Pilots fulfil lifelong dream as they join the Red Arrows

[@modelrailwaynoob]

Good luck guys

[@GloriaStagmer]

Congratulations.

[@fougamagician]

Macca! Good work lad. Long time since MASUAS

[@karenglenn6707]

Oh just as a mum of a 34 yr old son, I would be a nervous wreck. I get stressed watching these pilots and they’re not my children. Amazingly talented pilots!!

[@king_leights]

Good luck and best wishes guys! 🤟👍

[@wayneschenk5512]

Xcellent individuals.

[@Pembroke.]

Congratulations 👏👏👏🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@TravellingTechie]

Nice one Grob.

[@margobaxter8344]

Well done to anyone who can achieve their dreams. Regardless of politics. We only get one shot of life & there's no dress rehearsal. As for the Hawk aircraft, it's Legendary and at least, managed to upgrade it. In the age of reduce, reuse and recycle, then why not, bring it on, keeping the Hawk. Pity nobody will want to reduce, reuse & recycle me when I am past it tho' 😊

[@Fester_]

Lifelong dream indeed - " Two drunk soldiers caught romping in cockpit of Apache attack chopper "

[@dansullivan5843]

"Fulfill", not "Fulfil"... Seriously?

[@Orbital_Inclination]

Either spelling is fine. Fulfil is the UK spelling, fulfill is the US one, but either is fine.

[@dansullivan5843]

@@Orbital_Inclination Ok. I guess he was serious...

[@BaronFlyingClub]

As an MOD training unit I would be wanting to buy the new T7 Red Hawk to train new pilots ready for the F35B, but if we are busy giving away billions to gangsters in Ukraine we won't be able to affect the sales. We will have to train with VR headsets in the classroom.

[@Orbital_Inclination]

Why? Our Hawk T2s are more than capable of training our pilots. Why would we buy an untested US option when there are plenty of other options, including a UK one, on the table? If not for Hawk, we'd probably be better off buying the M-346, given the international success the Italians are having with their flying training school. VR training has already been trialled, and simulators are in common usage in UK flying training, to supplement live hours.

[@BaronFlyingClub]

@@Orbital_Inclination How many hours a week ..sorry month can an RAF pilot fly? Yes I know, although not even supersonic...Problem with the RAF is they have no money. That is the real reason you are stuck with these old bangers.

[@Orbital_Inclination]

​@@BaronFlyingClubsupersonic doesn't really matter for jet training, as all training can be conducted subsonic with no added benefit to going faster than Mach 1. There's just no real need to buy a fleet of replacement jets exclusively for airshows, especially when every other government deoartment is being asked to save money. It would be hard to justify when the money could be spent on other things.

[@BaronFlyingClub]

@@Orbital_Inclination Just keep giving away billions to Ukrainian gangsters then. Whatever happened to youtuber Gonzalo Lira?

[@Orbital_Inclination]

​@@BaronFlyingCluboh you're one of those... never mind.

[@jaguarskills69]

Isn't Liebour looking into disbanding the Red Arrows to save money?

[@Orbital_Inclination]

No, as they cost next to nothing to run. The disbanding of the Reds has been a constant threat for the last 15 years or so, but has never come to fruition because it makes very little sense.

[@BaronFlyingClub]

Imagine to get to fly a plane that old that they have to cannibalise others for parts. These old birds should have been retired years ago.

[@mrpusser0348]

Your cheery

[@BaronFlyingClub]

@@mrpusser0348 I used to drive a Cortina back in the 70's but I don't want one now.

[@Orbital_Inclination]

There's nothing suitable to replace them with, due to the reality of change in the training system that means we don't have plenty of spare Hawks just laying around. We could buy from overseas, but it seems like frivolous expense given we have no broader need for those airframes.

[@BaronFlyingClub]

@@Orbital_Inclination The extra 300 springs to mind. 9 red ones, and that would make a seriously good aerobatic display team, that's if the pilots have the skill to handle them.

[@Orbital_Inclination]

​@@BaronFlyingClubhalf the point of the Reds is to display UK industry with our BAE-built Hawks. An Extra won't do that. As for pilot skill, there are no issues there. The Blades aerobatic team flew similar types and they were ex-Reds

[@donbrads4523]

Excellent use of taxpayers money

[@Orbital_Inclination]

A recruitment and public/international engagement tool, that's almost entirely funded by corporate sponsorship? A good use of money.