‘Red Arrows flying on my doorstep everyday - it’s the best view ever’
SEEING the breath-taking aerobatics of the Red Arrows is something most people can enjoy only a couple of times.
The world-famous display team is in demand across the country, and are often the centrepiece of big events like Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend.
From rolls and spirals to heart-stopping dives, the Reds are known for being at the pinnacle of aerobatics.
So it came as a pleasant surprise after moving house when I discovered that the window of my spare room (and temporary office) faces directly towards their base at RAF Scampton, and I get free displays several times a week. The red jets are often screaming across the skies, practicing their latest manoeuvres. Their Hawk T1As are capable of over 630 mph, and can climb at an eye-watering 47 metres per second. It’s the same model used to provide air support for the armed forces, although the Reds are equipped with smoke cannisters rather than weapons.
Most of the Red Arrow’s public performances – like that memorable one at Cleethorpes in 2018 – take place in the summer. After that, they keep a lower profile.
From October until around March, the team is based at the Lincolnshire RAF base, a few miles north of Lincoln. (After that, they move overseas for several months where the weather is more predictable.)
This means for the last few weeks, I’ve had a frontrow seat to their daring aerobatic displays.
(They have literally drawn a heart in the sky outside as I’ve been writing this.)
The full squadron has nine aircraft and eleven pilots at any one time. However you’re most likely to see a handful taking to the skies in formation at any one time.
The aircraft are impossible to ignore once they’re airborne. Not only is the roar of the engines quite loud, but you find yourself hypnotised as they loop-the-loop or switch formation in midair.
Literally every time I hear them soar past, I have to stop what I’m doing and look – it’s the best view possible from your window. Their speed and manoeuvrability is hard to understand until you’ve seen it for yourself. Some days they are practising with their famous smoke, and you’ll see the outline of where they’ve been lingering for several minutes.
The pilots Red 1 to 5 make up the front half of the iconic formation, with 6 to 9 bringing up the rear.
The team are all comprised of current Armed Forces personnel, and are ambassadors for the RAF around the world.
I’ve had the privileged in the past of inter
viewing Red 4 – then Flight Lieutenant Gregor Ogston – as he gave inspiring words to flying students who wanted to follow in his footsteps.
I was struck by how much work and dedication is required to reach this elite level of flying, and left feeling an even greater level of respect than I had already for them.
He told students: “It is competitive to join the military as a pilot but we recruit a wide mix of people from all backgrounds so anyone who wants to pursue it as a career should go for it. Who knows, they could be a future Red Arrows pilot.”
It’s hard not to feel very lucky to see this world class team on my doorstep every day.
Once the world’s returned to some sort of normality, I’d encourage anyone who’s never seen them fly to check out a display. It’s impossible not to feel awestruck and lose yourself in watching the skies for ten minutes.
The Arrows haven’t announced their 2021 schedule – but there’s still a few more days to submit requests for a flypast next year. (Get your request in through their website before November 30.)
On a sadder note, the RAF has announced that the historic Scampton airbase is due to close by the end of 2022.
It is in a “poor state of repairs” and the Ministry of Defence feels the money would be better spent elsewhere.
A final decision hasn’t been taken on where the Red Arrows will be relocating to yet, but it’s unlikely to be anywhere in Lincolnshire.
I’ll certainly be making the most of them while they’re still on my doorstep.