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  • Ground crew members of 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team - known as Blues - in off-duty Cyprus quarters.
    Red_Arrows291_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering specialists perform routine maintenance in the Red Arrows team hangar. Dressed in their green overalls, members of the Red Arrows 'Blues' the back-up team, (so-called after their distinctive blue overalls worn only during the summer) perform routine engineering tasks in the hangar at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. The better-educated officers in the armed forces enjoy a more privileged lifestyle than their support staff. In the aerobatic squadron, the Blues outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly. Some of the team's Hawks are 25 years old and their air frames require constant attention, with increasingly frequent major overhauls due..
    Red_Arrows414_RBA.jpg
  • A side-glance between a young woman and a cyclist in front of the artwork entitled Stack Blues by Sean Scully RA, on 25th July 2018, in the City of London. Part of Scully’s Landline series of works, Stack Blues is a sculpture borne out of the artist’s preoccupation with the horizon.
    city_people-17-25-07-2018.jpg
  • A side-glance between a young woman and a cyclist in front of the artwork entitled Stack Blues by Sean Scully RA, on 25th July 2018, in the City of London. Part of Scully’s Landline series of works, Stack Blues is a sculpture borne out of the artist’s preoccupation with the horizon.
    city_people-16-25-07-2018.jpg
  • A woman wearing a dress with stripes walks past the artwork entitled Stack Blues by Sean Scully RA, on 25th July 2018, in the City of London. Part of Scully’s Landline series of works, Stack Blues is a sculpture borne out of the artist’s preoccupation with the horizon.
    city_people-15-25-07-2018.jpg
  • In the mid-day heat, Squadron Leader Spike Jepson, leader of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, informally addresses the team's highly-skilled ground crew at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus after the whole team's success of passing PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'). The Red Arrows are then allowed by senior RAF officers to perform as a military aerobatic show in front of the general public - following a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Until that day arrives, their training and practicing is done in the privacy of their own airfield at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, UK. Squadron Leader Jepson has gathered his engineers and support crew known as the Blues to congratulate and encourage them. Specialists like these outnumber the pilots 8:1 and without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows162_RBA.jpg
  • Craning their necks skyward, both a pilot and support ground engineers of elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, gaze up to view an air display directly overhead at the Payerne Air 04 show, Switzerland. It is a perfect day for aerobatics with blue skies and during the team's two-day visit to the Swiss airfield at Payerne. Pilot Squadron Leader John Green is one of nine aviators who are collectively known as the Reds because of their famous red flying suits. The ground crew are obviously called the Blues. Payerne is home of the Swiss Air Force who host the cream of international aerobatic display flying every September to 275,000 spectators over a weekend. The picture is full of humour because John Green is looking one way and the two others look in the opposite direction, while standing next to the aircraft.   .
    Red_Arrows660_RBA.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-13-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-11-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-08-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-07-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-05-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-03-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change guard with the Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-02-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Wearing ear-defenders,military green camouflage and fluorescent tabard, a 'line' engineer from the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, inserts his head into the jet pipe of a Hawk aircraft immediately after a winter training flight at the team's headquarters at a damp RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. The man is a member of the team's support ground crew (called the Blues because of their distinctive blue overalls worn at summer air shows). Checking for irregular blemishes within the aircraft's exhaust is a vital aspect of maintenance jets whose engines need to perform as the highest level, especially if its performance, and that of each pilot's manoeuvres need to be perfect. Power reduction can ruin a display for tens of thousands of spectators but an engine failure could be catastrophic..
