Cyprus - Akrotiri - Red Arrows

A pilot of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, is about to plunge into the blue Mediterranean waters for his annual Wet Drill exercise during Spring training in Cyprus. There are lines attaching him to a boat ensuring his safety. The rehearsal is to practise a helicopter recovery after a fast-jet ejection over the sea. His RAF-issue life vest (containing a vital life-raft) has inflated when in contact with the salt water and helps him stay afloat in the cold water. This yearly event is required of all flying personnel to ensure that any accident over water can reach a positive outcome - by the rescuing of an expensively-trained pilot or navigator.

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Filename: Red_Arrows038_RBA.jpg
Copyright: © Richard Baker. No copying, screen grabbing, transmission or publication without permission.
Image Size: 4252x4221 / 6.0MB; www.bakerpictures.com; British English MoD RAF aviation red arrows reds squadron team Royal Air Force Cyprus Akrotiri pilot RAF Akrotiri training ditching wet drill practice rehearsal survival mediterranean ocean life vest recovery example vulnerable aviator military briefing sea jumper alert readiness ready inflated careful care simulation annual yearly
Contained in galleries: Red Arrows (Full edit)

A pilot of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, is about to plunge into the blue Mediterranean waters for his annual Wet Drill exercise during Spring training in Cyprus. There are lines attaching him to a boat ensuring his safety. The rehearsal is to practise a helicopter recovery after a fast-jet ejection over the sea. His RAF-issue life vest (containing a vital life-raft) has inflated when in contact with the salt water and helps him stay afloat in the cold water. This yearly event is required of all flying personnel to ensure that any accident over water can reach a positive outcome - by the rescuing of an expensively-trained pilot or navigator.