Reflections on the Red Arrows
Tuesday 23rd August 2011, 7:10AM BST.
It is unspeakably sad that a fine young RAF pilot has died while performing with the Red Arrows, writes Peter Rhodes.
But it should focus minds on a pertinent question: what is the point of the Red Arrows?
The team was formed in 1965 in the depths of the Cold War. Conscription had ended, the RAF had no combat role and the Red Arrows helped keep the RAF in the public eye.
These days, the RAF is in daily action over Afghanistan and Libya. It does not need a pack of Hawks trailing coloured smoke over fetes, garden parties and air shows to make the point that RAF pilots are brave and hugely skilled.
The RAF waged a five-month campaign to bring down the Gaddafi regime in Libya and lost not a single pilot. But on the eve of victory Flight Lieutenant John Egging perished entertaining a crowd of holidaymakers at Bournemouth.
Ironic does not begin to describe it.
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“a pack of Hawks trailing coloured smoke over fetes”.
Have you ever witnessed a red arrows display? They are one of, if not the best display teams in the world. It makes you proud to be British.
The reds are a vital part of recruitment for then RAF, they are what got me interested in the first place.
Are you suggestiing that the red arrows should stop performing, or maybe that operations in Libya and Afghanistan are inherently safer than flying displays?
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Everyone knows that all pilots in the RAF are brave and hugely skilled that goes without saying.
I can’t believe someone has written ‘what is the point of the red arrows’!!
The point is they provide a symbol of everything that is great in this country and also represent us at many air displays every year and provide the public with breathtaking manouvres and displays which no one will want to lose. Other countries have their own display teams but the Reds are always a class above. I am sure all the Arrows pilots enjoy what they do and would not want to stop because of some numpty who has nothing better to write about.
It was was tragedy that one pilot lost his life recently but I am sure the rest of team will want to get straight back up there to honour him.
Long live the Red Arrows!!!
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Had this been bought up before the accident there could have been a more meaningful debate, but this smacks of bandwagon jumping. More lazy ‘journalism’ I’m afraid.
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I don’t quite get the point of this article- its feel like it was started just before home time and Mr Rhodes really couldn’t be bothered to finish it properly or even insert any decent comment in the middle.
Maybe he should venture out of the office occasionally and go and watch The Arrows perform, then he might understand the incredible skill required to fly these planes inches apart at such high speeds and that these displays are a demonstration of the years of training by the best pilots the RAF have produced. As a tool to inspire and recruit people to the forces its probably way more effective than many other means.
Step away from your laptop you lazy fool, get out into the real world and do some constructive journalism for a change.
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No doubt these pilots and planes should be better used to napalm rioters Mr Rhodes?
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“What is the point of Peter Rhodes?”
Almost every line, paragraph and column inch is usually full of whining, moaning and bile. This then is almost always presented as an attempt at giving a “Common-Sense Viewpoint” on some current issue.
This time however you’ve stooped too low with Flt. Lt. Egging’s memory. I’m not so sure that the family and friends feel the “irony” in the way you so tactlessly point out above.
I have a subscription with the Express and Star, I’ll be cancelling this week.
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I was laughing and joking with Eggman six days before his death, and have spent a fair amount of time with all the pilots over the past few years. These men – and women – are proud to represent the R.A.F., and as such play their part in helping to recruit future pilots who may, at some stage, be required to fight future wars. I may be biased, but negative viewpoints like this will aggrevate a lot more people than you might think!
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Each time I read one of his columns; I think it is tragic. A talented journalist turned into a bitter man with just a few paragraphs of bile every week or so.
What is the point of Peter Rhodes?
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Paul
This man and this paper are new to me, but reading some of the other comments made here, Peter Rhodes does sem to have sensationalised this story to suit his column inches needs. If this is his usual stance, then he can literally be filed under the “Waste-of-Space” catagory.
( my comments are listed below yours )
Doug Smith
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People are asking “What is the point of Peter Rhodes?”.
The answer is to precis the headlines of the Daily Mail & Daily Express, thus enabling us to continue our lives without having to put money into the coffers of these pathetic comics.
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At the risk of being pilloried by the above contributors, I have to agree with Mr Rhodes. Flying jets is a risky business. It therefore follows that such flying should only take place when necessary – not for the purposes of amusement. This poor man has not only lost his life on a pointless exercise, he has left grieving friends and family who must now be wondering if it was all worth it.
Consider this. If he was your son, husband or fiance, would you not be asking the question, was flying around trailing smoke for the amusement of others worth the inquest,funeral and decades of grieving and lost years ?
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