The Red Arrows are considered to be the best aerobatic display team in the world. All of them are front-line fast jet pilots. And we are very proud of them.
The Royal International Air Tattoo = RIAT. It's one of the world's leading 'air shows', which displays some of the most skillful flying from the best pilots in the UK. It's also the world's largest military air show, (held annually, usually over the third weekend in July, at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England).
@@trevjen1000 Also, the runway at Fairford is rated with an unrestricted load-bearing capacity, meaning that it can support any aircraft with any type of load. It was/is NASA's 'Space Shuttle' emergency abort landing site and used to have (may still? ), NASA-trained fire and medical crews stationed on the airfield.
For me, the most impressive fact is that they're all front-line, fast jet pilots, who volunteer to serve with the Red Arrows in aircraft that were designed in the 1970s, devoid of on-board computers; they rehearse on the ground with stopwatches and "synchronised dancing" around a briefing room - Junior Service Madmen!
The Red Arrows are the RAF's legendary aerobatic display team based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. It does a lot for recruitment as you can imagine. Red Arrows pilots are seconded from their squadrons (air regiments) for about three years before returning to front line duty.
How do they do that Steve? Lots of practice and balls of steel......We have an air display every year here, weather permitting and the Red Arrows are always the stars of the show. Absolutely brilliant.
I remember as a youngster, walking towards the airfield to watch an air show, and one of the red arrows flew over so low that I could see the pilot waving to us.
These pilots are the very best in the RAF. This is one small part of what makes Great Britain great so proud to be British. Love watching your reactions Steve
The answer to "how do they do that?" is that Red 1 at the front leads the formation, and all 8 other pilots have a visual reference point to Red 1's aircraft, which they learn for each maneuver. When it comes to rolls, turns and loops, the pilots will use the cadence of Red 1's voice to know when to put input into the stick/throttle. Other than that, it's a hell of a lot of practice and skill.
Hi mate l live in uk and I was once drive ing past raf Cromwell in Lincolnshire cranwell is the sit of raf university and the red arrows were practiceing thier air display I just pulled up at side of road and watched them for an hour it was fantastic Dave spencer
Some years ago, a German friend and a group of his friends went to Lake Geneva from Southern Germany to see a Red Arrows Display and waited in anticipation for their arrival. One friend, holding a pocket watch said " Well, They're late". a split second later, they were all laying on their backs and the one with the watch declared "Er, no they're not". The Red Arrows flew so low towards them across the Lake that they all fell backwards in disbelief. My German friends fondest memory and apparently the group still talk about it.
They did that at Ayr last weekend. Unfortunately I didn't get their entrance on camera, but did get a few selected highlights, along with the other aircraft on display: th-cam.com/video/YKirz0-CcHE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Z_GtRtv55PqoNcrw
There is a video on youtube of the red arrows training its an onboard camera with the lead jet it explains how they do it with white lines on each wing and markings on the window that shows angles they line the white lines on the wings with the window marks . And yes they do come within feet of each other
The Red Arrows are regular pilots seconded to this display unit for three years. At the end of their secondment they go back to their regular units. Their departures are staggered, so each year only three pilots would leave and be replaced by new ones. This gives the whole team continuity. How do they get so close to each other - one word - practice. We are very proud of the red arrows.
The jets carry a converted centreline ventral gun pod. The BAe Hawk was designed as a jet trainer ,weapons trainer and light attack aircraft, so has the ability to carry a 30mm Aden gun in a pod. The Red Arrows pods have 3 compartments carrying diesel. One has straight diesel, one has red dyed diesel and one has blue dyed diesel. The pilot has 3 buttons on the control column, when pressed, the relevant coloured diesel is injected via small pipes into the exhaust plume at the back of the jet. This then vaporises in the hot jet exhaust to become smoke. They carry just enough of each colour for the display. The timings for each colour determine the quantity so x seconds of red smoke, y seconds of blue and z of white.
The pilots control the smoke themselves. They have a master switch in the cockpit to turn it on and off and then 3 buttons on their control stick to switch between red white and blue. The white smoke itself is just diesel that they mix with the aircraft’s exhaust (which makes it vaporise). And they mix red and blue die in with the diesel to get the coloured smoke.
