Red Arrows

The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, are the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force.

The team was established in 1964 and its spectacular displays have been impressing the rest of the world ever since. The Red Arrows displays and stunts have captivated hundreds and thousands of people in over 4,000 displays in over 53 countries.

The Red Arrows consist of 9 pilots who form the ‘Diamond Nine’ formation. It is however a huge operation as the pilots are supported by 91 individuals that work on the ground to ensure the safety and smooth runnings of each display.

During their impressive displays, the pilots do not fly directly over the audience, apart from entering the display from behind the crowd. The remainder of the show is performed in front of or parallel to the audience. The pilots may fly as low as 300 feet however, for a ‘Full Looping Display’ to commence the cloud base must be above 4,500 feet. If the cloud base is but more than 2,500 feet the team will perform a ‘Rolling Display’ and if it is less than 2,500 feel the team will display a ‘Flat Display.’

Image Credit:  ralph.stewart