Red Arrows
Red Arrows History
Since in RAF at this time exist several aerobatic teams, a decision to create only one aerobatic team which will have to present the abilities of RAF aircrafts is been made. It is decided that this team will fly on red-painted Gnat airplanes. The chief of the Central Flying School by that time, Captain Bird Wilson, gives the name of the new team - the Red Arrows. "Red" comes form the colour of the planes and "Arrows" - from the name of the first official aerobatic team of RAF - "Black Arrows". For the commander of this team is appointed the ex-Black Arrows member, Fl. Lt. Lee Jones. The team itself is under the direct commandment of Central Air School. In the beginning the Red Arrows have seven demonstrative Gnat aircrafts and one convoying Argosy cargo plane for the ground staff. The team is based in Kemble airbase.
The first demonstration of the Red Arrows is on May 6th, 1965, in Kemble airbase. The demonstration aims to present to media the new RAF team. The first demonstration in public is in France on May 9th the same year during the national day of air forces of France in Clermont Ferrand. The first demonstration in English public is on May 15th, 1965, during the International Aero Fair in Biggin Hill. Till the end of theirs first year as a team the Red Arrows perform 65 air demonstrations in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium and West Germany.
One year later the team grows and is already on nine aircrafts. In 1968 happens the first accident in the history of the Red Arrows. During a training flight one of the plains sets on fire because of a technical failure. Its pilot receives an order to eject but another pilot thinks that the order is given to him and also ejected from a completely trouble-free aircraft. In this way the team loses two planes in one day - fortunately without casualties.
In 1970 the convoying plane of the Red Arrows becomes C-130 Hercules.
In the next year happens the worst accident in the team. During one of the training flight two of the planes from the synchronized pair collide.
In 1972 for a first time in its history the team postpones its show in Belgium because of non-arriving of the cargo plane which transports the ground staff.
Since 1976 the pilots of fighters receive the ability to fly in the team. Till then only instructors can be members of the team.
In 1980 the Red Arrows receive their present aircraft - Bae Hawk. In that year, during the search for appropriate place for training in spring, they move on Cyprus island because till that time the athmosphere conditions in Albion do not allow the flights to be held regularly. This becomes regular practice till nowadays.
In the spring of 1983 the team moves on its present base in Scampton.
In 1993 the Red Arrows perform their first show in the United States.
1995 is the most burdened with demonstrations year for the team. The Red Arrows perform 136 demonstrations all around the world because in 1995 and 1996 they have tours in the Far and the Near East, Africa and Australia.
In 1998 the team suffers two accidents, fortunately without any casualties. The first happens on July 13th during training flights in Brize Norton airbase. The team flies in formations by three. After picking up the undercarriage in about 30 meters in height, the air collector of Nr. 6 sucks in a pidgeon. This causes stop of normal functioning of the engine but the pilot keep his presence of mind and lands the plane "on its belly" on the landing-strip. The plane receives no damages except of the smoke generator which is placed on its bottom. Another accident happens on October 17th during training flights in Cranwell airbase. When approaching the landing-strip Nr. 2 loses control of the plane and crashes in the grass near the strip. The pilot eject successfully. The cause for this accident is not announced and the pilot is replaced by another.
On 12 January 2007, two Red Arrows planes have been involved in a mid-air collision during a training exercise over Lincolnshire. The tip of one plane touched the tail of another during a flight over their base at RAF Scampton near Lincoln. Seven aircraft were flying at the time, and an investigation has concluded that one of the pilots carried out an incorrect manoeuvre. No-one was injured and the collision.
We present you only old Red Arrows airplanes, because it's not difficult to find today's Red Arrows gallery.
Prehistory
The first parade procession of airplanes from the Royal Air Force (RAF) of Great Britain is at Hendon in 1920 when biplane formations has been presented. This puts the beginning of a tradition of many years of aerobatic demonstrations in RAF. The last aerobatic teams of RAF which fly on biplanes are with Hawker Fury, Gauntlet and Gladiator aircrafts. In 1938 three Gladiator airplanes from 87th flight squadron represents the last aerobatic team of RAF before World War II.
After the end of the war in 1947 is formed the first RAF aerobatic team on jet planes - three Vampire aircrafts from Odiham fighter wing. Later 54th squadron forms a team from five Vampire and later with Hunter aircrafts.
An instructor with the Central Flying School Flight Lieutenant C R Gordon led a team of four Gloucester Meteor T7 aircraft as the Central Flying School's official team during the 1952 and 1953 seasons. The Meteorites were the first RAF display team to be given a name; until that time display teams were known only by the squadron numbers. The Meteor aircraft retained their standard bare metal (silver) colours; towards the end of the season they gained high visibility yellow anti-collision training stripes. The Meteorites disbanded at the end of the 1953 season.
In 1955 111st squadron forms an unofficial team from four Meteor F8 airplanes. In 1956 they move on Hawker Hunter F6 and receive a statute of an official RAF aerobatic team. In the same year the airplanes are five and are specially painted in black. They receive the name Black Arrows. Next year they increase their number to 9 planes and in 1958 during the demonstrative week in Farnborough they perform looping and roll in formation of 22 Hunter airplanes which is a record until now.
