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Tommy Toes
05 Jun 14 14:10
Joined:
Date Joined: 20 Apr 04
| Topic/replies: 55,651 | Blogger: Tommy Toes's blog
In Portsmouth at the moment - on Sky News now.
Pause • Switch to Standard View Magnificent Display By The Red Arrows
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Report onlooker • June 5, 2014 2:27 PM BST
The BEST that I have ever seen.

TREMENDOUS - and awe-inspiring.

Well done, them. Happy
Report call me a taxi • June 5, 2014 2:27 PM BST
A good few years ago there were hundreds of people up on the clifftop at Beachy Head (That's Eastbournem Sussex, Tommy) watching them fly out to sea, over town and along the shoreline.

They flew off one at a time over the mainland, trailing red, white and blue smoke behind them, and everybody stood about quietly waiting for them to come back.

And when they did, they weren't that high up, and arriving at the speed they did it made quite a few people jump, every baby that was asleep was soon awake, dogs were barking and a lot of folks had to cover their ears because of the noise of the engines.

My mate had an expensive camera, and clicked away like mad, and of his 20+ shots in a few seconds he got just one plane in close up.
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 2:33 PM BST
That was absolutely fantastic!

Just the best air display you could ever see. If you've missed it, try to catch up with it somewhere.
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 2:38 PM BST
CMAT, some years ago (ten plus) I heard the most incredible roar of engines from what were obviously aeroplanes and rushed to the window - and was lucky enough to catch sight of the beautiful Red Arrows flying in formation to the west of me.

They must have been returning from/going to an airshow somewhere as I've never seen them again anywhere near here - but I was just happy to catch sight of them like that, totally out of the blue.

The sky was very blue that day too - which made the red colour of the planes even more spectacular.
Report houseofpain • June 5, 2014 2:58 PM BST
That was some display, did you see the marines storm the beach earlier tt, some of the old boys next to me loved it.
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 3:13 PM BST
I missed that, Houseofpain.

Hopefully they'll show it on some catch up programme somewhere later today/this week in a commemoration compendium.
Report houseofpain • June 5, 2014 3:24 PM BST
Yeah no doubt be on tv later, enjoy the sun.
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 3:25 PM BST
haha! Sun - in Stoke?!

That'll be sometime in late September!
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 3:26 PM BST
Parachutists now on a Hercules - Sky News.
Report houseofpain • June 5, 2014 3:26 PM BST
Thought you was in Portsmouth ha ha, misread your op.
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 3:26 PM BST
They've gone for an ad break!

Probably more stuff on in a bit.
Report Biscar Two from a mile back • June 5, 2014 3:27 PM BST
thought one of the parachutists looked in trouble, his lines had twisted imho Shocked
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 3:28 PM BST
Haha! No problem, Houseofpain!

I couldn't believe how nice the weather is in Portsmouth when I saw the display. It's like Stoke is a different entity altogether!
Report houseofpain • June 5, 2014 3:28 PM BST
I,m sat here in my shorts on the seafront thinking I wonder what one tt is lol.
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 3:31 PM BST
You lucky thing you - I've just had to put the central heating on. No kidding!

Have one for me - in the sun!
Report houseofpain • June 5, 2014 3:33 PM BST
Thx, enjoy the coverage.
Report man of many moods • June 5, 2014 6:35 PM BST
I took this photo of one of the Red Arrows while I was skydiving over the Akrotiri Peninsular. They come here every year to practice.

Report akabula • June 5, 2014 6:47 PM BST
Been really good to watch and a fitting tribute to those involved in the D-Day landings.
Saw come interviews on tv this morning of the veterans. One was 91 and as sharp as a tack and fit as a fiddle.
We do owe them so much.
Report Burton-Brewers • June 5, 2014 7:28 PM BST
saw the Red Arrows at Weymouth carnival some years ago, I also saw a group at Southport flower show who I think were Russian called the Grey Arrows. They flew the exact same plane but I can't seem to find any info on them, I must have dreamt it?
Report fronter • June 5, 2014 9:30 PM BST
Nice one momm - you daredevil you ! Wink
Report Tommy Toes • June 5, 2014 10:52 PM BST
Good skydiving photo MoMM!

In September 2011 there was another thread about the Red Arrows and this was posted by Besty.
Have a look at these superb photos he posted:

"Most definitely, I saw them at Fowey in Cornwall on the Thursday before the accident and they were awesome. They come in through the valley and come in on your eye level, it is unreal.

