Forum for residents of St Georges Park and Long Leys Road Lincoln

[john shipton]

This should be of interest to some residents. The media are publishing details while both TV and radio will announce it.

There were strong rumours throughout Lincolnshire that would be a presentation by the famous Red Arrows giving their final display over the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre on Wednesday, 17th October. But while the presentation is true, the flying display is not.

This type of rumour has been similar with the controversy of whether or not the Red Arrows have been denied opening the ceremony of the 2012 Olympics which is to held in London. But when looking at this so-called decision, the reality is that it is far too early to discuss the RAF Aerobatic Team's participation.

Their United Kingdom flying season finished on the 30th September where the Red Arrows did a full display off the coast of nearby South Shields which was for the benefit of runners who took part in the "Great North Run" televised on BBC TV.

The Red Arrows were formed in 1965 and currently have a 100 strong team and personnel. It is officially based at RAF Scampton, near the city of Lincoln.

Friends of Metheringham Airfield are being visited by members of the Red Arrows Aerobatic Display Team and the main speaker for the evening will be Warrant Officer John May, who is their Adjutant and Organiser.

His talk will be called "Flying with the Red Arrows" covering their history and looking back at previous RAF display teams before the mid 1960s.

The lecture will begin 7.30pm on the 17th October and will be held in the former WW2 gymnasium.

Admission for visitors will be £3.00 which will include refreshments. It is free for members of Friends of Metheringham Airfield and those of 106 Squadron who flew from RAF Metheringham.

Care to take a seat with the colours of red, white and blue meeting together in mid air!

John Shipton,

Press Officer,

Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre, Lincoln.

[SteveW]

15 years ago I was working for MoD Estates when someone in Whitehall decided it would be a cracking idea to move the Red Arrows from Scampton to Cranwell. Feasibility studies were carried out and several buildings were upgraded at Cranwell to house them. Relocation of the Bulldog Squadron, build new dye bays, alter the Hangars etc etc. A couple of years later and upwards of 9 million spent just on construction alone, they moved only to find that this bright spark had overlooked the fact there was insufficient airspace above Cranwell and everytime they took off, they needed to fly back around Scampton with Air Traffic being manned, all services on standby. Costly you may think!

After approx 15 months they said this was not good practice so they moved back to Scampton. Thats what I call wasting Tax Payers money....................and Mr Shipton thinks our City Council wastes money, theirs would be a drop in the ocean compared with the MoD..

[john shipton]

The Red Arrows team have contacted me saying that two team members who test pilot and deal with the maintenance of the Hawk aircraft will be at the talk too.
They are Squadron Leader Ed Williams and
Flt/Lt Allison Scott.
Should be good!