Red Arrows leader hits out at pilots who force team to cancel their display
THE leader of the Red Arrows has hit out at pilots who fly in temporarily restricted airspace after being forced to cancel a show.
The RAF Scampton-based team had been due to show off their skills at Silverstone earlier this month, but were forced to call off the display when there were ten infringements into restricted airspace.
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Squadron Leader Ben Murphy, Red 1.
Leader of the Red Arrows Squadron Leader Ben Murphy, Red 1, said: "While it is pleasing to see infringements in general are decreasing, it is sad to note they still occur.
"A Red Arrows display is, by its nature, an extremely physically and mentally demanding environment for my pilots and requires 100 per cent of their concentration."
Whenever an infringement into restricted airspace happens, the workload for the leader and other key members of the team jumps, meaning the displays would then be compromised.
Sqd Ldr Murphy said: "Even if there is no risk of collision at this point, the very fact our attention is diverted away from the primary task of flying the display is a hazard in itself."
10 Comments
by Gnome Chomsky, RAF Scampton
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 10:58PM
“If I wanted to kill people, I wouldn't bother to 'fly planes round and round in circles'. I would go out and kill people.
The Red Arrows are not an offensive force, they are a display team. They highlight what their aircraft and pilots can do. They do not fluoridate water or vote with their own Government. They are not responsible for Slovenian language lessons or other serious conspiracies.
I wonder whether BAE sponsorship would save or cost us money, though. No airshow, anywhere in the world, is complete without the Arrows.”
by Will, The Shire
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 10:32PM
“I do love proving ignorant idiots wrong.
The RAFAT (otherwise known as the Red Arrows) bring in absolutely no end of foreign investment, money which we quite frankly need at the moment.
Given all the MOD cuts, do you not think that the Red Arrows would have been chopped if they weren't doing their part to improve the financial situation of the UK and MOD. From now on, engage brain before commenting.”
by Emma, Lincoln
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 8:04PM
“Garry, Anon and Angry Taxpayer: there's this thing called The Bigger Picture. The MoD can see it. You can't.”
by Garry, Lincs
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 7:22PM
“Waste of tax payers cash, give the money to the front line.”
by Garry Atkinson, Lincs
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 7:20PM
“Total waste of taxpayers money, give it to the soldiers that are actually making a difference in the world.”
by Ben, Lincoln
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 4:11PM
“@Angry Taxpayer and Anon
Click here ;-)”
by Anon, Lincoln
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 3:46PM
“The Red Arrows are a waste of money. You see them once, who would want to see the same stuff again and again, and the pollution in the sky can not be good for the enviroment.So many cut backs in the Raf, the loss of personnel, not enough front line equipement, not enough air worthy aircraft. Use the RED ARROW MONEY for something more useful and necessary”
by Angry Taxpayer, Lincolnshire
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 2:07PM
“Stop the aggro, easy, just get rid of the BORING Red Arrows. The RAF do not need to advertise for pilots, as they will soon shrink to nothing more than a couple of dozen squadrons, with more highly paid Air Ranks than aircraft. British Aerospace are the main benefactor of the Red Arrows, let them fund it 100% and let them supply the posers who fly it. In these times of MASSIVE defence cuts, the Red Arrows should be the TOP of the list to be got rid of as unnnecessary spending, this money could be used elsewhere to better effect. Replace them with a Squadron of Typhoons, and rename them "White Elephants", that is the only way the RAF should look after the Red Arrows. Stop the building of a new hangar at RAF Waddington, there are still 5 good hangars at RAF Scampton, because if the Reds do survive the cuts, RAF Scampton airfield will still be used daily during the training build up, so will not save much money if the move to Waddington continues, HOW MUCH to build a hangar and a few offices at Waddington, not much change from £15,000,000, again, this money SHOULD be spent for the front line.”
by Philip, Lincoln
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 10:04AM
“They are part of the Royal Air Force with the right to shoot down aircraft in restricted air space (or should have the right), Arm the Red Arrows, and then watch how many private planes get inn the way”
by Nick, Lincoln
Tuesday, August 31 2010, 8:04AM
“Nice one Ben, unfortunately it seems morons inhabit every part of transportation. They should be grounded by the CAA for any infringement. It's like taking a mountain bike while a superbike race is on. The Red Arrows have better things to worry about than a few muppets in the air.”