What makes a Red Arrows display so spectacular?

Question

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Answer 1

I sit in my garden at home and watch them practise. (Just north of Lincoln) and I am constantly impressed.

I think knowing how much preparation goes into even the simplest manoeuvre brings home to you just how professional these guys are. They are a credit to the RAF.

I think it's the speed that makes them so spectacular.

Answer 2

It's nail-biting, isn't it. I remember seeing them rehearse over Farnborough some 25 years ago;absolutely stunning.

They do have their own web-site, and one of the questions asked by another answerer on how they got their name is there;

"By 1965, RAF training aircraft were predominantly red in colour. The ‘arrows’ part of the title was in recognition of the Black Arrows, a very popular squadron aerobatic team in the late 50s and early 60s."

An 'arrow' flies fast through the air, and the planes used in the display are the fastest fighter planes in use by the RAF. Currently they are Hawks; the ones I would have seen would have been Gnats.

Less welcome displays were those we experienced living along the Welsh borders. The RAF must practice low-level flying - it's essential in time of war, but to experience it without warning can cause a frisson of anxiety, to say the least....

Answer 3

They fly fast, they fly in formation, they fly very close to each other so there looks to the untrained eye as if what they are doing is highly dangerous (it is but they take a bit of the danger out by doing all their training).

They make pretty patterns in the sky with their smoke - e.g. a heart with an arrow through it.

Answer 4

We like to see the pilots showing their skill under emotional pressure, and real G-force pressure.
We like to see the way that they can almost do anything with their planes.
We like to see the multicoloured jets of smoke billow out of their tales as they perform faultless maneuvers, tricks and airplane magic.
In the drop of a hat they can surprise us by changing direction.
This is why the Red Arrows display is so spectacular

Answer 5

They appear to be dangerously close especially when they fly head on and seem to just miss each other. The pilots must have steel nerves to pull of some of the moves they do as it is scary enough just watching them. Also you know that there is an element of danger because of the rare incidents in the past when they have crashed into each other

Answer 6

Its the formation and the precision that they fly with! Think of the discipline that goes into the training! There are a lot of fly bys with each other! Theres got to be a lot of close calls! Its just amazing what they can do! I must say i have seen them live and I still get shivers down my spine when i think of it! Its Totally amazing! But then I think you have to be crazy about planes to be that way!!!1

Answer 7

I find the display so graceful and spectacular !
I witnessed a terrible crash of two jets between the piers in Brighton in the 70s and that took joy away somewhat

Answer 8

People working together as a team - Being in contol of a Leader - 100% comittment + Living on the edge + Wishing we could do the same. Ect Ect

Answer 9

i thing we humans stand in awe of what goes on in the sky. and i think everyone would want to know how to fly or experience it. we get a rush when we see the red arrows tearing up the air waves pulling incredible manoeuvre's. i thinks its because it makes you realise we can experience it it is possible for man to fly like a bird kinda. cos you don't see no 747 pulling those kinda tricks. THAT MY FRIEND WOULD BE OUT OF THIS WORLD.

Answer 10

When they actually show up and you get to see it in person!

Any display by the Red Arrows is surely always spectacular so actually seeing it makes it so spectacular!

:-)