically British picture in the same way that the Monarchy and the Union Flag do.
Of course theres always an argument about where we're selling (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/blood-money-uks-123bn-arms-sales-to-repressive-states-8711794.html (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/blood-money-uks-123bn-arms-sales-to-repressive-states-8711794.html)) and whether we should.
I think if the Red Arrows are scrapped it will be a short term solution which will harm us in the long term.
Of course
Really? Do you really think anyone, anywhere will order some Typhoons or whatever because they saw the Red Arrows flying around in their Hawks?
They're a national institution though, something that symbolises pride for many people. Personally, I love watching them and look in awe every single time - it never gets old.
I'd sooner see foreign aid to various dodgy countries slashed than further dilution of things I hold dear if indeed it really does come down to cost savings. I don't care if they're an investment or if it's simply money down the pan. It's money down OUR own pan, spent by us on our own "stuff". Never underestimate the power of pleasure when it becomes to increasing the morale of a populace.
It all boils down to saving face with "leaders" abroad though doesn't it .. looking good to other nations (why do we care again?) - oh sure, I may have a simplistic view of the world but you know what, sometimes it's better that way.
Charity begins at home, I'll have my Red Arrows please.
Quote from: Loopdreams on July 14, 2014, 11:17:36 AM
Really? Do you really think anyone, anywhere will order some Typhoons or whatever because they saw the Red Arrows flying around in their Hawks?
No they won't solely off the back of seeing the Red Arrows, but its part of the bigger picture they paint. A logo is just some colour, font and lines on a page, but it means so much more. The same with the Red Arrows, they are just some red planes with cool pilots flying them, but they are so much more which unfortunately cannot be quantified :)
Many private companies spend millions on the right brand image so that they can sell more, clawing back the money they spent on image and ideally boosting sales.
If we had a client who wanted to know they were getting the best out of the airframes and engines they were about to order, what better than to show a real life example. Ok I know Hawks aren't used in anger by the RAF any more, but they help to paint the picture don't they?
Signed .
We need to keep our sense of pride, and nothing quite captures it like seeing the RA streaking across the sky(except a Spitfire).
THIS IS ENGLAND,NOT ENGLANDISTAN!
Quote from: krikey on July 14, 2014, 11:45:33 AM
Quote from: Loopdreams on July 14, 2014, 11:17:36 AM
Really? Do you really think anyone, anywhere will order some Typhoons or whatever because they saw the Red Arrows flying around in their Hawks?
No they won't solely off the back of seeing the Red Arrows, but its part of the bigger picture they paint. A logo is just some colour, font and lines on a page, but it means so much more. The same with the Red Arrows, they are just some red planes with cool pilots flying them, but they are so much more which unfortunately cannot be quantified :)
Many private companies spend millions on the right brand image so that they can sell more, clawing back the money they spent on image and ideally boosting sales.
If we had a client who wanted to know they were getting the best out of the airframes and engines they were about to order, what better than to show a real life example. Ok I know Hawks aren't used in anger by the RAF any more, but they help to paint the picture don't they?
If that's the case then surely BAe could sort them out with some new planes gratis? Unless they don't have the same view.
This is England... and wales :) Lets not mention Scotland - might not be mucho longer :)
I had the pleasure of watching them yesterday at RIAT yesterday... they were definitely the best display team.... not being biased either.
What the guys said - its a british icon... keep em alive
Spread that cost over the lifetime of the displays they will provide and its looks much more financially attractive....
hope there still on in september at the southport airshow awesome to watch love these guys ....
Quote from: mark1975 on July 14, 2014, 03:38:27 PM
hope there still on in september at the southport airshow awesome to watch love these guys ....
I'm sure you won't be disappointed. The issue is that the Hawk fleet will reach the end of its service life in about 6 years and replacement fast jet trainers require to be ordered. Being a large military purchase, this is not something which the Defence Minister can do with his credit card and claim back off expenses. It all takes an awfully long time and the government is always looking at ways of making defence cuts. After all, MPs cannot be expected to live like the rest of us. One must maintain standards and duck houses on ones private lakes and this all costs money which has to be found somewhere. :P
lmao good one
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28289331 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28289331)
I'm sure they could have diverted a few £ ....... especially as they did a fly over!
Quote from: Gundummy on July 15, 2014, 08:18:00 AM
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28289331 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28289331)
I'm sure they could have diverted a few £ ....... especially as they did a fly over!
