General Chat

A Norfolk-based pilot is to become the first woman to join the Red Arrows.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team has announced that Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore from RAF Marham has been selected to join the world-famous Diamond Nine for the 2010 display season.

The 31-year-old will join Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank from RAF Cottesmore.

A spokesman for the Red Arrows said: “The team will enthral millions with their exhilarating manoeuvres, demonstrating the skills and excellence of the Royal Air Force, promoting British industry and contributing to defence diplomacy.

“Kirsty is not the first female to have applied to join the Red Arrows, but was the first to make the prestigious shortlist of candidates, and is now the first to be selected for the team.”

For more information on Red Arrows visit www.raf.mod.uk/reds

Beat ya to it!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cdnmilitary/women-cdnmilitary.html

1992: Cpl. Marlene Shillingford becomes the first woman selected to join the Snowbirds team. The Snowbirds are the Air Force's aerobatic demonstration flying team.

2001: Capt. Maryse Carmichael is the first female Snowbird pilot.

(Dunno; Shillingford was selected but didn't pilot?)


Congratulations to Flight Lt Moore!

Hiya Kathryn, nice to see you posting. Hope you are ok.

Maybe Cpl. Shillingford was only back up pilot or something and never got to fly, and then later Maryse Carmichael actually flew the plane.

I watched a programme a while back about the selection etc of the Red Arrow pilots and I think I saw the Snowbirds in action on the programme too.

I love the Red Arrows and because we live near Norwich Airport we often see them, they have flown over the field at the end of the garden the last two years, close to or on my birthday, on their way back from various shows, they come down at Norwich for a refuel and lunch etc sometimes.

I was looking at their programme for this year, only the other day.

Lizx

MAY 2009
24 - Southend Airshow, Essex

25 - Southend Airshow, Essex

30 - The Volvo Ocean Race Galway Air Display, Salthill

30 - La Ferte Alais, Cerny Airfield, France


JUNE 2009
03 - Private Event

06 - The Heart of Scotland Airshow, Perth

07 - Cazaux Airshow, France

09 - Isle of Man TT Races, Douglas

09 - Isle of Man TT Races, Ramsey

13 - Queen's Birthday Flypast, London

13 - Isle of Wight Rock Festival, Newport

14 - Royal Air Force Cosford Airshow, Shropshire

19 - Royal Netherlands Air Force Open Day, Volkel, Holland

20 - Kemble Airshow 2009, Gloucestershire

20 - Margate Airshow 2009, Kent

21 - British F1 Grand Prix at Silverstone, Northamptonshire

24 - Freedom of Forres Parade 2009, Highlands, Scotland

27 - Biggin Hill International Air Fair, Kent

28 - Meeting Du Centenaire, Reims, France

28 - Biggin Hill International Air Fair

JULY 2009
02 - Royal Air Force Waddington International Airshow, Lincolnshire

02 - Tain Gala, Ross-shire, Scotland

03 - 75th Anniversary, Civil Aircraft Engineering School, Perth College, Scotland

03 - Goodwood Festival of Speed, Sussex

04 - Royal Air Force Waddington International Airshow, Lincolnshire

05 - Goodwood Festival of Speed, Sussex

05 - Royal Air Force Waddington International Airshow, Lincolnshire

10 - Wakestock Festival, Abersoch, Wales

11 - Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton International Air Day, Somerset

