Air Cadet Hollie flying solo at just 16 years of age has eyes on future with the Red Arrows
AN Air Cadet representing the future of the RAF joined Red Arrows pilots of past and present at RAF Waddington to mark the team’s 60th anniversary.
Holly Rowley-White, a sergeant with 759 (Beccles) Squadron in Suffolk, is just 16 years old and has already completed her first solo flight.
Along with pilots and an engineer from the original Red Arrows team in the 1960s, Holly was invited to RAF Waddington for a celebration of the team’s upcoming diamond season. The Reds are returning to a nine-ship this year under the leadership of Squadron Leader Jon Bond and the full display schedule has been released for what promises to be a special 60th season.
Holly said: “The opportunity to join the Red Arrows for this 60th milestone at RAF Waddington is like all my dreams and wishes have come true. I feel so privileged to be part of this special celebration and historical moment. When I found out I was attending I did not stop screaming for an hour.”
She added: “One of my first recollections of watching the Red Arrows was in Great Yarmouth in 2018 when I was 10 years old and I thought ‘I could do that one day.’ I aspire to be a fast-jet pilot in the RAF and a future Red Arrows pilot.
“It’s been amazing to meet the talented pilots and support staff, learn about the journey they have taken so far, what it takes to be the best and how proud they must feel to be part of the Red Arrows team for the 60th display season.”
Sqn Ldr Jon Bond said: “Holly just having gone solo at 16 is a fantastic achievement and hopefully she’ll join the air force.
“Maybe in a few years time she’ll be eligible to apply for the team which will hopefully still be going strong. It would be fantastic to get her involved.”
Sqn Ldr Bond has taken over as Red 1 for the milestone diamond campaign and three new pilots have joined the team. He hinted that there will be some new manoeuvres to look out for this year in what will be an action-packed season.
He said: “It’s a real privilege to lead the team. I’ve had a lot of time on the team since 2018 and to come back as team leader for the 60th is the ultimate honour really. It’s a cracking year to do it with a rebuild to the nine-ship as well. “We’re trying to pack as much as we can into the summer. It’s only a short period from May to October so we try and get to as many shows as we can. We want to put the red, white and blue out for as many people in as many different locations as possible as the Red Arrows have done for the past few decades.
“It should only be a five-week period where we’re not displaying in the UK and we’ve done our best to try and get as much in as we can through June, July and early August.”
Maybe in a few years time she’ll be eligible to apply for the team which will hopefully still be going strong.