    Red_Arrows389_RBA.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard in front of the public and with a mounted police as security, during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-15-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-12-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-09-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the The Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) and the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change the guard during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-04-11-06-2019.jpg
  • Members of the Blues and Royals (blue tunics) change guard with the Queen's Life Guard (red tunics) during the daily ceremonial in Horse Guards Parade, on 11th June 2019, in London, England. Life Guards have stood guard at Horse Guards, the official entrance to St James and Buckingham Palace, since the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
    guard_mount-01-11-06-2019.jpg
  • A member of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, sells Rolls-Royce-sponsored charity posters of their workhorse Hawk jet aircraft for £5 (?10) each on the beach at Clacton-on-Sea after the Air Show on West Greensward on the sea front. It is a hot summer's afternoon but wearing black heavy-duty RAF regulation boots and the distinctive, specially-tailored  blue overalls, is a member of the team's support ground-crew (known as the Blues). Their jobs might include engineering, operations or administration work. Secondary duties are asked of them too and here we see the lower body of photographer Senior Aircraftman (SAC) Matt Reid who holds a hardened folder containing the scaled artwork while standing on the soft sand. The crowd mingles in the background and a lady dressed in only a bikini returns to her possessions. .
    Red_Arrows623_RBA.jpg
  • Officer pilots of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, lean aginst a wing of their Hawk jet in a pre-flight briefing while a member of their ground crew positions some wheel chocks. The highly-skilled engineer is known as a 'Blue' but the 'Reds' discuss  flight plans. Eleven trades skills are imported from some sixty that the RAF employs and teaches. It is mid-day and only their flying boots and red legs are seen with the RAF roundel emblem is on the underside of the wing. The better-educated officers in the armed forces enjoy a more privileged lifestyle than their support staff. In the aerobatic squadron, the Blues outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly. SOme of the team's Hawks are 25 years old and their air frames require constant attention, with increasingly frequent major overhauls due.
    Red_Arrows174_RBA.jpg
  • A red Hawk jet aircraft belonging to the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, is parked outside a nearby hangar on the concrete 'apron' (where aircraft park) at the squadron's headquarters at RAF Scampton, Loncolnshire. A member of the team's support ground crew (the Blues because of their distinctive blue overalls worn at summer air shows) prepare to refuel as the last daylight fades and artificial light from the hangar illuminates the scene. Their winter training schedule is both rigorous on the aircraft and demanding on the pilots who will typically fly up to six times a day in preparation of the forthcoming summer when they display at 90-plus air shows. After the day's flying, the engineers' night shift arrive to service and maintain the aging fleet of 11 aircraft. .
    Red_Arrows013_RBA.jpg
  • In the mid-day heat, all members of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, stand on the wings of a Hawk aircraft as the official photograph is taken on PDA Day at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is when they are allowed by senior RAF officers to perform as a military aerobatic show in front of the public - following a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Until that day arrives, their training and practicing is done in the privacy of their own airfield at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, UK or here in the glare of Akrotiri. The pilots are called reds and their ground crew, the Blues after their summer air show uniforms. Since 1965 the team has flown over 4,000 air shows in 52 countries.
    Red_Arrows154_RBA.jpg
  • Ground crew of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team polish the aircraft's flying surfaces using wool and cleaning fluid on the morning of the team's PDA Day. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Corporal Faulder is to buff up the airplane for an extra special shine on such an important day and we see the UK's Union Jack flag on the side of the diagonal stripes of the tail fin. The Red Arrows ground crew take enormous pride in their role as supporting the aviators whose air displays are known around the world. Blues like Mal outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows116_RBA.jpg
  • Ground crew of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team polish the aircraft's flying surfaces using wool and cleaning fluid on the morning of the team's PDA Day. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Corporal Faulder is to buff up the airplane for an extra special shine on such an important day and we see the UK's Union Jack flag on the side of the diagonal stripes of the tail fin. The Red Arrows ground crew take enormous pride in their role as supporting the aviators whose air displays are known around the world. Blues like Mal outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows114_RBA.jpg
  • Ground crew of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team polish the aircraft's flying surfaces using wool and cleaning fluid on the morning of the team's PDA Day. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Corporal Faulder is to buff up the airplane for an extra special shine on such an important day and we see the UK's Union Jack flag on the side of the diagonal stripes of the tail fin. The Red Arrows ground crew take enormous pride in their role as supporting the aviators whose air displays are known around the world. Blues like Mal outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows112_RBA.jpg
  • Member of the Blues, the technical ground staff with the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team works on Hawk.
