h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

To the Editors and the Moderators, I do not know if this will break the house rules or not! I most sincerely apologise if it does as it is not intended to cause insult to any one, but I feel that my friends should be able to read it - Thank you, The Prof


Folks, I have just had this sent by a friend and I have signed the petition - it is not a scam and I would ask you to please read it. I do not ask anything else of you, because of obvious reasons of biasness.


The world-famous Red Arrows have been banned from appearing at the 2012 London Olympics because they are deemed 'too British'.
Organisers of the event say that the Arrows military background might be 'offensive' to other countries taking part in the Games. The display team have performed at more than 4000 events worldwide, but the Department of Culture, Media and Sport have deemed the display team 'too militaristically British.' Red Arrows pilots were said to be 'outraged', as they had hoped to put on a truly world class display for the Games, something which had never been seen before. Being axed from a British-based event for being 'too British' is an insult - the Arrows are a symbol of Britain.
The Red Arrows have been excellent ambassadors for British overseas trade, as they display their British-built Hawk aircraft all over the world.
The Arrows performed a short flypast in 2005 when the winning bid was announced, but their flypast at the Games was to have been truly spectacular.
It is to be hoped that common sense prevails.
If you disagree with this decision, sign the petition on the link


http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/RedArrows2012/?ref=redArrows2012

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/7068004.stm

The decision not to allow a fly past has been scrapped. The Red Arrows will do a fly-past according to the above news report.

I would be if they weren't allowed. I think all things British should not be lost.

I've signed anyway, there's a long time to go.I have no further comment which would be deemed political.

Websailor

Bah, next they'll stop us insulting the french and the yanks.

As ifff!!!!

"Nobody expects ze Spanish Inquisition"!

Bring back Milly Molly Mandy I say.

*disclaimer: this is a literary reference not a political comment. No racial or sexual minorities or indeed bulls were harmed during this posting. We have no truck with spam. Today is May day, w*****s of the World unite!*

zdt

Jewelly singed by me too!

MMF

Thank you for the information ST, fully appreciated my friend

What on Earth are they thinking about?

Nothing is more British than the Red Arrow!

There's always the Golden Arrow!!!

http://www.channel4.com/science/microsites/S/speedmachines/landspeed_technology.html

But it doesn't 'fly' very well.

I'd it if it was teamed up with the Vulcan Bomber, not that I am an advocate of War, but seeing that plane regularly fly over our house as a kid is one of the most awesome sights I have ever seen...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pbqX0WIlJkU



MMF

what a heartwarming sight

Or this?

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=soo4IhXthEg&feature=related

I would not agree with the Queen's flight, including the Lancaster etc. but this gives a good example of how Cold War Diplomacy overcame possible Nuclear conflageration, and could be a timely reminder of the whole point of and it's Juxtaposition with equipment of War...

And no, I am not being contentious, just putting a different slant on perspectives.

I think!

Oh! Whatever!!!

MMF

Oh dearie me; i seem to have been Yikesed again. I didn't realise Spam is a naughty word now.

zdt

that would depend on the context, surely

tsk tsk Terri, you'll be getting reputation one day


then again, so am I

Good Lord!

Was that for spamming?

"Bah, next they'll stop us insulting the french and the yanks."

They tried that a couple of years ago during the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar, the Government wanted us in Portsmouth to cancel our pagent, which inclued a mock battle in the harbour between two tall ships and a display by the Red Arrows incase we "Upset the French" we ignored them and so did the French visitors

Signed too!

h, MMf, I am with you on the Vulcan bomber - the scariest thing I have ever seen A big black shadow crept out of the blue when I saw it. Awesome.

Websailor

When I was a child the family lived one kilometre away from Manston (now Kent International) Airport which, at the time, had the longest runway in Europe and was the emergency runway for Heathrow, Gatwick, Orly and other neighbouring airports. Any aircraft in trouble would land there, once the runway had been foamed... It also was the initial landing place for the aircraft used in the film 'The Battle of Britain'. But I digress. Being an R.A.F. base it was also used as a training base for pilots to learn landings and take-offs. These were known as the bumps, as the pilot would take the plane around, come into land, taxi on the runway then take off again. This circuit training could go on for hours, much to my Dad's annoyance, as he worked shiftwork... , and one plane that visited fairly often was the Vulcan bomber... Now, bearing in mind we lived less than a kilometre away, right on the outskirts of Ramsgate, just off Canterbury Road East, north side (you can Google Map it!), and the size of the plane, it was pretty awesome when it flew directly over the house, being in the flight path.

One day it was really awesome! A pilot, possibly a rookie, bought it in, and it was really making a racket, causing everything to shake and rattle. However the downdraught from those Delta wings was so powerful it stripped the tiles off of a neighbour's east facing roof. Luckily he was indoors at the time. Our roof was north-south facing, so didn't do any damage...

Just thought I'd share that... Don't know why!

Over the years I did see some other very impressive planes... Concorde, GE Lightning, Spifires, hurricanes, Tomcats, Messerschmidts, Warthogs, F111?thread="smiley - ok" title="ok" class="smiley" src="http://www.h2g2.com/h2g2/skins/Alabaster/images/Smilies/f_ok.gif"/>

MMF