2 years ago it was hammering down with rain as we were waiting and the rain stopped and they came in through a rainbow, check out the photos:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6367038

Best of luck to them as well"
Report call me a taxi • June 7, 2014 12:16 PM BST
Great photos.
Report kenny mann • June 7, 2014 12:50 PM BST
They are quite magnificent, however I would be happy to see the displays cease.10 fatalities from around 150 pilots over the years is quite shocking.
Report sideshowbob • June 7, 2014 12:55 PM BST
they should stop when they get to 180
Report Tommy Toes • June 8, 2014 2:43 PM BST
kenny, I most certainly hope they never cease.

Do you think there's one member of the Red Arrows past or present who would say "I wish I'd never done it. It was too dangerous"?

We need things like the Red Arrows to brighten up our lives and create a sense of wonderment - and danger.

I'm getting very fed up with all the prissy, namby-pamby, 'that should be banned it's dangerous' attitudes out there.

The way things are going this world will be full of grey, spineless, lily-livered, cowardly pipsqueaks before very much longer.

You can see them encroaching all about.

Well they can bugger off!
Report kenny mann • June 8, 2014 3:04 PM BST
Do you think there's one member of the Red Arrows past or present who would say "I wish I'd never done it. It was too dangerous"?

Yes, the ten that bought it.
Report Tommy Toes • June 8, 2014 3:04 PM BST
I'll bet they wouldn't.
Report kenny mann • June 8, 2014 3:05 PM BST
and their wives,mothers and children.
Report Tommy Toes • June 8, 2014 3:06 PM BST
That's a moot point - about the relatives.

There's more to life than being dead you know.
Report kenny mann • June 8, 2014 3:23 PM BST
Indeed there is.

But if you were a pilot and told you were going to be killed in 3 months if you continued, you wouldn't continue as a pilot. You'd stop there and then if only for your families.
Report Tommy Toes • June 8, 2014 3:28 PM BST
kenny, if someone told you that the next time you set out of the house to buy cat food you'd be run over by a bus would that stop you?

Life's about taking chances - and the way you take them.

It's up to the individual to decide what he/she wants to do and not some 'big brother' state declaring it's too risky for them.
Report wit-ham • June 8, 2014 3:30 PM BST
KM no point being the richest man in the graveyard
Report Tommy Toes • June 8, 2014 3:31 PM BST
And you can't presume people would stop there and then for the sake of their families.

It's their lives and their sole decision.
Report kenny mann • June 8, 2014 3:32 PM BST
Report kenny mann • June 8, 2014 3:38 PM BST
Tommy. Your original question.

Do you think there's one member of the Red Arrows past or present who would say "I wish I'd never done it. It was too dangerous"?

My answer,the ten that bought it, if only for their family. Which would be true with prior knowledge of their demise.

The cat food example is silly. 7% of the pilots have been killed.

How many people get killed crossing the road?
Report kenny mann • June 8, 2014 3:40 PM BST
Anyway the Red Arrows are unlikely to last much longer. Too British.
Report Tommy Toes • June 8, 2014 3:47 PM BST
How do you know it would be true if they had prior knowledge?

They may hate their family and live for flying and would rather enjoy every last second of their life in the air - rather than being stuck forever doing something they didn't like, surrounded by people they couldn't stand.

7% is no big deal whatsoever - and even if it was 50% - so what?

Let folk live, not exist.
Report kenny mann • June 8, 2014 3:50 PM BST
Well it's likely to be true.

You've lost that one although you'll never admit it.

Going for some cat food.

Wish me luck.
Report Tommy Toes • June 8, 2014 3:51 PM BST
hahaha! I haven't lost at all - and well you know it!

"Be careful out there"!
Report call me a taxi • June 8, 2014 4:14 PM BST
The way things are going this world will be full of grey, spineless, lily-livered, cowardly pipsqueaks before very much longer.

That's 90% of the politics forum.
Report man of many moods • June 8, 2014 4:40 PM BST
I have to agree with Tommy. Acceptable risks are acceptable, especially when you're young. Life is for living, and living is free.
Report call me a taxi • June 8, 2014 6:11 PM BST
living is free.

Excellent.
Me and the Mrs will be out there to stay for a month from next Saturday.
Pick us up at the airport.
Report Tommy Toes • June 9, 2014 8:57 AM BST
I've come across this brilliant Twitter account from one of the Red Arrows crew:

https://twitter.com/RAFRed10

Just click on the 'pictures and media' tab to the left hand side to see some stunning pictures of the Red Arrows, both currently and from down the years. No need to sign up to Twitter to be able to view them.

This is a particular favourite - The Red Arrows flying in formation with Concorde:

pic.twitter.com/4uJmaUQssr


And this is a photo of the first time the Red Arrows ever flew with Concorde:

pic.twitter.com/mhAoX5AKB0


It's still unbelievable that they took the great plane out of service.
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