The Red Arrows are the RAFs display team, each pilot is drawn from a front-line RAF Squadron, they do a three year tour on the team, then back to a regular squadron, so nine in the team, three year rotation, each year there're three new pilots, so there's plenty of practice before the display season starts. The smoke is produced by injecting diesel fuel into the jet tail pipe. There're three small diesel tanks, one has clear diesel for white smoke, one has diesel with red dye, the other has diesel with blue dye. The injection is controlled by buttons on the joystick that would normally be for selecting guns or missiles. The aircraft are BEA Hawk T2 training aircraft.
Watched them as a child as family are military uncle and auntie both sergants in RAF, Everyone in th uk has such admiration for the Red Arrows we all stop and smile, so proud of all our forces
The amazing thing is that they fly in formation when they are travelling to a display too or to another airport in another country ahead of a display :)
Years ago I and a few friends were enjoying a summers day on Brighton Beach. All of a sudden the Red Arrows screamed overhead and performed a routine out over the ocean. No one was expecting it, there weren't any air shows nearby. They must have been practising and just fancied showing off to us.
@@amandasilver4622 Thanks for that, Amanda, mystery solved. Just googled Hayling Island as I've never heard of it, it's about 30+ miles from Brighton. Less than 5 minutes away in jet terms :)
@lewilewis3944 The Red Arrows used to fly displays between the Palace Pier and West Pier as the opening act to the now defunct Brighton Lions Carnival week. They used to come in over the central parade of shops on the main seafront road. They did this for many years in their Folland Gnats before switching to BAe Hawk T mk1's. This went on for many years without incident until some idiot decided to park his yacht with a massive mast right in the middle of the display area. One of the Singletons clipped his mast on one of their head-on passes and had to ditch his Hawk in the sea just past the Palace Pier, ejecting to safety at the last moment but not before making sure he cleared the pier and all the people watching the display from there.
The red arrows displays are breathtaking. Im fortunate enough to get to see them practice their displays because of where i live. I live close to where they are stationed.
The Red Arrows, though probably the best known, are not the only RAF display team. There's also the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the RAF Chinook Display Team, the Grob Tutor Display Team, the Typhoon Display Team and The Falcons - the UK’s premier military parachute display team.
Pilots stay with the Red Arrows for a 3-year tour of duty. There are 11 pilots in the team and 100 engineering and support staff their officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team
It's the biggest air show in the world. The Red Arrows were originally based at RAF Fairford but relocated to Brize Norton because they used Fairford to do flight testing for Concorde, as it has a long runway. Which was also one of the designated emergency runways for the space shuttle .
'a ton of practice' is exactly it. Every day they can fly, they do. They have a dedicated airspace here in Lincolnshire and also a winter training base in Cyprus.
We have just watched their display in Teignmouth (pronounced Tin Mouth) in South Devon. It’s the best one we watched ever, had to be over 30,000 people there for the Airshow. The display was over the sea and they flew only 500feet above it at times, breath taking. Weather perfect for a change.
they will line up in formation on the ground and memorize fixed points to where they know when they look at tip of their wing where the plane next to them should be in reference with it. at times they will be as close as 6ft apart when in the air
When we were little, the Red Arrows were based near us and practised over our garden. Dad told my sister who was a toddler at the time e , that they were flying for her. She's 51 now and still calls them her Red Arrows. RIAT is the Royal International Air Tattoo. A great event. A real celebration of flight.
Fun fact. RAF Fairford is/ was a backup landing location for the space shuttle because of the length of the runway. I live near by and used to work for the RAF benevolent fund who help organise the show. I remember when the US invaded the middle east I saw countless B52 bombers there lining up ready to go.
I literally just saw the red arrows from my house...the Swansea Air show has just finished. One of the jets came right past my house ,turned & flew back towards the sea..I could see the pilot clearly in the cockpit. Love the Red Arrows. Love & light from South Wales 💜🏴🌻.
