mschackletons thread on Red Arrows Gnat serials got me thinking about the Red Arrows schemes over the years and wondering how if at all it had altered.
I can see two differant schemes whilst they flew Gnats.
The Hawk I see as a few more variations on a theme
a) Bitteswell unrolling missing crests on forward fuselage
b) 1998 80th Anniversary of RAF Tail Markings
c) 2000 Tail Markings
d) Royal Air Force text breaking the cheat line.
Also heard that there was some text added once as a joke on the rear fuselage asking “hows my flying with a tel number” although dont know if this is true or not as I have never seen a photo.
Any more variations known of ?
By: Seafuryfan - 18th February 2012 at 22:31
I Wish They Would Do This…
The Reds have missed a trick for years now. The ‘Red Arrow’ on the belly would stand out much better if the rest of the underside was painted white, instead of a white border around the arrow. Bomberflight, can you photoshop what I mean?
Only a small point but it’s always niggled me. I feel better now!
By: bomberflight - 18th February 2012 at 17:48
Doh !
For a moment or two I thought there was a revised colour scheme coming for 2012 when I saw the thread title
Poorly attempted by me in Photoshop
If the outer wing sections were also in blue the under view of the “red arrow” would be really something to see 😀
By: DaveF68 - 18th February 2012 at 17:37
I make it 5 variations with Gnats:
– 1965 – Original Signal Red with blue serials, roundels and fin flash
– 1966 – as above, but with CFS crest on on nose and Union Flag on fin
– 1967 – as above with Red/White/Blue fin added
– 1968-77 – as above, but with white flash on forward fuselage & smaller crest
– 1978/9 – ‘Royal Air Force’ on nose flash.
By: viscount - 18th February 2012 at 00:27
Actually three “Red Arrows” schemes, or variations, when flying Gnats.
1964 yellow overall as “Yellowjacks”, otherwise normal RAF markings, swept version of fin-flash (upright on dayglo/silver and dayglo/grey schemed aircraft).
Once scarlet as the “Red Arrows” then:
1966 overall scarlet, including fin with a normal sized swept red-white-blue fin flash.
1968-1977, similar but with white ‘lightning’ flash on nose and full tricolour fin with small Union Jack on the central white section.
1978-79, similar but white flash on nose modified in shape and incorporated wording ‘Royal Air Force’ in white as part of the flash.
This information is from colour scheme side views in Paul Jackson’s Gnat monograph published by Aviation News circa 1979. Team name not carried on the aircraft.
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February 17, 2012 at 9:42 pm