Early in the article you can see that this is fantastic news for all of us.
Spending of £1.1bn on defence has been announced by the prime minister.
This will pay for drones,..............A drone for every man, woman and child in the UK, to borrow/adapt some of the PMs earlier rhetoric.
This is also fantastic news for the likes of DJI.
Phantom 2 Vision+ retail price : £900 (free next day delivery)
Phantom 2 Vision+ MOD price : £9000 (Tx & battery £9000, lead time 3 years, delivery £9000)
A bargain by government standards.
Well if the F35 stories are anything to go by, we might not need a DJI fleet to simply fly off into the big blue yonder never to be seen again, it looks like the F35 is also plagued with problems. Remember the F111?
First time ive seen the red arrows. Ive donated £1mill to the cause. ;D
Farnborough Air Show Red Arrows 2014 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj-PsB7BwKE#ws)
Blimey We must have been stood right next to each other ;)
FIA14 The Red Arrows Entrance - Farnborough Airshow 2014 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIQa89L_yk#ws)
Perhaps they could use the Scorpion Jet http://www.scorpionjet.com/ (http://www.scorpionjet.com/) as a replacement? Its cheap, relatively speaking.
Program on BBC 2 at 9 pm about the Red Arrows.
Good stuff can't wait to see them in august at Blackpool and soutport in September
Up the Reds. Makes me so proud to be a Brit.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: krikey on July 21, 2014, 02:49:55 PM
Perhaps they could use the Scorpion Jet http://www.scorpionjet.com/ (http://www.scorpionjet.com/) as a replacement? Its cheap, relatively speaking.
Well I'll tell you one thing - it looks awesome!
That would be a brilliant advert for the US defense industry.
Scrapping the Red Arrows would show that they know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. :(
Red Arrows just buzzed my house in their way to Blackpool.
Awesome sight in a double arrowhead formation, which was great as I'm am archer too. :D
I think I got them on the way back ... about 10 mins ago they all flew directly over my house, what a noise. I'm in Lincolnshire but they were headed in the opposite direction to RAF Scampton, they were north east bound.
Watched them from the end of the pier, a great spot to see the air show, so much nearer than the main crowd line and directly underneath some aircraft. However, low cloud forced a limited display by the Red Arrows so they were comprehensively out-awesomed by the lone Typhoon on this occasion which was deafening and fast.
Sadly the show was cut short due to bad weather and there was no Vulcan or Spitfire.
Some pics.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3844/14693079180_84be8c48a9_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oonSxo)The Red Arrows (https://flic.kr/p/oonSxo) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3840/14693225397_6b613e8a9d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oooC1n)The Red Arrows (https://flic.kr/p/oooC1n) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3923/14693089640_f03ff4c938_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oonVDJ)The Red Arrows (https://flic.kr/p/oonVDJ) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/14693235647_9ea646d58c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oooF46)The Red Arrows (https://flic.kr/p/oooF46) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/14693129339_3c3793c4f2_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ooo8sc)Breitling Wingwalkers (https://flic.kr/p/ooo8sc) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3924/14879778645_1594d1d4bd_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oESKMF)Breitling Wingwalkers (https://flic.kr/p/oESKMF) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5565/14877343174_98f4ef1a1c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oEEgNN)RotorSport Calidus Autgyro (https://flic.kr/p/oEEgNN) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3904/14877347344_afdb4040fa_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oEEi3G)Trig Pitts Pair (https://flic.kr/p/oEEi3G) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/14693270147_0699af6834_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oooRiV)Trig Pitts Pair (https://flic.kr/p/oooRiV) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/14693170369_e176d191fb_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oookDB)Trig Pitts Pair (https://flic.kr/p/oookDB) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/14899682733_8449aefdcf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oGCLzB)Trig Pitts Pair (https://flic.kr/p/oGCLzB) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5556/14899682733_8449aefdcf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oGCLzB)Trig Pitts Pair (https://flic.kr/p/oGCLzB) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3906/14693216168_b512d8f9d4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/ooozgf)Extra (https://flic.kr/p/ooozgf) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14693187859_4af2b2275f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oooqRa)Typhoon (https://flic.kr/p/oooqRa) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/14879490232_6f20f8236c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/oERh43)Typhoon (https://flic.kr/p/oERh43) by Loopdreams (https://www.flickr.com/people/55214026@N06/), on Flickr