In 1961 the Blue Diamonds from the 92nd squadron become the official aerobatic team of RAF. They have 16 Hunter airplanes painted in blue and during a demonstration they split onto two formations - 7 and 9 aircrafts. This team is created in 1960 but two years later - in 1962 - the official aerobatic team of RAF become the Tigers from 74th squadron. They are equipped with nine English Electric Lightning aircrafts and are the first team in the whole world which uses airplanes reaching Mach2 (twice as the speed of sound). In 1963 the official aerobatic team of RAF become the Firebirds which also fly on nine English Electric Lightning aircrafts but they are from 56th squadron and are painted in silver and red. This is the last RAF team which uses fighters.
In 1964 the official aerobatic team of RAF become the Red Pelicans who fly on 6 training Jet Provost T Mk4 airplanes from the Central Flying School at the Kemble airbase. In the same year is formed another team from five yellow-painted training Folland Gnat aircrafts from Fourth Air School. The aim is to demonstrate the abilities of this kind of airplane in Farnborough. For the commander of this team is appointed the ex-Black Arrows member, Fl. Lt. Lee Jones. The team is called Yellowjacks.
What are the Red Arrows
The Red Arrows consists from 12 Hawk aircrafts (nine demonstrative and one cargo C-130), 70 people ground staff, 7 people supporting staff and one man responsible for public relations (PR) who is a civilian with journalistic education. The commander of the team is Nr. 1. To the team is also imparted a commandant from the Central Flying School. Usually for the commander is elected an ex-team member but when there is no such candidate for the commander is selected another squadron commander. Numbers 6 and 7 are called "the synchronized pair" and have the aim to show the full abilities of planes and pilots as well as to keep the public's attention till the main formation re-arranges for next maneuver. Number 10 is the team manager. He does not participate at the demonstrations but comments them. He flies with the team only when it is transferred from one location to another and when there is a photographer or cameraman on board. The technical personnel of the team consists of 70 people who are commanded by one senior and one junior engineer officer. Nine people from the technical personnel (including the junior officer) are called jocularly "The Circus" and fly in the back cabin of the demonstrative planes during their moving from one location to another, providing after-flight services of the aircrafts till arriving of others from the ground staff with the cargo plane. Every winter the aircrafts of the Red Arrows are subject of close technical inspection before the new season starts. The supporting personnel is commanded by team's aide-de-camp and provides the flights calculations, equipment, spare parts, etc., the team needs.
Every one candidate for the team is a volunteer and must be a pilot of Tornado, Harrier or Jaguar. The candidates must have an excellent grade as a pilots in their annual report. From the documents of all the candidates are selected nine pilots who go at spring in Cyprus with the present members of the team. They fly there in second cabins of planes during training flights and have been interviewed by present pilots who select three new pilots with the help of the team commandant. The leader of "the synchronized pair" chooses the new Number 7. After the end of his serving at the team Number 6 is replaced by Number 7 who becomes Number 6 and chooses the new Number 7.
Every one pilot form the Red Arrows stays three years at the team. Every year the team is renewed with three new pilots. New pilots enter the team at September and fly in the last cabins of the planes during the last demonstrations for that season.
At the beginning of the trainings with the new pilots they fly on formations of 4, 5 and 6 planes on high altitude. Usually at the end of January they already fly in 9-planes formation on low altitude.
Unlike in the most aerobatic teams, in the Red Arrows the numbers are conditional and are not painted onto the planes.
The Red Arrows perform three types of show depending on the weather conditions. For their full show is required that the lower limit of the clouds (is there are any clouds) will be above 1400 meters. If the limit is between 760 and 1400 meters the Red Arrows perform a demonstration without loopings because in the highest point of the looping they would eventually enter the clouds. If the limit is under 760 meters they perform so called "flat show" which does not include tonos in formation. But if during the demonstration the weather goes better or worst they switch from one kind of show to another or cease the demonstration at all.
If one of the pilots gets sick for the time of the show, the rest of pilots fly without him. If the commander is not capable of flying the show is postponed.
During the show the Red Arrows do not fly directly above the public under 300 meters. During its performance the synchronized pair flies on about 30 meters and if they perform upside-down flight they do not get under 45 meters. Usually during the flight the team reaches overload from 5 g and the synchronized pair - 7, maximum 8 g. During the air show all the pilots use anti-overload suites.
When flying from one location to another the team flies in formation on 300 meters altitude.
The aircraft of the Red Arrows is a learning and training one and is one of the most used by similar teams around the world. The plane differs from the standard one in painting and in presence of the smoke generator. The smoke generator uses diesel fuel from a reservoir placed on the bottom of the fuselage in the contour of the plane's body. From it through three pipes above the engine the fuel is injected in the jet stream and becomes the white smoke trail. As the Red Arrows use three coloured smokes - red, blue and white - each pipe is used to exhaust each one of colours. The other colours - red and blue - are formed through adding dye in the pipe.
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