    Red_Arrows069_RBA.jpg
  • Specialist Corporal Mal Faulder is an armourer engineer (qualified to handle ejection seats and weaponry on military jets) but here in the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team he is seen polishing the aircraft's flying surfaces using wool and cleaning fluid on the morning of the team's PDA Day. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Corporal Faulder is to buff up the airplane for an extra special shine on such an important day and we see the UK's Union Jack flag on the side of the diagonal stripes of the tail fin. The Red Arrows ground crew take enormous pride in their role as supporting the aviators whose air displays are known around the world. Blues like Mal outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows129_RBA.jpg
  • In the mid-day heat, all members of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, stand at ease and we see the back of one of the squadron's official photographers head, looking into the viewfinder of his camera to record an official photograph immediately on PDA Day at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is when they are allowed by senior RAF officers to perform as a military aerobatic show in front of the public - following a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Until that day arrives, their training and practicing is done in the privacy of their own airfield at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, UK or here in the glare of Akrotiri. The pilots are called reds and their ground crew, the Blues after their summer air show uniforms.
    Red_Arrows092_RBA.jpg
  • Blues ground staff wait for theRed Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team to taxi out for their next air display.
    Red_Arrows178_RBA.jpg
  • Resting Blues ground staff engineers await return of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows124_RBA.jpg
  • Resting Blues ground staff engineers await return of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows115_RBA.jpg
  • Ground crew members of 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team - known as Blues - in off-duty Cyprus quarters.
    Red_Arrows290_RBA.jpg
  • Ground crew members of 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team - known as Blues - in off-duty Cyprus quarters.
    Red_Arrows289_RBA.jpg
  • Member of the Blues, the support of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team walks past tow-bar in hangar
    Red_Arrows234_RBA.jpg
  • Specialist Corporal Mal Faulder is an armourer engineer (qualified to handle ejection seats and weaponry on military jets) but here in the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team he is seen polishing the aircraft's flying surfaces using wool and cleaning fluid on the morning of the team's PDA Day. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Corporal Faulder is to buff up the airplane for an extra special shine on such an important day and we see the UK's Union Jack flag on the side of the diagonal stripes of the tail fin. The Red Arrows ground crew take enormous pride in their role as supporting the aviators whose air displays are known around the world. Blues like Mal outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows127_RBA.jpg
  • Ground crew of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team polish the aircraft's flying surfaces using wool and cleaning fluid on the morning of the team's PDA Day. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Corporal Faulder is to buff up the airplane for an extra special shine on such an important day and we see the UK's Union Jack flag on the side of the diagonal stripes of the tail fin. The Red Arrows ground crew take enormous pride in their role as supporting the aviators whose air displays are known around the world. Blues like Mal outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows123_RBA.jpg
  • Ground crew of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team polish the aircraft's flying surfaces using wool and cleaning fluid on the morning of the team's PDA Day. PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'), is a special test flight when their every move and mistake is assessed and graded. Corporal Faulder is to buff up the airplane for an extra special shine on such an important day and we see the UK's Union Jack flag on the side of the diagonal stripes of the tail fin. The Red Arrows ground crew take enormous pride in their role as supporting the aviators whose air displays are known around the world. Blues like Mal outnumber the pilots 8:1. Without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows117_RBA.jpg
  • Members of the Blues, th 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team support crew, wipe away morning moisture.
    Red_Arrows110_RBA.jpg
  • Member of the Blues, the support of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team jacks up tow-bar in hangar
    Red_Arrows033_RBA.jpg
  • Corporal Mal Faulder pushes a Martin-Baker ejection seat through an RAF Hangar. He is an Armourer (an engineer handling seats and weaponry on military jets) but here in the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team, his duties are wider. With other members of the team's support staff (the Blues who outnumber the pilots the Reds by 8 to 1) he also helps clean the Hawk aircraft before air shows across the country. He pulls the seat into a blast-protected bunker for safe storage where explosive charges inside this equipment are temporarily removed. The seat is returned to service when the aircraft is through its regular maintenance schedule. British company Martin-Baker manufacturers ejection seats and membership of the its Tie Club is solely for air crew who have ejected from an aircraft in an emergency which saved their life.
