Red Arrows crisis as iconic display team running out of jets & RAF forced to raid old planes for parts
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THE Red Arrows are running out of aircraft, The Sun can reveal.
The legendary RAF team has 13 working jets and may be down to six by 2028, which would end their trademark 'diamond nine' display.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
8
Britain's Red Arrows are running out of aircraft
Credit: Bav Media
8
Their much-loved shows could end up being cancelled due to the ageing fleet
Credit: Bav Media
8
They may be down to just six Hawk T1s by 2028
Credit: SWNS
Their fleet of ageing jets could see their much-loved shows being cancelled, sources claimed last night.
Their creaking fleet entered service in 1974 — and the factory that made spare parts closed five years ago.
Engineers have since been forced to cannibalise old planes to keep the best ones flying.
A source told The Sun: 'There are no two ways about it — the Red Arrows are running out of planes.'
Read more on Red Arrows
WHEN IN ROME King and Queen enjoy action-packed day in Rome with Red Arrows flypast
The number of working aircraft has dropped from 26 in January to just 17 today.
Four are in so-called deep maintenance, so just 13 are available to fly.
The massive G-forces in Red Arrows air shows, compared to other 'sedate' fly-pasts, rapidly reduces jet lifespan.
The source added: 'Planes can only fly so many shows before they need new parts.
"So either they get new planes or they have to cancel shows.'
British solution
RAF chief Sir Richard Knighton has indicated he wants a replacement for the Hawk 'as soon as possible'.
The Sun revealed in April that Russian jets were being considered for the Red Arrows, which have only ever flown British planes since they were formed 61 years ago.
Incredible moment Red Arrows jets soar over Buckingham Palace in stunning footage captured from inside the cockpit
But sources close to Defence Secretary John Healey insist he wants a British solution.
The only UK contender is a concept plane called the Aeralis Advanced Jet Trainer.
What message does it send if the RAF can't even field nine trainer aircraft because our politicians can't make a decision on what to buy?
RAF source
An RAF source said: 'The whole point of the Red Arrows is to be RAF ambassadors and to showcase British industry.
'What message does it send if the RAF can't even field nine trainer aircraft, or can't perform a full season of shows because our politicians can't make a decision on what to buy?'
8
RAF chief Sir Richard Knighton wants replacements 'as soon as possible'
Credit: Rex
8
Just 13 of the jets are currently available to fly
Credit: SWNS
8
The G-force in Red Arrows' shows reduces the jets' lifespan
Credit: SWNS
8
The Red Arrows fly over The Mall during the King's Coronation
Credit: Getty
The Hawk T1s are due to retire in 2030 while the Hawk T2s — which train RAF pilots — will go out of service in 2040.
Ex-RAF Air Marshal Edward Stringer said pilot numbers have also been cut and warned the plane shortage is 'a symptom of a much bigger problem'.
An RAF spokesperson said last night: 'The Red Arrows will continue to use the Hawk to perform its much-loved displays each year.
"We continue to work closely with industry partners to ensure the fleet is maintained.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Statesman
an hour ago
- New Statesman
Greta Thunberg knows what she's doing
Photo by Anders Wiklund/AFP There's something about Greta Thunberg that provokes hot-blooded fury among a certain demographic. The rage the 22-year-old activist from Stockholm regularly incurs is on a similar level to that often incited by the Montecito-based Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. The latest act which the founder of Skolstrejk för Kilmatet ('Fridays for Future') has undertaken was boarding a vessel chartered by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which attempted to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza through the current partial Israeli blockade. On Monday, the boat carrying Thunberg and other activists was intercepted by Israeli forces who boarded the vessel before accompanying it back to shore. The Israeli government has since deported Thunberg. Various predictable charges have been hurled at Thunberg (who guest-edited this magazine in 2022). Enraged critics have said that her participation was just a publicity-stunt or that she put herself in needless danger just to make a point. The Israeli foreign ministry nicknamed the British-flagged Madleen Yacht, which carried Thunberg and 12 others across the sea from Sicily, the 'selfie-yacht' when announcing that it had been seized. One article in the New York Post accused Thunberg of pretending to be in handcuffs after arriving in France following her deportation. Countless posts on X have mocked Thunberg, or have called her 'self-righteous', with one post going so far as to call her a 'useful idiot'. Google searches for 'Greta Thunberg' peaked at 6am on 9 June, reaching the top of Google Trends maximum searches. What all of the vitriol fails to acknowledge is that this attention is the result Thunberg's actions were intended to attract. She is, after all, an activist. One wonders how those spitting with fury over what they deem to be Thunberg's 'irresponsible' publicity stunt would have said about the resistance — armed and otherwise — used by anti-apartheid campaigners in South Africa under the leadership of the now-beloved Nelson Mandela. One imagines many of the same people who are probably furiously rage-posting about Thunberg on X are doing so from a home bedecked with kitschy posters bearing slogans such as 'It Always Seems Impossible Until It Is Done' (a phrase made popular by Mandela) or 'Be the Change you Want to See in the World', often attributed to Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi certainly didn't make his name by keeping quiet – he devoted his life to peaceful civil disobedience in order to secure India's independence. In other words, he spent much of his life pissing people off. That is what activism is. And what to make of the charge against Thunberg that by boarding the flotilla, she was irresponsibly and needlessly putting her life in danger? Has everyone forgotten the Suffragettes? Emily Davidson stepped out in front of the King's horse at the 1913 Epsom Derby, killing herself and seriously injuring a jockey, with the aim of securing universal suffrage (Votes for Women!). This scene is now celebrated and Davidson is honoured; children are taught about it in school. Davidson's activism was dangerous and daring (and could have caused more injuries besides) but it achieved its desired result. Thunberg's journey on the Madleen, though perhaps personally reckless, has succeeded in keeping the desperate need for aid in Gaza at the top of the news agenda. An eleven-week blockade in the region, which was partially lifted by the Israeli government at the end of May, has left vulnerable Palestinian children and families starving. As of 4 June, 57,000 people have died in this war. That more outrage has been expressed online over a 22-year-old Swedish woman attempting to help those who are suffering is a damning indictment of where we are. The world's best-known campaigner has never hidden who she is or what she believes in. Yet she will always be a clueless teenager in the eyes of her detractors; someone to be seen, not heard. But Greta Thunberg has other ideas, and she won't go quietly. She is, after all, an activist. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Related
