Red Arrows

[electrotor]

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

[FPVSteve]

I'd rather pay for these than some of the crap the government insists I pay for, so I'm all for it - signed.

[BlueFlyer]

11 million per year... that's the same amount of money the Queen gets each year from the taxpayers.

[krikey]

It would be a travesty to see the Red Arrows disbanded. Signed.

[Coyote]

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

[Loopdreams]

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.

[krikey]

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) 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

[Loopdreams]

Really?  Do you really think anyone, anywhere will order some Typhoons or whatever because they saw the Red Arrows flying around in their Hawks?

[FPVSteve]

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.

[krikey]

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?

[Jake Bullit]

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!

[Loopdreams]

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.

[Shikra]

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....

[mark1975]

hope there still on in september at the southport airshow awesome to watch love these guys ....

[electrotor]

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