    Red_Arrows018_RBA.jpg
  • Blue refuse bags have been left at the foot of a matching blue brick wall. In this side street of a south London suburb, we see the garbage lying on the pavement (sidewalk) surrounded by autumnal maple leaves. The wall in the background has been roughly painted, the bricks starting to crack. But the picture is about the similar colours of the wall to the Southwark borough council bags that are provided free for residents wishing to dispose of green garden waste only. If you live in a house or flat at street level you will have a blue box and bag for your recycling. In most cases, if you have a green rubbish bin you will also be able to use a blue box and bag.
    blue_bags2-12-09-2011.jpg
  • Blue refuse bags have been left at the foot of a matching blue brick wall. In this side street of a south London suburb, we see the garbage lying on the pavement (sidewalk) surrounded by autumnal maple leaves. The wall in the background has been roughly painted, the bricks starting to crack. But the picture is about the similar colours of the wall to the Southwark borough council bags that are provided free for residents wishing to dispose of green garden waste only. If you live in a house or flat at street level you will have a blue box and bag for your recycling. In most cases, if you have a green rubbish bin you will also be able to use a blue box and bag.
    blue_bags1-12-09-2011.jpg
  • A blue-themed street landscape of a safety fencing, a blue police box and a rider on a blue Boris bike outside Mansion House in the City of London.
    blue_barrier02-07-02-2013.jpg
  • A blue-themed street landscape of a safety fencing, a blue police box and a rider on a blue Boris bike outside Mansion House in the City of London.
    blue_barrier03-07-02-2013.jpg
  • Two businessmen in dark formal suits carry identical blue boxes along a London street. Walking away with their backs to us, the two men stride towards an appointment in the City of London. The two boxes are both held in the arms of both executives as they cross the churchyard in front of St. Paul's cathedral in the capital's financial district.
    blue_boxes4-23-09-2011.jpg
  • Two businessmen in dark formal suits carry identical blue boxes along a London street.
    blue_boxes1-23-09-2011.jpg
  • Joining with the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team on the far left, are the smoke trails of forty leading European display aircraft: Spanish Patrulla Aguila; Italian Frecce Tricolori; French Breitling Jet Team and the Swiss Patrouille Suisse. All flew together in the clear, blue alpine skies on a spectacular fly-past at the Payerne Air 04 show, Switzerland. The two-day festival at the Swiss airfield is home of the Swiss Air Force who host the cream of international aerobatic display flying every September to 275,000 spectators over a weekend. European display teams and air forces gathered to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Swiss military aviation. Flying on the far left here, the Red Arrows have performed over 4,000 shows in 52 countries since 1965. .
    Red_Arrows673_RBA.jpg
  • Ending France's Bastille Day parade, the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, streak over the pyramid peak of the Louvre art museum in the centre of Paris. Leaving vapour trails of red, white and blue smoke to mark the 100th anniversary of the Anglo-French Entente Cordiale. They were chosen by the French authorities to close the fly-pasts. British armed forces paraded in the historic parade for the first time. Under blue skies on a perfect summer day, the squadron lined up in their classic fly-past 'V-shape' called 'Big Battle', following the straight line of the Champs Elysees then eastwards over the Parisian suburbs. Personnel from four British military units were present and French Air Force jets performed their own fly-past to open the parade, while the British Hawk jets of the Red Arrows had the honour of completing it. .
    Red_Arrows462_RBA.jpg
  • A 7 year-old boy has been lucky enough to spend a day with the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team. As just four members of the team of nine red jet aircraft fly past in formation, Mitchell stretches out his arm, holding a plastic toy Hawk aircraft up to the blue sky and light cloud with his back to the practice show, part of the team's winter training schedule. The Red Arrows' main purpose is Press and PR and corporate guest visitors are a weekly item in the team's diary during the winter training period - a 5-month schedule of up to six flights a day. Companies who help the RAF, the Red Arrows or local charities are privileged to be invited behind-the-scenes at the squadron's home facilities.
