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  • Former Chief of the Air Staff Sir Jock Stirrup toasts the achievements of the Wright Brothers at RAF Hendon...Air Chief Marshal Sir Graham Eric (Jock) Stirrup and guest RAF dignitaries chat and drink at the Royal Air Force Museum Hendon on the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight in 1903. Behind them, Icarus falls to earth on melted wings before the Red Arrows RAF aerobatic team flew over the North London museum in a perfect Diamond Nine formation.
    Red_Arrows418_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team let off steam after passing their display authority 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_Arrows152_RBA.jpg
  • Wing Commander ill Ramsey congratulates pilots of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team 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_Arrows144_RBA.jpg
  • Ground technicians at RAF Wittering, the base for the Harrier.
    Red_Arrows239_RBA.jpg
  • New first year pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team try on their new red flying suits for size.
    Red_Arrows434_RBA.jpg
  • Resting Blues ground staff engineers await return of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows115_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, load flight spares before annual trip to Cyprus.
    Red_Arrows265_RBA.jpg
  • A half-eaten bar of chocolate has been left on an armchair supplied by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seen in a crew room at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Much of the facilities at RAF and MoD outposts are basic and spartan leaving small luxuries to be imported by visiting air and ground crew. In this case, the 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, are occupying this building while on their detachment to the British Mediterranean base while putting the finishing touches to their air display routines ready for PDA (or 'Public Display Authority'). After passing this test, they are then 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_Arrows134_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_Arrows159_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
  • Pilots of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team let off steam after passing their display authority 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_Arrows157_RBA.jpg
  • Younf air cadet sits in Hawk cockpit of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team during visit to RAF Scampton.
    Red_Arrows232_RBA.jpg
  • Official publicity portrait for the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team in mid-day glare at RAF Akrotiri.
    Red_Arrows168_RBA.jpg
  • Two pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team in discussion in MoD corridor at RAF Akrotiri.
    Red_Arrows046_RBA.jpg
  • A hangar belonging to the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. Two huge hangar doors are ajar revealing an orange glow spilling on to the concrete outside. A Hawk jet aircraft is parked awaiting overnight maintenance. Engineers talk inside as the door travels along its track. The men are the team's support ground crew and eleven trades are imported from some sixty that the RAF qualifies. The hangar dates to World War 2, housing Lancaster bombers of 617 Dambusters squadron who attacked the damns of the German Ruhr valley on 16th May 1943 using the Bouncing Bomb. This version of BAE Systems Hawks are low-tech, without computers nor fly-by-wire technology, Some of the  team's aircraft are 25 years old and their airframes require frequent overhauls due.
    Red_Arrows070_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team climb the steps in the Squadron Building's crew room at RAF Akrotiri.
    Red_Arrows284_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team let off steam after passing their display authority 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_Arrows153_RBA.jpg
  • New first year pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team discuss new manoeuvres at RAF Scampton.
    Red_Arrows608_RBA.jpg
  • Official publicity portrait for the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team in mid-day glare at RAF Akrotiri.
    Red_Arrows158_RBA.jpg
  • Old technology on RAF jet fuel bowser that serves the Hawks of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team at their home base of RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire. Operated by Squadron ground crew whose duties include keeping the team's aircraft and vehicles up and running perform the vital job of using this ageing equipment. Using such technology, the team have since 1965 flown over 4,000 such shows in 52 countries.
    Red_Arrows080_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
  • Darren Budziszewski is a Junior Technician engineer in the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team. He is seen carefully standing in the cockpit of a Hawk jet closely inspecting the Plexiglass canopy for smears and scratches. Stooping at the open surface while keeping back flat and his knees bent, its posture that the RAF teaches its employees. Darren polishes the aircraft before its pilot emerges from the building at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. The Red Arrows ground crew take enormous pride in their role as supporting the team whose air displays are known around the world, cleaning the red airplanes on their day off, so particular are they. The image is backlit and both canopy and man are bottom-weighted to allow us to see space and sky. Specialists like Darren outnumber the pilots 8:1 and without them, the Red Arrows couldn't fly.
    Red_Arrows099_RBA.jpg
  • Members of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team, supervise the loading of spares and personal effects into a C-130 Hercules aircraft before the two-day journey from RAF Scampton to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Surrounded by heavy-duty flight-spares, survival equipment boxes and a tyre for a Hawk jet aircraft, the Hercules looms large in the overcast sky. The team complete their winter training schedule in Cyprus. The Red Arrows pilots fly their own jet aircraft to air shows but when requiring the support of ground crew  they borrow a transporter to fly behind the main airborne squadron. 10 tons of spares and personal effects are shipped for a six-week stay.
