The Red Arrows, also known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, are the official aerobatics display flyers of the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Scampton.

The Red Arrows badge, pictured, shows the aircraft in their trademark diamond nine formation, with the motto "Eclat", meaning "brilliance" or "excellence".

They were formed in late 1964 as an all-RAF team, replacing a number of unofficial teams that had been sponsored by various RAF commands. The name Red Arrows is derived from the colour of the teams aircraft - red - and the Black Arrows (flying all-black Hawker Hunters), some have suggested red is a tribute to another display team; the Red Pelicans (flying red Jet Provosts).

Initially the Red Arrows were equipped with seven Folland Gnat trainers which were inherited from another RAF display team, The Yellowjacks and had been chosen because they were less expensive to operate than the front-line fighters. In their first season they flew at 65 shows across Europe. In 1966 the team was increased to nine members, enabling them to develop their Diamond Nine formation. In late 1979 they switched to the BAE Hawk trainer. The Red Arrows have now given shows world-wide, in over 50 countries.

The Pilots

Since 1966 there have been 9 display pilots each year, all are volunteers. Pilots must have completed one or more operational tours on a fast jet such as the Tornado, Harrier or Jaguar and 1500 flight hours to be eligible. Even then, there are more than ten applicants for each place on the team. Pilots stay with the Red Arrows for a three year tour of duty. Changing three pilots a year ensures the experience level within the Team is never low as there are always three first year pilots, three second year pilots and three in their final year. As few female pilots have completed a tour of duty on a fast jet there have not yet been any female Red Arrows pilots.

The Red Arrows have no reserve pilots for safety reasons, as a spare pilot would not perform often enough to fly to the standard required. If one of the pilots is not able to fly, the Team is able to fly an 8 plane formation, in which case the team leader will change the positions of the other pilots to maintain the most pleasing effect. If the Leader is unable to fly for any reason, then the Red Arrows will not fly at all. Each pilot always flies the same position within a formation. The pilots spend six months from October to April practising for the coming display season.

During a routine, Red Arrows pilots regularly experience forces up to five times that of gravity (see g-force), and when performing the aerobatic maneuver 'Vixen Break' forces up to 7g can be reached, close to the 8g structural limit of the aircraft.

As well as the 9 pilots, 'Red 10', also known as the Road Manager, is a fully qualified Hawk pilot who flies the 10th aircraft when the Red Arrows are away from base. This means the team have a reserve aircraft at the display site. Red 10’s duties include co-ordination of the display and acting as the team’s Ground Safety Officer. Red 10 also flies TV cameramen and photographers for air-to-air pictures of the Red Arrows.^{"The Red Arrows" from BBC Jersey}

1. ^  see reference The official Red Arrows home page information section
2. ^  see reference "the Red Arrows history"
3. ^  see reference Red Arrows jet in runway drama
4. ^  see reference "Why everyone loves the Red Arrows"
5. ^  see reference Red Arrows, The

References

• "The Red Arrows" from BBC Jersey , September 9, 2004, Accessed April 18, 2005
• The official Red Arrows home page information section. from the Ministry of Defence, 2005, Accessed April 10, 2005.
• RedArrows.com, from cheaky.com (N.B. plugin required), a web site claiming to promote the Red Arrows Charity Trust, Accessed April 12, 2005.
• BBC news. "Why everyone loves the Red Arrows". Accessed April 12, 2005.
• BBC news. "Red Arrows jet in runway drama". Accessed April 12, 2005.
• Sky-Flash. "the Red Arrows history". Accessed April 12, 2005.
• Martijn van der Heide, "Red Arrows, The", World of Spectrum, 1995-2005, Accessed April 18, 2005.