    Red_Arrows454_RBA.jpg
  • Nine pilots of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, stand in the shape of their signature 'Diamond Nine' formation with one of their Hawk jet aircraft at the team's headquarters at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. Today they have reached the all-important milestone of 'first 9-ship' (when all nine aircraft have flown a basic air show display together, after two groups have practiced seperately) and is the culmination of five months rigorous Winter training. They stand proud with beaming smiles on a warm spring day, their flying helmets with those famous arrows pointing towards blue sky and fluffy clouds. Still dressed in green flying suits, they go on to their spring training ground at Akrotiri, Cyprus where they earn the right to wear red suits, known around the world. At the front is team leader, Squadron Leader Spike Jepson...
    Red_Arrows421_RBA.jpg
  • A flying helmet belonging to a member of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, is cradled in the highly-polished open Plexiglass  canopy of a team Hawk jet aircraft. With the arrow pointing downwards we see it from below along with the airplane's red fuselage and the words Royal Air Force stencilled in blue lettering on the side within a white stripe. There are strong angles with clear blue space on the top right. The colours that dominate this image are red, white and blue - the colors of the Union Jack, United Kingdom's flag. This scene is at RAF Akrotiri, Cypus where the Red Arrows put the finishing touches to their display sequences before starting the gruelling air show calendar in the UK and Europe. The squadron represents all that is perfect with aerobatic flying, about teamwork and discipline.
    Red_Arrows102_RBA.jpg
  • As two women in the background walk in matching blue clothing, an elderly gentleman carries a folder in the same colour, on 10th May 2017, in the City of London, England.
    city_people-46-10-05-2017.jpg
  • As two women in the background walk in matching blue clothing, an elderly gentleman carries a folder in the same colour, on 10th May 2017, in the City of London, England.
    city_people-49-10-05-2017.jpg
  • Two businessmen carrying identical blue boxes walk through a London street and enter offices belonging to Citibank.
    blue_boxes5-23-09-2011.jpg
  • Two businessmen in dark formal suits carry identical blue boxes along a London street. Walking away with their backs to us, the two men stride towards an appointment in the City of London. The two boxes are both held in the arms of both executives as they cross the churchyard in front of St. Paul's cathedral in the capital's financial district.
    blue_boxes3-23-09-2011.jpg
  • In a red helmet, Squadron Leader Spike Jepson, team leader of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, plunges into the blue  Mediterranean waters for his annual Wet Drill exercise during Spring training in Cyprus. We see the pilot, small in the picture surrounded by frothing, blue water that engulfs his small body making him look vulnerable. 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. .
    Red_Arrows039_RBA.jpg
  • Flying overhead into the distance, Hawk jet aircraft of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, leave behind a trail of red, white and blue smoke in the clear skies above RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. Completing their off-season training, the team put the finishing touches to their display routine every Spring on the Mediterranean island where they perfect new manoeuvres. The sky is empty but as the light wind blows across the airfield, the remainder of the tapering coloured smoke (a mixture of vegetable dye and 'derv' - diesel fuel), blends together like a patriotic ribbon to make a haze of soft spectrum in the correct order of the United Kingdom's flag, and which becomes ever-sharper as the viewer looks towards the distant aircraft. They fly past, bend to the left and climb to a higher altitude, ready for their next formation.
    Red_Arrows485_RBA.jpg
  • A 40th anniversary celebration cake has been baked for the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team who are soon to appear. Displayed in a hospitality tent at the Kemble Air Show, the iced gateau has a red ribbon and an image of nine aircraft in mid-flight. A bouquet of flowers and assorted cutlery for the forthcoming lunch is alongside. Blue paper is draped over the top adding to the patriotic red, white and blue colours. After several identities, the Red Arrows started life near this location in 1964 at RAF Little Rissington in Gloucesterhire. Their name originates from the French 'Fleches Noirs', or Black Arrows, so in England, a new team was established flying black Hawker Hunters in the colour of their Squadron 111. As the Red Arrows diaplay team, they have since flown over 4,000 shows in 52 countries.