    Red_Arrows060_RBA.jpg
  • Flight Lieutenant Antony Parkinson a pilot with the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, signs posters on arriving at the team's home base at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire from his last ever display. Flt Lt Parkinson has served on the Red Arrows for four years and is to leave for a Typhoon squadron - from a relatively simple aircraft to one of the most sophisticated. Press and PR is one of the team's main purposes, acting as ambassadors for the UK and as recruiting tool for tomorrow's RAF officers and autographing publicity material is a routine chore. Traditionally, photographs are designed to allow pilots a space to sign their names alongside their respective position in the display formation. In high-spirits after a stressfully long year, he is in the crew room to wind down, with a tomato in his mouth. .  . .
    Red_Arrows747_RBA.jpg
  • Airspeed pitot tube on nose of BAE Systems Hawk of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows693_RBA.jpg
  • Pilot of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team checks timings of forthcoming airshow display in team coach.
    Red_Arrows506_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, during turnarounds of training flights.
    Red_Arrows311_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, rest in the shade before working on their Hawk jets.
    Red_Arrows296_RBA.jpg
  • Pilot of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team relaxes in crew Block, mimicking the wall turtle painting.
    Red_Arrows286_RBA.jpg
  • Single pilot of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team walks out to his Hawk aircraft before a display flight to Jordan.
    Red_Arrows167_RBA.jpg
  • In corridor used by the Red Arrows, UK's RAF aerobatic team, bottles of vital water bottles and tea cups during Cyprus training.
    Red_Arrows151_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team perform DIY haircuts after arriving in a hot Cyprus.
    Red_Arrows055_RBA.jpg
  • Photographer ground staff member of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team films a winter training sortie.
    Red_Arrows027_RBA.jpg
  • BAE System Hawks of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team and wide airfield landscape.
    Red_Arrows009_RBA.jpg
  • Sign showing visitors to offices and hangar of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team at RAF Scampton
    Red_Arrows410_RBA.jpg
  • Small AIr Force cadet peers into ex-Gnat of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team at RAF Scampton.
    Red_Arrows360_RBA.jpg
  • Senior RAF officers assess 'Red Arrows' Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team and grant them authority to fly public displays
    Red_Arrows130_RBA.jpg
  • Red Hawk jets of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team perform during winter training at RAF Scampton home.
    Red_Arrows098_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team during winter training turnaround.
    Red_Arrows248_RBA.jpg
  • In the mid-day heat, Flt. Lt. Anthony Parkinson 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.
    Red_Arrows699_RBA.jpg
  • With great concentration, Flight Lieutenant Dan Simmons and Squadron Leader David Thomas of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team, meticulously brief themselves for their next training sortie over RAF Akrotiri. The 'Synchro Pair' (Reds 6 and 7) are the two pilots whose aircraft make the most dynamic of the manoeuvres including a cross called the Opposition Barrel Roll where both pilots aim at each other at closing speeds of 760 mph.Since 1965 the Red Arrows have flown over 4,000 such shows in 52 countries.
    Red_Arrows309_RBA.jpg
  • Two RAF pilots listen to flight-briefing by 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team for whom they want to join after the candidate process.
    Red_Arrows299_RBA.jpg
  • Joystick controller at BAE Systems Hawk jet aircraft simulator test a Red Arrows pilot at the fast-jet flying training centre, RAF Valley, Anglesey, Wales. All fast-jet pilots are required to complete an 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.
    Red_Arrows256_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, make repairs between training flights.
    Red_Arrows514_RBA.jpg
  • Squadron Leader Dunc Mason of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team instructs new manoeuvres to others.
    Red_Arrows476_RBA.jpg
  • Safety poster in the supplies office of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows431_RBA.jpg
  • Survival Equippers (squippers) of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, fits a guest's helmet in the supplies office.
    Red_Arrows357_RBA.jpg
  • Anonymous chef prepares BBQ burgers and sausages as a pilot of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team walks past.
    Red_Arrows306_RBA.jpg
  • Squadron Leader Spike Jepson, leader of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team memorises manoeuvres.
    Red_Arrows295_RBA.jpg
  • BAE System Hawks of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team and airfield signs landscape.
    Red_Arrows126_RBA.jpg
  • Ground commentator pilot of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team watches training flight from air conditioned car.