I used to live in RAF Gaydon Warwickshire in the late 1960 (Marston Avenue) and the RED ARROWS ((1965)(formally the YellowJacks 1964)) were stationed there. At the time they flew Hawker - Siddeley Gnat T1 aircraft and we would watch them at practice. If they saw us kids out playing they used to do low level flying down Marston Avenue (which was tree less at the time) at a height of about twenty (20) feet, which is just about roof gutter height for the housing we lived in. The avenue was wide enough for them to fly along two (2) abreast. I meet the piolets quite often as my dad was one of the support personnel (did the refueling) and to this day my dad (aged 90 this year) has air show programs with all the pilot's signatures on them. Gaydon is no longer an RAF base but BMW use part of the old airfield as there test track and the British Motor Museum is also there.
I live in sunderland north east of england, we have one of the lonegest running air shows in the world, planes from all over the world, last few has been cancelled, for obvious reasons, i remember having my 2 girls and my wife, get there 7am spot on the beach, so the kids can play, picnic, few beers when supermarket opened and bottle wine, sandwiches and snacks and drinks for the kids, it was summer time, kids in the swimming costumes, playing in the sea, building sand castles, all that sort of stuff, 12 hour days, free of charge, quarter of a million peo[le came down in them days, in the 90s, what these planes could do was amazing, they used to perform just off the coast over the sea, safety incase some did go wrong, watching helicopters do the loop, very noisey, well organised
Good thing is if your having a little event in a town and on their route back from an airshow they will come by on route! Love these guys. Have been fortunate to watch them practice regularly. Even been over my town today on practice ❤ glad you enjoyed
When my husband was in the RAF I used to sit in my front garden in Cyprus and watch them practicing their routine over a few weeks in Spring ready to be given the all clear to perform over the summer months! They used to fly so low over the house sometimes the ornaments would rattle on the shelves! They are truly awesome.
There is a video doing the rounds on TH-cam of the Red Arrows doing a tour of USA. Really interesting video, goes into a lot of detail of the pilots and support team.
As Brits we are all incredibly proud of the Red Arrows - Esp considering the pilots are only there for 3 years, before returning to regular duty. I have been watching them since the early 70's (My school reports every year said the same thing - 'Diane must NOT run to the window in class to watch The Red Arrows fly over' (back then I did it for Concord too!) oops... LOL
RIAT in 2018 was at the airbase at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire - between Cardiff in Wales and Oxford and north of Bath. The red arrows perform at every big Royal occasion - the jubilees and the annual trooping of the colour. They fly over my house going in or coming out of London - or both. Sometimes we get the Royal memorial flight - a spitfire, a Lancaster bomber and a hurricane. You can hear them long before you see them, with the familiar engine sounds from WW2 films. We also got to see the last flight of Concorde. Everyone came out of their houses and waved. Mad really as nobody on board could see us.
My dad was offered a place in the Red Arrows but turned it down as he thought it was too dangerous (I'd just been born). He was a Squadron Leader as well as a flight instructor that taught pilots how to fly the Hawk aircraft that they use. And yes, they are as close as they look.
@@steverpcb You could well be correct, I'm only going off what I was told 10+ years later when he was no longer with us. At the time he was a flight instructor but no longer in front-line service due to an ejection incident in a Tornado.
I enjoyed seeing this so much. I haven't seen the Red Arrows 'in the real' for a long time. It's really spectacular, isn't it? Amazing skills and awesome discipline. There is no-one like them. Thanks for this, Steve. 🤩
I loved watching your reaction ❤ I always enjoy the Red Arrows. We've seen them a lot this year because they're usually part of any Royal fly past. That's an awesome sight...flying over Buckingham Palace!!
There is a video on here that follows their American Tour when they toured America with your version of the Red Arrows, I think they are called the Blue Angels(?). They use a dye in the smoke for the colours and they are 2 seater training jets but only have the pilot in during the display. They use the 2nd seat for when they fly their mechanic who go with them on displays. Their 9 main jets and 1 spare jet and pilot if 1 has problems and can't fly, they also have a pilot on the ground that sometimes does the commentary during the display. Obviously with things like this, there have been accidents and several pilots have been killed. I remember one year they had to do some displays with only 8 jets as 2 pilots were killed the same year in separate incidents. Obviously it takes time to train them up. They are all serving pilots in the RAF and if chosen they do I think 3 years in the displays (others will correct me if I have got the length they do wrong).