    Red_Arrows188_RBA.jpg
  • Splashed blue paint on the sea wall in the north Devon coastal town of Ilfracombe.
    paint_wall1-05-August-2011.jpg
  • Ground crew prepares dye derv mixture for red, white, blue smoke for 'Red Arrows', Royal Air Force aerobatic team Hawk jet.
    Red_Arrows017_RBA.jpg
  • Stored temporarily in a storeroom shelf, are the front and rear sections of a Hawk jet aircraft smoke pod belonging to the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team. Grubby and old, like museum artifacts, the two items are attached to the ageing aircrafts' belly accessory that provides the team with their distinctive red, white and blue smoke (a vegetable dye and diesel fuel mixture) during their air show display routines. This version of the BAE Systems Hawks are primitive pieces of equipment, without computers or fly-by-wire technology. Nevertheless, the team's aircraft are in some cases over 20 years old and their air-frames require constant attention with increasingly frequent major overhauls due. Here the parts are separated from the middle section which are receiving a winter modification.
    Red_Arrows393_RBA.jpg
  • Drying blue overalls belonging to engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows171_RBA.jpg
  • A large man with a shaved head and hairy back is seen from behind as he watches a display by the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team at Weymouth, England. A heart shape which grows from his bald head has been drawn with red smoke in the sky two Hawk jet aircraft taking part in the town's annual air show along the sea front. Such a tough-looking male specimen contrasts with the romance of this valentine symbol helping to make this picture's quirky juxtaposition touching. The Red Arrows use smoke to emphasize their flight-path, help the spectators see their manoeuvres and to make more of an enjoying spectacle. In blue sky they use white smoke for The Heart and red when overcast. We watch the man from below and see him craning his neck skywards, the skin on his thick neck wrinkling as he looks heavy from this angle.
    Red_Arrows614_RBA.jpg
  • Looking out to the Mediterranean Sea from the Akrotiri Peninsular, Cyprus, we see the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, practising their display finale, the Vixen Break, a show-stopping manoeuvre of their 25-minute air show display routine. A rusted and crumbling hulk of a ship lies in the shallow surf and the Hawk jets used by the Red Arrows fan out above it using red, white and blue smoke. It is a calm sea near the shoreline and the shipwreck's remains provide a sad foreground to the dynamic flying beyond making a graphic landscape. 'Datum' is an axis on which the Red Arrows focus their displays, from where the whole show is visible at the crowd's centre. 'The Wreck' is but one of a series of datum points selected by the team leader at short notice to simluate diverse geographical features and wind directions. The wreck is the MV Achaios. Built in 1932, it was on a voyage from Yugoslavia to Jeddah in 1976 with a cargo of timber. She ran aground in a storm at Akrotiri Peninsula, but no lives were lost.
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  • The elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, fly over an area known as the Cliffs on the Akrotiri peninsular of southern Cyprus. We see a barren scene of scrub and in the air, the team are in their signature 'Diamond Nine' formation, climbing up in a long arc through the blue sky and traversing above the dusty, featureless landscape where a naval Transit marker in the shape of a giant red arrow aids coastal shipping to safely navigate but which is missing some panels. The nine Hawk jets pass-by as a tight 'nine-ship' (the term used to describe nine aircraft in close formation) during a training flight in the clear Mediterranean skies. They return to this stretch of Cypriot coast each Spring to complete their rigorous winter schedule before the UK's air show display season.
