Red Arrows Prepare for Milestone 60th Display Season
The Red Arrows, famous for their precision flying and breathtaking aerial displays, are gearing up for a landmark 60th season. With over 5,000 displays in 57 countries under their belts, the team, which operates from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, remains an iconic symbol of the Royal Air Force and British excellence. The skilled pilots, alongside their dedicated engineers and support staff—collectively known as 'The Blues'—are hard at work preparing for the 2024 season, which promises to be a special anniversary year.
Winter Training and Team Developments
Despite a packed 2023 season that spanned from June to October, there's no rest for the Red Arrows as they dive straight into winter training. This year, they welcomed their new team leader, Jon Bond, along with three fresh pilots into the fold. Flight Lieutenant Patrick Kershaw, known in the squadron as 'Red 9', shared insights into the vigorous preparation that takes place each winter.
"Winter training tends to start in October but it depends what we're doing. Last year we toured the Middle East and didn't start until the new year for the new guys. This year we've got our new team leader, and we're building back to a nine ship. It's a kind of building block approach to everything."
Kershaw detailed the meticulous training process, explaining how the team forms and perfects its maneuvers, focusing on precision to ensure each display is executed flawlessly.
"You start to learn the muscle memory of getting the skills engrained into your routine so that every time you do it you keep it exactly the same."
Looking Ahead to the 2024 Season
As for the upcoming 60th display season, the excitement within the Red Arrows is palpable. Kershaw expressed enthusiasm for the anniversary and the developments in their formations.
"It's our 60th display season so it's a big anniversary for ourselves. We're also back to a nine so we're building the team back and will be there with our trademark diamond nine over the UK."
The squad aims to fly their first nine-ship formation by the end of February or early March, with a contingency plan for weather disruptions, and the Red Arrows will also undergo intensive training in Croatia and Greece before they bring their spectacular displays back to the UK.