    Red_Arrows045_RBA.jpg
  • Rain grounded BAE Systems Hawk wing of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team at RAF Scmapton
    Red_Arrows471_RBA.jpg
  • Cockpit controls detail inside a BAE Ststems Hawk of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows770_RBA.jpg
  • BAE System Hawks of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team and airfield mist landscape.
    Red_Arrows401_RBA.jpg
  • Haw jets of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team practice display using Cyprus coast as display datum (centre).
    Red_Arrows331_RBA.jpg
  • Hawk jets of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team practice their display using an old ship wreck as display datum (centre). 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.
    Red_Arrows317_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, during turnarounds of training flights.
    Red_Arrows304_RBA.jpg
  • Closed doors outside the hangar of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows235_RBA.jpg
  • Trays of spilled dye derv he hangar that makes the coloured smoke of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows227_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, listen during health and safety course.
    Red_Arrows057_RBA.jpg
  • Hawk jets of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team practice their display using an old ship wreck as display datum (centre). 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.
    Red_Arrows047_RBA.jpg
  • Blue and red dye stains on the 'line' at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, home base of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team. The spilled dye provides the team with their distinctive red, white and blue smoke (a vegetable dye and diesel fuel mixture) during their air show display routines. While on the ground, this non-toxic derv/vegetable dye is injected into a vacuum under pressure into the jets' modified belly-pod which in varying amounts of concentrate, gives off a smoke via three nozzles that point down into the jet's efflux, the exhaust that exits the jet pipe at 500°C. For a display, the pods hold enough dye for 5 minutes of white smoke, 1 of blue and 1 of red while the Synchro pair uses slightly more. 7,200 gallons of dye during the entire 2004 season and since 1965 they have flown over 4,000 such shows in 52 countries.
    Red_Arrows698_RBA.jpg
  • Rolls-Royce Adour engine of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team in Squadron's hangar at RAF Scampton,
    Red_Arrows386_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team sign autographs for young visitor to RAF Scampton.
    Red_Arrows377_RBA.jpg
  • Air traffic controller in control tower at RAF Scampton, home base of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team
    Red_Arrows373_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team look at the details of romantic aviation posters in their crew room.
    Red_Arrows609_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, makes last pre-flight checks before training flight.
    Red_Arrows423_RBA.jpg
  • Engineer working on maintenance duties with equipment of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows310_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team during pre-display briefing on a Hawk wing before an airshow.
    Red_Arrows177_RBA.jpg
  • Flight spares ready for shipping to Cyprus in the hangar of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team.
    Red_Arrows076_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team shelter from weather on airfield apron.
    Red_Arrows035_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, coils up anti-static cable after refuelling a Hawk.
    Red_Arrows034_RBA.jpg
  • Engineering ground staff member of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, tests red smoke canister in regular procedure.
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  • 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
  • Air traffic controller in control tower at RAF Scampton, home base of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team
    Red_Arrows372_RBA.jpg
  • Rainbow after heavy rain at RAF Scampton, home to the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team,
    Red_Arrows237_RBA.jpg
  • A Hawk jet aircraft is towed by tractor from its hangar early on a January morning at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. 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.
    Red_Arrows008_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
  • Administrative personnel of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team, perform clerical duties.
    Red_Arrows419_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team during pre-display briefing on a Hawk wing before a training sortie.
    Red_Arrows259_RBA.jpg
  • Seen from the cockpit of another Hawk of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team during an In-Season Practice (ISP) training flight near their base at RAF Scampton. Seen through the explosive Plexiglass cockpit of a tenth plane, we see forward into deep blue sky as two sets of aerobatic pilots steer their machines from a crossover manoeuvre, their organic white smoke pouring from their jet pipes to emphasize their paths through the air. In front of a local crowd at the airfield the team work their way through a 25-minute series of display manoeuvres that are loved by thousands at summer air shows. After some time off, spare days like this are used to hone their manual aerobatic and piloting skills before re-joining the air show circuit. Since 1965 they've flown over 4,000 shows in 52 countries.
    Red_Arrows740_RBA.jpg
  • Flight Lieutenant Simon Stevens, a pilot in the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, makes a pre-flight check of his Hawk jet aircraft before a practice flight at RAF Scampton. Stevens and his fellow-aviators fly up to 6 times in winter training, learning new manoeuvres. The dangers of high-speed close formation flight makes health and safety precuations vital; the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Royal Air Force take working environments of their personnel seriously so pre-flight examination of aircraft happens before every sortie (flight). Performing the brief safety walk-around, Stevens bends at the waste to avoid the aeroplane's low aileron despite wearing a helmet, full flying suit, boots, life-vest and anti-g-pants. Flying still continues despite rainclouds in the gloomy Lincolnshire sky.