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  • Flight Lieutenants Steve Underwood and Anthony Parkinson and Wing Commander Bill Ramsey of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, discuss logistics beneath the emblems of long-disbanded fighter squadrons which decorate the squadron building at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. They sit in faded pink armchairs supplied by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) that are seen in many RAF stations and airfields with the same drab blue paint on the walls. Painted by hand are circular badges  with bold colours (colors) and illustrations of birds of prey, fighter-jets, swords and shields which all symbolise  warfare. The three pilots are relaxed wearing their red flying suits with their sunglasses dangling in the regulation loop, they are holding a bottle of mineral water and a coffee cup.
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  • Two Hawk jets from the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, almost touch in mid-air at an altitude of approximately 4,100 feet in the Mediterranean skies above Cyprus. The texture of mottled cirrus cloud provides a soft background for the  aircraft which approach each other at a combined air speed of approximately 800 miles per hour (1,200 kph). The Opposition Loop is flown by the two pilot partners known as the Synchro Pair who fly independently of the other seven in the second-half of their 25-minute show. The two jets have vegetable dye and derv (diesel fuel) smoke mixture coloured red, blue or white. Here it traces the paths of both airplanes which curve from the edges of the frame to the centre (center). To the crowds far below, both look as if they are on collision course but wil safely pass within feet of each other.
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  • Senior Machinist Supervisor, Tricia Randle finishes a red flying suit of Squadron Leader David Thomas, a pilot of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team. Tricia is a bespoke seamstress at Dale Techniche, Nelson, Lancashire. Every Winter, the Red Arrows place about 40 pilot suit orders and 180 blue (support ground crew) suits. Tricia adjusts her thread while the suit is complete on her work bench. The clothing factory also designs the Red Arrows badges, each requiring 15,000 stitches. All suits are made from Nomex by the Du Pont corporation, containing 5% Kevlar. Flame-retardant, they fit exactly each team member. Fouteen different measurements are taken before the first suit is cut, each one requiring approximately three metres of dyed cloth. When a suit is complete, each one is signed inside by the machinist.
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  • A red Hawk jet aircraft belonging to the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, is parked in the hangar at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, the home base for the squadron. Night is falling with only blue daylight remaining in the western sky and the warm light from the hangar spills out of the giant open doors on to the concrete. The aircraft awaits attention from the engineer's night-shift who service and maintain all 11 of the famous red aerobatic jets before flying the next morning. The hangaran original World War 2 shelter for the Lancaster bombers of 617 Dambusters squadron who attacked the damns of the German Ruhr valley on 16th May 1943 using the Bouncing Bomb. The Red Arrows use this and nearby offices administrative nerve-centre for the 90-plus displays they perform a year. .
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  • Sunlight shines on the painted bricks of an urban city wall.
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  • Flight Lieutenant Dave Slow of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, is seated in a BAE Systems Hawk jet aircraft simulator at the fast-jet flying training centre, RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales. Like all fast-jet pilots, Flight Lieutenant Slow is required to complete this emergency drill every six months. The pilot is seated in his ejector seat as if in a real jet using back-projected computer graphics representing a generic landscape below. Each aviator proves they can cope with a series of failures that operators select: Engine, hydraulic failure or bird strike.  Apart from the aircraft fuselage, the high-tech facility loads malfunctions on a pilot that he could experience in reality. The version of Hawk that the Red Arrows fly is actually a primitive piece of equipment, without computers or fly-by-wire technology.
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  • Expensive real estate beach hut at the Suffolk seaside town of Southwold, Suffolk.
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  • A smoker and anonymous peoples' shadows with a London Crossrail construction site hoarding.
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  • Anonymous peoples' shadows and a London Crossrail construction site hoarding.
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  • An official West End guide in front of a London Crossrail construction site hoarding.
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  • A man licks his thump after a eating a cake in front of a London Crossrail construction site hoarding.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, during turnarounds of training flights.
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  • Pushing back BAE Systems Hawk jet belonging to the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team.
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  • Ground crew prepare BAE Systems Hawk jet of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team. ..It is the start of another training day for the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team who spend five months who have been using this aircraft type sine 1980,  A towing tractor is pulling the air frame from the warm glow of the shelter out into the drizzle and wind of bleak English weather. Since 1965 the Red Arrows have flown over 4,000 air shows shows in 52 countries.