11 - Swansea Airshow, Wales

12 - Swansea Airshow, Wales

14 - Valenciennes Airshow, France

16 - Private Military Event

18 - Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire

19 - Otterburn Festival, Northumberland

19 - Royal International Air Tattoo, Fairford, Gloucestershire

22 - Private Military Event

22 - Lyme Regis RNLI Boat Week, Dorset

23 - Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival, Suffolk

23 - Private Military Event

24 - Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival, Suffolk

24 - Private Military Event

25 - Sunderland International Airshow, Tyne & Wear

25 - Swanage Bay Regatta & Carnival, Dorset

25 - 100th Anniversary Bleriot (Flypast) Dover 2009 Event

26 - Sunderland International Airshow, Tyne & Wear

26 - Windermere Airshow, Cumbria

AUGUST 2009
07 - Skandia Cowes Week, Isle of Wight

08 - Private Military Event

08 - Bristol International Balloon Festival, Somerset

09 - Salcombe Regatta, Devon

09 - Blackpool Promenade Air Display, Lancashire

10 - Private Military Event

12 - Falmouth Regatta, Cornwall

13 - Eastbourne International Airshow, East Sussex

14 - Eastbourne International Airshow, East Sussex

15 - Eastbourne International Airshow, East Sussex

16 - Eastbourne International Airshow, East Sussex

16 - Galloway Country Fair, Scotland

19 - Cromer Carnival, Norfolk

19 - Weymouth Carnival, Dorset

20 - Dawlish Carnival & Airshow, Devon

20 - Fowey Royal Regatta, Cornwall

21 - Bournemouth Air Festival, Dorset

22 - Bournemouth Air Festival, Dorset

23 - Bournemouth Air Festival, Dorset

23 - Roskilde Airshow, Denmark

24 - Whitby Regatta, North Yorkshire

26 - Torbay Royal Regatta, Devon

27 - Clacton Airshow, Essex

28 - Clacton Airshow, Essex

28 - Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, Devon

29 - Private Military Event

30 - Radom International Airshow, Poland

30 - Dunsfold Wings & Wheels, Surrey

31 - Eye Show, Suffolk

31 - RNLI Hoylake Open Day, Merseyside

SEPTEMBER 2009
03 - Plymouth Hoe Seafront Airshow, Devon

05 - Northern Ireland International Airshow, Portrush

05 - Duxford Airshow, Cambridgeshire

06 - Shackerstone Family Festival, Leicestershire

06 - Northern Ireland International Airshow, Portrush

10 - Guernsey Royal Air Force Association Airshow, Guernsey

10 - Jersey International Airshow, Jersey

12 - Royal Air Force Leuchars Battle of Britain at Home Day, Scotland

13 - Fly to the Past, Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire

13 - Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Start, Hull Marina

17 - Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity Clay Shoot, Pangbourne, Berkshire

18 - White Air Brighton, East Sussex

19 - Private Military Event

20 - Great North Run flypast and display, Newcastle

20 - Non-public event

24 - Monaco Yacht Show, France

26 - Southport Airshow, Merseyside

26 - Berlin Airlift 60th Anniversary Flypast, National Arboretum, Staffordshire

27 - Southport Airshow, Merseyside

28 - Closed Military Event

I have to admit to not being a fan.

http://www.stephen-roberts.com/TorStar(01)-4-Sep-1989.htm

Two Snowbirds planes collided over Lake Ontario at an air show during the summer Exhibition. One pilot managed to eject before his burning plane hit the lake, the other didn't. That's the incident I remember (from the news; I wasn't there). There have been others.

I see the Red Arrows have had them too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Arrows#Red_Arrows_accidents_and_incidents

Cost-benefit analyses seem to support maintaining these outfits - public relations, international prestige, recruiting, etc. I'm just not a risk-taker personally and I think these practices are just unnecessarily risky! Including for the public. One of your Red Arrows hit a house once, it seems.

Now, I'll tell you what is a sight to see.

Some years ago, there was an airshow where I was living. I'd been to the mall with one of the little girls on the block. We came out just at that moment before dusk when everything is startlingly clear.

Right overhead was ... well, on first impression, a scene from a sci fi movie, an updated War of the Worlds.

Some strange alien-looking aircraft was almost directly overhead, and for just a frozen instant it seemed like it was hovering there practically within reach.

I found out later that it was a US Stealth bomber. This is about how it looked, although not quite so perfectly centred overhead. ;)

http://www.gtoufo.com/b-2_stealth%20bomber.jpg

Now that was a sight to see over the shopping mall parking lot!

Just looked at that stealth bomber, what a spectacular sight! Kinda spooky too depending on the light around you.

Lizx

n

Not being biased at all,in the slightest but the Red Arrows ARE the best in the world.

lets hope she doesnt blot her copybook by scratching the paint, while parking......LOL

Re: Stealth....allegedly the research and prototypes were the reason that the UFO spottings were given so much publicity.........and fostered......

Hee Hee that pic looks more frightening than the Stealth in Broken Arrow.....

Bob