I'm lucky enough to see the Red Arrows nearly every day as I live only a mile from the RAF station where they are based. Only yesterday one of the fight flew directly over my house, only a couple of hundred yards above us. The noise was incredible. Amazing guys.
Was lucky enough last year to be on an RAF base last year with our cadets when the arrows were in, stunning display. One of the cadets were on their first ever flight and the arrows buzzed them on their way in to land and escorted them down, never going to top that as your first flying experience.
saw these maybe 30 times at a local air show held over a weekend every year, held over the sea, so depending on the tide was how close they got.. they are fantastic. but ,you need to feel the noise they make.. brilliant
the red arrows are even more impressive when you find out that the parts and instruments are the same analogue systems as the originals. The team also consists of engineers and ground crew who specialize in this model of jet plane including the smoke delivery system, evenyone goes on the tour to do maintenance, there are 2 seats there is the pilot and the "Circus " one is usually a photographer. the Pilots have a 3 year tour of duty and are selected from the best candidates that qualify. This was the 2019 American tour documentary which gives a feel for behind the scenes a little and explains more th-cam.com/video/akagcuyGU3I/w-d-xo.html
As a kid about 14 i was in the army cadets in a narrow valley rock climbing and abseiling, the arrows showed up and I was looking down on them and could see the pilots, they made 3 passes through. I'd already seen them twice, just never from above.
The Red Arrows are one of Britains most prized symbols in my opinion... They actually flew over my house in formation on Saturday on their way over Glasonbury festival. Seen them fly over dozens of times over the years, but never at an airshow, they just seem to be somewhere in our skies all the time. There was a great documentary where the Red Arrows & the USAF Thunderbolts met up and did some shows together, possibly on TH-cam.
Saw them twice as a child passing over Biggin hill my sister and I stood on my dads Bedford van bonnet in SEEngland they were amazing I remember the noise was deafening.
I’m lucky to live only a few miles away from their base at RAF Waddington. They regularly do tricks above my house - they practice most days. They did a performance for a family day at the base on Friday with the Saudi Hawks. I got to watch it all in my garden. If anyone wants to see them, you can just visit Lincoln and park at the viewing area at RAF Waddington- or find a pub garden in a nearby village - and watch. You can often see them from the city centre too.
The last time I saw the Red Arrows I was in Gibraltar. We were at the southern tip, Europa Point, and the Arrows were over the sea. It was glorious! Between wing tips they are sometimes on 6 feet apart!! Nerves of steel and skill levels beyond extraordinary 😊 I’m so proud of them.
The Red Arrows are a squadron in their own right and the pilots are drawn from frontline squadrons. They are with the team for 3 years. Many hours of practice like about 4 Months before they even put the display in front of the public. They know the display sequence by heart. They are approximately 6feet apart
RIAT stands for 'Royal International Air Tattoo' and is the name of the airshow which is an annual event. It usually (including in 2018) takes place in July at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. It is held in support of theRoyal Airforce Charitable Trust. The Red Arrows are the official RAF Aerobatic Display team. The team consists of 11 pilots and about 100 others- engineers etc - and was formed in 1964.
They are the best pilots and the video doesn't show how low they fly too. I have seen them at what looked like literally metres above me zooming by. Was amazing.
The person that you can hear doing the commentary is also one of the team’s pilots who is taking a day off from flying and the entire team takes it in turn to perform the duty so although they have a script to follow they are able to ad lib if necessary. There is a series of programs that follows the Red Arrows through an entire season of displays on an American tour and when they are travelling to their next destination the entire ground crew and their equipment is transported in a Heracles C130. On arrival at their new location the pilots are immediately instructed to rest and the ground crews will start to service their aircraft before they are rested to allow time for any necessary repairs in addition to the normal maintenance. This is why they always have 10 display aircraft present at every call that they make on their overseas tours. The lead aircraft is always known as Red 1, or boss because it is he who is responsible for calling out the start of every manoeuvre and all of the pilots will take their cues from Red 1 even if they don’t have any visual information to know when to start a run into the optimum location for the public to see the display from. Red 10 the non airborne commentator can also hear these signals to the pilots and matches his commentary to the orders that the pilots are reacting to so in the event of a change to the planned show he is capable of telling the public of the direction they need to look to see the aircraft.
