@maggiemae this was taken at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, the new home of the Red Arrows ( previously they were across the city at Scampton). They are home this week for the coronation flypast, but before that they were training in Croatia for PDA ( public display authority) which they have to do every year in order to to do public displays. They go to warmer climes, as the weather at this time in UK doesn’t always allow them to practice properly - or at least that is what they say - I’m inclined to think it’s a bit of a “jolly” abroad - or am I just cynical….😉
Love your comment to Maggie. Definitely not cynical and definitely a 'jolly' They used to go to Cyprus for a couple of months each year when we were there. Nice weather cheap food and LOA (Local Overseas Allowance) of quite a lot of money on top of their pilot pay.
@onewing@carole_sandford I think you’re both 100% accurate in your cynicism. It is a jolly. They do the majority of their displays in the United Kingdom in garbage weather, they should practice in it. And not go to somewhere warm with as Babs says LOA and other financial benefits. Sadly, I am not sure for how much longer the UK Government will subsidise them. They are very expensive, and the airframes are obsolete.
@mcsiegle yes & no. They did the flat flypast formation, but they were in the middle of exercise Springhawk, which is what they do every year, to gain PDA ( public display authority), so really it was a continuation of that.
May 8th, 2023
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Love your comment to Maggie. Definitely not cynical and definitely a 'jolly' They used to go to Cyprus for a couple of months each year when we were there. Nice weather cheap food and LOA (Local Overseas Allowance) of quite a lot of money on top of their pilot pay.
@onewing @carole_sandford I think you’re both 100% accurate in your cynicism. It is a jolly. They do the majority of their displays in the United Kingdom in garbage weather, they should practice in it. And not go to somewhere warm with as Babs says LOA and other financial benefits. Sadly, I am not sure for how much longer the UK Government will subsidise them. They are very expensive, and the airframes are obsolete.