The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, has revealed a new Union flag-inspired design on its world-famous jets.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, has revealed a new Union flag-inspired design on its world-famous jets.
Tailfins on the team’s Hawk aircraft have received the fresh look, reflecting British excellence.
The makeover will be seen by millions of people every year, when the Red Arrows display both at home and overseas.
Complete with flowing red, white and blue lines, the design emphasises the team’s important role as a global ambassador for the United Kingdom and Royal Air Force.
The team, which comprises fast jet pilots, engineers and support staff with frontline, operational experience, is currently preparing for its new display season.
Squadron Leader David Montenegro, who will lead the team as Red 1 for the first time in 2015, said: “The new tailfin perfectly illustrates the spirit of the Red Arrows – representing the UK, our engineering excellence and the continuing capability of the Royal Air Force to protect our skies.”
Last year, the Red Arrows celebrated their 50th season, performing more than 80 displays across the UK and in nine other countries.
The milestone was marked with a special, one-off tailfin design on its aircraft, replacing the familiar three-stripe livery the team’s jets had flown since the 1960s.
Now, instead of returning to this original paint scheme following the season-long 50th pattern, the new Union flag design has been adopted for the future.
All of the team’s British-built, BAE Systems Hawk jets will be receiving the new livery, with their distinctive fuselages retaining red and white colours.
As the public face of the Royal Air Force, the Red Arrows assist with recruiting into the Service, contribute to defence diplomacy and support wider national interests by representing the United Kingdom and its industry.
He said: “The Red Arrows have a major ambassadorial role. When we go abroad, it’s not just Defence we are representing, or the Armed Forces in isolation, it’s all of the UK’s industry.
“To have this ability, to keep spreading the message and promoting the UK in this unique powerful way around the world, is invaluable.”
He added: “In the UK, we aim to inspire young people by giving a tangible demonstration of what professionalism, hard work and teamwork can achieve – not just in the Armed Forces but in whatever career they choose for their future.”
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, has revealed a new Union flag-inspired design on its world-famous jets.
Since the end of the 2014 season, which finished in September, the Red Arrows have been training hard at their home base of RAF Scampton, in Lincolnshire, for this year’s shows.
Of the nine 2015 display pilots, three are joining the team for the first time, having previously flown other Royal Air Force fast jets, such as the Tornado and Typhoon, on operations.
These include quick reaction alert duties, protecting and defending the air space of the UK at all hours of the day, year-round.
Squadron Leader Montenegro, a former Tornado pilot, said the team’s air crew, engineers and support personnel all now use these skills and experiences at the Red Arrows.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, has revealed a new Union flag-inspired design on its world-famous jets.
He said: “Although the output is different, the culture and ethos of the team – the way we go about our business – is synonymous with any RAF squadron.
“Just like those personnel at other units, the 120 people who make up the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team are highly-trained, highly-skilled individuals who are motivated in the pursuit of excellence.”
The Red Arrows’ 2015 display season is expected to begin in May.
Visit www.raf.mod.uk/reds for more information on the Red Arrows, follow @rafredarrows on Twitter or view the team’s Facebook page.
Source: RAF
Editor: Andrew Morton
Photographs: SAC Craig Marshall
RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2015