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| Red Arrows facing 'major changes', says aviation expert | Red Arrows facing 'major changes', says aviation expert |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The Red Arrows will evolve into a completely different kind of display team over the next decade, an aviation expert has predicted. | The Red Arrows will evolve into a completely different kind of display team over the next decade, an aviation expert has predicted. |
| British production of the aerobatic team's Hawk T1 planes is being stopped and a replacement has yet to be named. | British production of the aerobatic team's Hawk T1 planes is being stopped and a replacement has yet to be named. |
| Leading industry magazine Jane's Defence Weekly said propellor-driven or even frontline planes like the Typhoon might be used. | Leading industry magazine Jane's Defence Weekly said propellor-driven or even frontline planes like the Typhoon might be used. |
| It also predicted cuts in defence spending could affect the team. | It also predicted cuts in defence spending could affect the team. |
| In September, BAE Systems announced it would be ending production of the Hawk T1 at its factory in Brough, Yorkshire, over the next few years. | In September, BAE Systems announced it would be ending production of the Hawk T1 at its factory in Brough, Yorkshire, over the next few years. |
| 'Big problem' | 'Big problem' |
| The Ministry of Defence said the Hawk T1 would remain in service until 2020 and the Red Arrows, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, would operate the aircraft until 2018. | The Ministry of Defence said the Hawk T1 would remain in service until 2020 and the Red Arrows, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, would operate the aircraft until 2018. |
| Tim Ripley, from Jane's Defence Weekly, said as one of the roles of the Red Arrows was to promote British manufacturing, the MoD faced a difficult decision in choosing a replacement plane. | Tim Ripley, from Jane's Defence Weekly, said as one of the roles of the Red Arrows was to promote British manufacturing, the MoD faced a difficult decision in choosing a replacement plane. |
| He said: "There will not be a factory in the UK which makes jet trainer aircraft, which is a big problem for a display team which is supposed to showcase British industry to the world. | He said: "There will not be a factory in the UK which makes jet trainer aircraft, which is a big problem for a display team which is supposed to showcase British industry to the world. |
| "If the Red Arrows are to continue it will be a very different kind of flying display. | "If the Red Arrows are to continue it will be a very different kind of flying display. |
| Decision point | Decision point |
| "It will either be a propellor-driven plane - the RAF is about to buy some to do a different part of training for their student pilots - or even a frontline plane like the Typhoon | |
| "That would be another way of offering a display team - drawing on an existing frontline squadron to provide the display. | "That would be another way of offering a display team - drawing on an existing frontline squadron to provide the display. |
| "We are approaching a bit of a decision point for the Red Arrows - not only in the type of aircraft but in how they are funded and what they actually do for the RAF and for the nation. | "We are approaching a bit of a decision point for the Red Arrows - not only in the type of aircraft but in how they are funded and what they actually do for the RAF and for the nation. |
| "British defence is undergoing a major change at the moment with cuts in the budget and we are at a point where the Red Arrows we have come to know and love will evolve into something completely different." | "British defence is undergoing a major change at the moment with cuts in the budget and we are at a point where the Red Arrows we have come to know and love will evolve into something completely different." |
| Mr Ripley said the changes had nothing to do with the recent deaths of two Red Arrows pilots in separate accidents. | Mr Ripley said the changes had nothing to do with the recent deaths of two Red Arrows pilots in separate accidents. |
| The Ministry of Defence said no decision had been made about a replacement aircraft so it was not appropriate to comment any further. | The Ministry of Defence said no decision had been made about a replacement aircraft so it was not appropriate to comment any further. |