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Multimillion-pound artillery factory opens in Sheffield
A new £25m artillery factory aimed at helping restore critical gun barrel manufacturing capability in the UK has opened in 94,000 sq ft (8,733 sq m) BAE Systems facility would specialise in artillery expertise and would see Sheffield as the base for UK howitzer production, according to the facility, due to be operational by the end of the year, would create 200 new high-skilled jobs and support over 60 businesses across the UK supply chain, it the site, Defence Secretary John Healey said: "This new factory is a big boost for South Yorkshire and a significant step forward in strengthening our British defence industrial base." The new facility will add to BAE Systems' UK operations, which includes submarine and shipbuilding facilities in Barrow on Furness and aerospace sites in Warton and operational, the site was expected to initially deliver the company's M777 lightweight towed howitzer, used by US and Canadian forces as well as in Ukraine. At the opening of the site, John Borton, managing director of BAE Systems' Weapons Systems UK business, paid tribute to "Sheffield's rich manufacturing history" and described the city as an "industrial powerhouse"."The access we have to talent with great universities on hand and the manufacturing pedigree here is a huge pull for us. It ticks a lot of boxes," he Lucas, 24, an apprentice with BAE Systems based in Barrow, said he hoped that one day he could work in the new factory in Sheffield."I would love to work here one day. This will be at the cutting edge of future development," he said."For any young people passionate about technology, this could be a great place to work." Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems a contract to deliver 150 British-designed artillery barrels to Ukraine, working with Sheffield Forgemasters to deliver on the government's commitment to support the war-torn of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard welcomed the investment in South said: "This is what we are good at - building things. We want the world to sit up and take notice."From a national perspective we all feel the world is getting more dangerous. We want to feel secure. Many of these weapons will go to places like Ukraine." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Kemi Badenoch calls for oil and gas windfall tax and licence ban end
The Conservative leader is set to address her first Scottish branch office conference in Edinburgh on Friday and will speak about the oil and gas industry. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay is set to address the party conference for the first time since taking over the role from Douglas Ross. The energy profits levy, also known as the windfall tax, was brought in by the previous Tory government, and extended by Labour when they took power. READ MORE: John Swinney and Anas Sarwar clash over reports of SNP secret meeting Badenoch is expected to tout the oil and gas sector during her conference speech, accusing the UK Government of 'killing' it, claiming 'renewing our party and our country means standing up for our oil and gas industry'. She will add: 'When the oil and gas windfall tax, the energy profits levy, was brought in, the oil price was near a historic high, at the exact time as energy bills for the British people were sky-rocketing. 'But there is no longer a windfall to tax. It has long gone. And the longer this regressive tax on one of our most successful industries remains, the more damaging it becomes. 'Labour have extended and increased this tax. They are killing this industry.' (Image: House of Commons/PA Wire) If the measure remains in place to 2030 as intended, Badenoch will say 'there will be no industry left to tax'. She will add: 'So, today, I say enough. Labour must remove the energy profits levy. Labour must speed up the process of replacing it with a system that rewards success and incentivises investment. 'Because we shouldn't have this energy profits levy at all. 'We must scrap the ban on new licences. 'We must overturn the ban on supporting oil and gas technology exports. 'And we must champion our own industry. READ MORE: Mairi McAllan: I'm back and I want quick progress on housing emergency 'We must let this great British, great Scottish industry thrive, grow and create jobs – ensuring our energy security for generations to come, driving growth and making this country richer in the process.' Badenoch will address her first Scottish party conference as leader on Friday while her counterpart north of the border Russell Findlay will deliver his inaugural address on Saturday. Responding to Badenoch, Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition said her comments were 'out of touch', adding: 'Even with the windfall tax in place, the energy industry made over £115 billion in profits in 2024 alone. 'Meanwhile, average household energy bills remain hundreds and hundreds of pounds higher than they were before the energy crisis started. 'While the Government is right to be consulting on reform of the windfall tax, maintaining a profits levy could help fund home upgrades and a social tariff which would bring down energy bills for the most vulnerable in society.' SNP MSP Kevin Stewart said: 'The Tories wrecked our economy, presided over soaring household bills and ripped Scotland from the EU against our will. 'And now they're lurching further to the right as they haemorrhage votes to Nigel Farage. 'This weekend will be an important reminder of how Westminster has failed Scotland. Only the SNP is offering hope and a brighter future as an independent nation.' READ MORE: UK Government must 'urgently engage' with Scotland over migration Luke Murphy, MP for Basingstoke, and chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Change, commented: "Under the previous government, which Kemi Badenoch was a part of, 70,000 jobs were lost from the oil and gas industry, even as hundreds of new licences were handed out. "The North Sea is a mature basin, and its reserves are in terminal decline. Responsible governance means being honest about that reality — and focusing on creating new opportunities for workers, and supporting them in the transition, rather than pretending we can hold onto the past. "The workers in oil and gas, and the communities that rely on the industry deserve better. That's why this Labour government is determined to secure a brighter future through clean energy — with high-quality jobs where people need them most."
