cathasatail Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 (edited) Hi all, Just read on the BBC that the defence secretary has stated two key things: 1. The red arrows will stay in operation 2. The team will get new aircraft in the "next few years" So, the obvious question is: what aircraft will they likely have? (I would like to see them reform with red f35's or typhoons personally but that doesn't seem likely...) Kind regards, Edit: link, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37833311 Edited November 1, 2016 by cathasatail Link added Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisrope Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Hopefully Hawk T2. Anything less would be a bit of an insult 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbobtheflimbob Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 i heard that the t2 is no where near as manoeuvrable than the t1. i wouldn't be surprised if we see them flying Texan IIs, as they are replacing the tucanos and the cost of 9 f35s or typhoons would be huge. either that or them may reduce the size of the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F4u Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 (edited) T.1's with less hours....... Or T.2's Guy Edited November 1, 2016 by F4u Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhouse Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Frankly I wouldn't be surprised if the goverment chose to replace the Hawks with Cessna 150s. Much cheaper to buy and run, you see. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Vader Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 Microlites or paraglider things ? ? ? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy wood Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 (edited) If they were equipped with the Texan II I would rather see them disband; it would just not be the same. Speaking to a blue from the team a few years ago, I understand the plan was always to re equip with the T2 in 2018. He did mention that some manoeuvres would have to be rejigged due the different handling characteristics. I would have thought that national prestige and promotion of the British aerospace industry would demand the aircraft be a home grown product; Perhaps some tranche 1 tiffies currently in storage could be rolled out for a re spray? The team could be then have a wartime footing just like they did in the 80s and 90s when they would become part of the Mixed Fighter Force (MFF IIRC). I can but dream Edited November 1, 2016 by andy wood 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troffa Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 As there are few years before the purchase all sorts of opportunities may arise- Licence built Boeing-SAAB T-X's ? Leonardo M-346's? Not just for the RAFAT, but for the RAF in general... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted November 1, 2016 Share Posted November 1, 2016 (edited) Hmm well as the newish T2 will loose support from what I gather one can only assume that it will be MLSP mk1,.....but sounds like complete bs to me there are plenty of mk1 and 1a around. Of course the sensible decision is to disband the crimson crabs and reform the BLUE HERONS. It's obvious!!! FLY NAVY . Ps I love them really Edited November 2, 2016 by junglierating 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony C Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Aren't there still some Jaguars at Cosford? Could return 12 to airworthy and paint them red. Said in jest 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 9 Airbus A400Ms 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan B Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Bicycles! Some manoeuvres will have to be rejigged, for instance all that flying stuff but other than that it'll be a fine marker for British Governmental forward thinking (and we won't be able to get Visas to enter Europe by then anyway). Duncan B Written in jest (it would have to be tandems anyway) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spaddad Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Give it another 10 years and the Red Arrows will BE the air force. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingerbob Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 You've all overlooked the obvious- drones! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dot Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 8 hours ago, Duncan B said: Bicycles! Some manoeuvres will have to be rejigged, for instance all that flying stuff but other than that it'll be a fine marker for British Governmental forward thinking (and we won't be able to get Visas to enter Europe by then anyway). Duncan B Written in jest (it would have to be tandems anyway) the japanese do something similar with little mopeds decked out like planes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vickers McFunbus Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Considering the Red Arrows have acted as a BAe/BAE Systems sales tool for getting on for 4 decades, I think we can safely say it'll be the T2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhantomBigStu Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 does seem likely they will get some T2's though the billion dollar (or million pound ahem) question is how many, suspect it will be than a few less the current number Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardPrice Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 The way I read the long term plan several months ago, one of the Hawk training units that provides aggressor aircraft for training may be moved over to Typhoon F.2s, freeing up new or low hour Hawk T2s for the Red Arrows. Not sure if that will come to fruition however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ascoteer Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 100 Sqn don't operate the Hawk T2 neither does 736 NAS; they both operate the T1/T1A. The only T2s currently on the inventary (28 airframes) are those with IV Sqn at RAF Valley. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 100 squadron Typhoon? Yes please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ascoteer Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 1 hour ago, PhantomBigStu said: does seem likely they will get some T2's though the billion dollar (or million pound ahem) question is how many, suspect it will be than a few less the current number Well in order to support a Team of 10 aircraft you'd need significantly more than 10. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete in Lincs Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Nonsense, British built aeroplanes! What could go wrong? Ahem, sorry, must be these pills. The smoke could be a problem on Texan 2's. The exhausts are at the front and the jockeys need to be able to see where they're going! (Not to mention the mess down the sides!) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardPrice Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 18 minutes ago, Ascoteer said: 100 Sqn don't operate the Hawk T2 neither does 736 NAS; they both operate the T1/T1A. The only T2s currently on the inventary (28 airframes) are those with IV Sqn at RAF Valley. But there are plans to move them over to the T2 eventually, as the Hawk T1 will be phased out across the RAF, and thats the switchover I'm talking about - moving certain training squadrons over to the Eurofighter frees up T2s with no additional purchase needed as they are part of the planned buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ascoteer Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 But it doesn't. As I stated there are a mere 28 T2s in service. It is likely that 100 Sqn will relinquish its T1As for Tranche 1 Typhoons. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F4u Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 As Debs says there is only 28 T.2's so could it be T.1A's with lower hours then move on to whatever later on ? I also heard it through the grapevine that it would be T.1A's....... Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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