Save the Air Force!

[the Black Prince]

ok, anyone remember my thread about the Royal Navy...

well the government is at it again...! no surprise there


tbf, this thread title is a bit misleading, its not the entire air force thats under threat, just a highly visible icon of it.

the Red Arrows Aerobatic Display Team.

the MoD has announced that funding for the Red Arrows is under review.

Acknowledged as one of the world’s premier aerobatic teams, The Red Arrows are the public face of the Royal Air Force. The Red Arrows exist to demonstrate the professional excellence of the RAF and promote recruitment to the RAF. Evidence shows that The Red Arrows have inspired a significant number of people to join the RAF, both as officers and airmen, and to all trades, not just aircrew.

The Team contributes to Defence Diplomacy, and supports wider British interests through the promotion of British industry overseas. The Hawk aircraft flown by the Team and most of its components are all British made. Thus during overseas tours The Red Arrows demonstrate both British skill and British technology to an enormous number of people each year.

trying to find any source for the story on MoD pages is of course pointless. the only negative story i've ever seen published there was when the navy was forced to announce a force wide halt on all promotions because of cost cutting.

But you can find it on BBC news
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/l...re/6353355.stm

i also urge every british citizen here to sign the petition on the Downing Street website and add your voice

Following admission by the MoD that funding for the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team - The Red Arrows - is to be reviewed under the latest Defence spending review, we, the British Public implore the Prime Minister to maintain funding to one of this country's most visible and recognisable symbols.

The Team stands as an internationally recognised symbol of the high standards and fine traditions of the British Military and in a time when this country has fewer things to be proud of, should be permitted to publicise the Armed Forces of this nation.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/SaveTheReds/


first the navy, now the air force, are we actually going to have an armed force left by the time the government is finished making cuts left right and centre?

[the Black Prince]

Here's another good one!

Save the Parachute Regiment!

members of the Paras, Britains elite airborne assault regiment will no longer recieve parachute training from next year to 2011 because its too epensive!

a paratrooper with out parachute training.... hmmm, thats going to be interesting to watch

[LoZz]

i am sure the red arrows if it does happen could suvive on public donations.

and ive been told that the paras story is aload of bollox. a friend of mine is in it, its not going to happen

and lets be honest.

we have the largest armed forces in europe (if you dont include russia as part of europe)

i think we are the 4th largest spender on defence in the world after the usa, china and one other nation i cant remember.

so we can afford to lose a few things. i mean the navy cuts, those ships are not being decomissioned or distroyed, their just being put into dry dock, if war did break out they could be refitted and launched back out to sea in no time, thats what they did in the falklands i think and we still won!!

the red arrows is just a display team, would you rather see a real squadron go? and at the same time, new ships and planes are in the pipeline being built as we speak

[VALIS]

Dear tBP
Kind Regards

I have always thought the parachute training is unnessecery and unneeded.
The parachute regiment has not done an operational drop since suez in 1956.
Having a parachute regiment is a complete waste of money.
As for the Red Arrows.They are the best aerobatic Display Team in the world and should not be scrapped.I will be against there disbandment wholeheartedly.

Yours Thankfully
MoralMan