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MG MGA - Save the Red Arrows

Not an MG related thread so my apologies but you might be interested in this - especially Steve G as an ex RAF pilot.
The Red Arrows RAF display team is the target of the British government exchequer. This is yet another proposed cut that will confirm our position as a banana republic - or we could spend the money saved on children's services ( as if that would happen) - nah! British technology & skills is more important - please sign up now to protest- 10 Downing St website has an online petition. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveTheReds/
Cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Cam

I think you will find it is media hype again. All military functions and programmes are reviewed regularly. The Red Arrows are already budgeted for both this year and next year.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Let's hope you are correct Steve - what about the 2009/2010 budget ? Cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

You could equally say what about the 2020 budget you need to draw the line somewhere.
I don't know what this country is comming too we appear to be in a state of mass hysteria!
Bob (robert) yes I own an MG Dwarf!

Cam

As you say, not an mga topic persay. However, having taken time out to think about the issues and bearing in mind that we try to keep politics out of this type of forum these are a few of my thoughts.

Defence of our free countries (US and UK for starters) is paramount. The USAF and RAF aerobatic teams perform an important task in putting military power and expertise firmly up front and in full view of the public. The request you have made for us to sign a petition validates their mission. The front line air forces' fighting elements rarely get seen by the public, fighting away from home and usually by night. Secretly, we are all a bit envious of the formation teams' 'bird' pulling power!

Generally speaking, warfliers view the military aerobatic teams as primadonnas. Formation flying is not difficult. Display formation aerobatics just requires practice - and that is their full time job. For example, some of my formation flying was practiced lights out on moonless nights, trying to take on fuel from a tanker in cloud or identing Russian aircraft probing our UK defensive shield.

I flew a couple of sorties with the Sparrows when they flew Gnats back in the 60s as I was current on type at the time. Now that was a nice aircraft for display flying, having a better looking wingsweep configuration for tighter formation flying.

The current Hawks that the Sparrows fly are getting old. Not sure if they will still around in the 2010s. We are replacing the old Hawks with 48 new advanced (glass cockpit) Hawks for our advanced jet training. Can we spare a dozen of them for the Sparrows to beat the hell out of? I doubt it.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Interesting perspective on the issue Steve - a case of balancing a public relations exercise with the defence budget - BTW a school friend of mine (Roger Cooper) was killed flying a Gnat out of Valley, Anglesey in early 60s - cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Hi Steve. You stated that both "The USAF and RAF aerobatic teams perform an important task in putting military power and expertise firmly up front and in full view of the public." The USA and Britain clearly utilize fairly up to date and relatively high performance aircraft, for the reasons given in your statement. Enter Canada, that continues to fly grossly outdated, very antique Tutor aircraft. While our Canadian Snowbirds areobatic pilots are world class and highly skilled, it is sad to see them forced to continue to fly our antique Tutor jets. One can only wonder what kind of "power image" Canada is trying to generate in the Global community? Couple our antique jets with our leaky submarines, and dilapidated and crashing Sea King helicopters, and you have a Canadian Military presence that is regrettably, a joke. :-( Glenn
Glenn

This thread was discussed between 14/02/2007 and 15/02/2007

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