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  • Air show organiser Jock Maitland of the Biggin Hill displays is to be presented with a momento by members of  the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team. We look down upon three pilots' backs (known as the Reds) who are lined up in their famous red flying suits during the ceremony and as speeches of thanks are made. A scaled model of a Hawk jet aircraft is hidden from view behind Flight Lieutenant Dave Slow's back before being handed to Mr Maitland as thanks for his contribution to the air show calendar. They stand at ease on the grass of this famous World War II airfield which saw much enemy action during the Batttle of Britain, patiently and relaxed with hands behind backs before leaving to perform their display routine in front of thousands of spectators.
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  • Squadron Leader David Thomas of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, sits on the wing of his Hawk jet aircraft and concentrates on the air display at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) RAF Fairford, UK. The pressures on the pilots are enormous when thousands of people scruntinise the team's every move. Squadron Leader Thomas is Synchro Leader - the prime flyer in a partnership of two who perform some of the most spectacular manoeuvres in the Red Arrows routine, including the most physically demanding high 'G' (gravity) turns. Leaning back on the fuselage, he replays the manoeuvres through his mind. The psyching-up process mentally prepares him for the intensive show. Thomas wears his anti-g pants which squeeze blood back to his thorax and head during the turns and loops, also wearing the famous red flying suit. .
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  • Sheltering from a rain shower at the Kemble Air Day, some pilots of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, gather beneath a full-scale model of a Hawk jet aircraft. Spectators have also gathered in their waterproof wear to make a colourful group. Flight Lieutenant Steve Underwood, who as commentator and Ground Safety Manager worries about the cloud cover and the implications for a safe display. He looks towards the gloomy sky to assess the prospects of a Red Arrows show in a short while. Dressed in red flying suits, the pilots have been signing PR autographs and distributing team brochures to some of their many fans before the deluge which sent the public undercover to seek shelter. The team's main purpose is to forge a link between the RAFand potential recruits plus the general public.
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  • In the mid-day heat, Squadron Leader John Green is a member of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team. Here he walks out alone to his aircraft, which is lined up with some of the others jets at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus before flying out to Marka in Jordan for the first display of the year. The Red Arrows arrive each April to fine-tune their air show skills in the clear Mediterranean skies and continue their busy display calendar above the skies of the UK and other European show circuit. We see John Green carrying his flight bag and life-vest over his shoulder. He paces confidently across the bright 'apron' dressed in his famous red flying suit that the Red Arrows have made famous since 1965. He is alone and striding confidently towards the matching red eight Hawk airplanes.
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  • Stored in their respective wooden boxes are the flying helmets and miscellaneous equipment belonging to two pilots of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, at their headquarters RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. All ten pilots have their own storage space for gear. We see the place names of Reds One and Two: Squadron Leader Spike Jepson and Flight Lieutenant Matt Jarvis, whose visors are protected by soft cloths preventing scratches protective face screen. Squadron Leader Jepson is team leader and Flight Lieutenant Jarvis flies slightly behind and to the right in the Red Arrows Diamond Nine formation. On an average winter training day at Scampton, the crews will collect their kit up to six times a day in readiness for the forthcoming summer air show season. Flight Lieutenant Jarvis died of cancer one year later in March 2005. .
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  • Pilot of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team handshakes his dedicated engineer at the end of display season.
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  • Member of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team with airfield markings during airshow weekend.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team push a BAE Systems Hawk jet into position.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, make repairs between training flights.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, one with a recently broken ankle.
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  • Safety equipment supplies officer of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team sews on badges to working overalls.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, makes last pre-flight checks before training flight.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, makes last pre-flight checks before training flight.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, await pilots to sign flight manuals before  flight
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, perform scheduled maintenance on Hawk equipment.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, during turnarounds of training flights.
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  • Survival Equippers (squippers) of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, fits a guest's helmet in the supplies office.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, rest in the shade before working on their Hawk jets.
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  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, rest before next stage of annual trip to Cyprus.
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