Red Arrows to fly as a 7 ship for the 2026 season

[JasonT1981]

Looks like I will still see them 5 times this year despite them missing RIAT.

[JasonT1981]

7 Ship will continue until 2030

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/red-arrows-fly-just-seven-170600220.html

[angry turnip]

Old Engines  

The BAE Hawk T1 has a slightly modifed RR Adour engine which gave better performance for aerobatic manoeuvres over the standard engine, or at least I think I read that somewhere,yonks ago.

The more modern versions use the  Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk. 951 turbofan, I would have thought the remaining  Reds aircraft could be upgraded.

Sky News maybe talking out of their Daily Mail, if you get my drift.

[angry turnip]

It appears to be a bit more than engine spares, it's a shortage of airframes which makes a bit more sense.
I believe there are some Hawk T1's in storage at or near RAF Shawbury in the midlands.

More here from BBC News website...   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9p8rvl0d0o

[JasonT1981]

Reds have set off on their US tour today according to FB.

I question why, if they have dropped to 7 to preserve airframes and old engines, why would they instantly go on a US tour, covering many thousands of miles there and back as well as transits to US airshows.

I saw them twice at the weekend, Kings flypast was good with 4x F35s in formation with them. Cosford was my first chance to see their display this year, pretty much the same as every year but the "Cascade" to close the show was actually pretty good along with the double Goose this year.

[angry turnip]

I agree,seems rather contradictory to go all that way,the transits etc and back again.
To be honest I don`t think it`s to do with conserving the airframes and engines at all, I think it`s simply a cost cutting excercise and the MOD want the teams costs reduced.

The Hawk is still in production in several different versions,powered by various types of the Adour engine.
I think the RAF would be wise to retire the Reds T1/T1A`s at the end of this season,and re-equip with one of the more modern variants.
The team exist to promte the RAF and also the British Aerospace Industry, so it makes little sense to keep using the older model.Supposedly the T2 isn`t suitable for the Reds role,something about the different wing on the T2.Not sure if that is entirely accurate,but I recall reading something about it a while back.
Surely something could be worked out for the Reds to use a modern variant?

We don`t need to be buying any more US built aircraft for our military in my view.

[JasonT1981]

Red 10 did give an indication as to how the team will move forward.

This years 2 pilots that have been dropped from displays, will move onto the main team displays next season, and 2 new ones will come in for 2027 for  9 ship flypasts, then move to the team in 2028 etc.

At least that is how I understood it.