    Red_Arrows005_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team shelter under Hawk wing during airshow rain shower.
    Red_Arrows203_RBA.jpg
  • A partner of a member of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team who are leaving for their winter training ground at Akrotiri, Cyprus. Other team-member families have come along to see these famous red aircaft. Most of the team leave the UK for a six-week stint, refining their evolving air display routines and manoeuvres in the clear Mediteranean skies. Pilots and ground support crew will be away from loved-ones and their absence is one of the toughest aspects of RAF frontline personnel - and aerobatic squadrons.
    Red_Arrows262_RBA.jpg
  • Young spectators watch display by the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team at RAF Kemble.
    Red_Arrows193_RBA.jpg
  • Squadron Leader Spike Jepson of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team signs publicity brochures for boy during airshow.
    Red_Arrows210_RBA.jpg
  • Pilot of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team signs publicity brochures for the public during airshow.
    Red_Arrows192_RBA.jpg
  • Seen from the cockpit of another Hawk of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team during an In-Season Practice (ISP) training flight near their base at RAF Scampton. Seen through the explosive Plexiglass cockpit of a tenth plane, we see forward into deep blue sky as two sets of aerobatic pilots steer their machines from a crossover manoeuvre, their organic white smoke pouring from their jet pipes to emphasize their paths through the air. In front of a local crowd at the airfield the team work their way through a 25-minute series of display manoeuvres that are loved by thousands at summer air shows. After some time off, spare days like this are used to hone their manual aerobatic and piloting skills before re-joining the air show circuit. Since 1965 they've flown over 4,000 shows in 52 countries.
    Red_Arrows686_RBA.jpg
  • Detail of admin flight planning at the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team HQ at RAF Scampton.
    Red_Arrows473_RBA.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
  • RAF flight manual library belonging to the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team ready for shipment to Cyprus.
    Red_Arrows077_RBA.jpg
  • Pilots' personal effects of the 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team, stored in RAf locker.
    Red_Arrows072_RBA.jpg
  • 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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  • Banking slowly left over the agricultural Lincolnshire countryside are the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, who have commenced an In-Season Practice (ISP) training flight near their base at RAF Scampton. They turn at a gentle angle trailing white organic smoke  before reforming in front of a local crowd at the airfield and working through a 25-minute series of display manoeuvres that are loved by thousands at summer air shows. Their objective is to appear perfectly spaced from a ground perspective. Freshly-ploughed English fields with properties, roads and hedgerows are seen below. After some time off, spare days like this are used to hone their manual aerobatic and piloting skills before re-joining the air show circuit. Since 1965 they've flown over 4,000 shows in 52 countries.
    Red_Arrows681_RBA.jpg
  • Squadron Leader Spike Jepson, leader of the Red Arrows, Britain's RAF aerobatic team poses for family pictures at airshow.
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  • Seen from the cockpit of another Hawk of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's Royal Air Force aerobatic team during an In-Season Practice (ISP) training flight near their base at RAF Scampton. Seen through the explosive Plexiglass cockpit of a tenth plane, we see forward into deep blue sky as two sets of aerobatic pilots steer their machines from a crossover manoeuvre, their organic white smoke pouring from their jet pipes to emphasize their paths through the air. In front of a local crowd at the airfield the team work their way through a 25-minute series of display manoeuvres that are loved by thousands at summer air shows. After some time off, spare days like this are used to hone their manual aerobatic and piloting skills before re-joining the air show circuit. Since 1965 they've flown over 4,000 shows in 52 countries.
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  • 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.
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  • 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...
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  • Squadron Leader Duncan Mason of the elite 'Red Arrows', Britain's prestigious Royal Air Force aerobatic team, strides out across a gloomy, rainswept 'apron' at RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire. Squadron Leader Mason will fly up to 6 times daily during winter training ,when weather permits, learning new manoeuvres. Wearing winter green flying suits, their day is spent flying and de-briefing. Mason  wears a green flying suit with anti-g pants and helmet on with its pilot number. He is being greeted by a member of the team's support ground crew who outnumber the pilots 8:1.  The engineer wears a fluorescent yellow tabard and stands politely by the waiting aircraft on the 'line'. He has already prepared it for flight and helps with any technical issues that may arise.
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  • The Red Arrows pilot Flt. Lt. Matt Jarvis in the cockpit of a 2-seater Spitfire at RAF Scampton while helping raise funds for Macmillan cancer charity, Flt. Lt. Jarvis died in March 2005.
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