I saw the Red Arrows at RAF Cosford. I will just say every single display team was amazing but, one thing stood out. Every team did a close pass. Only the Red Arrows made everyone duck as they did their close pass. They genuinely get close. Also the Typhoon display was amazing. The way that aircraft can just hang in the sky before taking off vertically is astounding.
Great Video. Red Arrows are awesome. My partner and I are going to RIAT this year on 15th July. This is at RAF Fairford in England. Just North of Swindon town. Pilots from air forces and display teams from all over the world come together for this event.
The Red Arrows are local to me, I see them practising all the time, we get a Valentines hearts all over our county every year. We're so proud to have them have their home here and fought really hard to keep them when their original air base closed down. They are an acrobatics only unit, so the planes don't serve in combat. Generally the pilots have a lot of experience and its a honour to chosen as it shows you're an incredibly skilled pilot. They have to have been flying for the RAF for so long before even being considered.
I enjoy the Red Arrows. Fairford is in Gloucestershire, in the flatland south-east of the Cotswold Hills. To show the extraordinary depth of our history, Fairford is known for something else. It's quite large parish church - built about 1500 - has retained all its mediaeval stained glass, including a marvellous Last Judgement. They've had to check that aircraft noise won't damage the glass, particularly when Concorde was nearby!
I've had the pleasure of a tour of the Reds hangar and sat in the leader's (Red 1) aircraft. During my visit, one of the team explained formation keeping and pointed out the bolt on the flap hinge. The head of the bolt, about 3/4 of an inch wide, is used by the pilots as a reference point when aligning their aircraft in echelon. Now, to be able to see and manoeuvre on that bolt gives some idea just how close they are! And whilst travelling at a couple of hundred miles an hour in moving air currents in three dimensions.
To give you an idea of how close they're flying, their jets (BAE Hawk T1) are 11.85m (~38feet 10inch) long and have a wingspan of 9.39m (~30feet 9 inches).
ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO - biggest air show in the world at RAF Fairford UK. Reds are selected fast jet pilots from I the RAF who join the display team for usually 3 yrs and fly the Hawk. The smoke is diesel based which is looked after by the Dye Team. Nobody else in the aircraft whilst they are displaying so they activate it all themselves. The Reds are as ambassadors for the Royal Air Force. I work at RAF Fairford and I am so lucky to see this first hand every year and I NEVER get tired of it 🤘🤙
There is a short TV series of the Red Arrows visiting the US and performing over different cities. It also shows some "behind the scenes". Very informative.
I live in the Isle of Man and the red arrows come over every year for the TT. They’re always fantastic and people come out from all over the island to see them.
All of the pilots have to have served combat tours in fast jets. They also have to have 1500 hours flying time before even being considered. In the 80s they sometimes used to train a little further afield than just Lincolnshire (where they're based) and you could see them occasionally from our garden. They're spectacular. Another flight related thing to check out is the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Similar formation flying, but in Spitfires, Lancasters and Hurricanes. I've seen the Spitfires doing barrel rolls and loops, and it's awe inspiring. Also if you haven't seen it, the jubilee flypast from last year - no aerobatics, just lots of aeroplanes.
I LOVE watching them fly over my house, tbs I’d say the Hercules that flew over for the last time recently were insane to watch too. It’s so beautiful to witness and soooo loud hahaha.
The Red Arrows are considered to be the best aerobatic display team in the world. All of them are front-line fast jet pilots. And we are very proud of them.
Yes we are
hell yea we are! even going it on the coronation with the clouds/fog!
They are an embarrassment
How many have they managed to kill in the last 5 years??
@@junglie5055 No your comment is an embarrassment
I live next door to an RAF station and get to see the Red Arrows at least twice a year from my home. They're absolutely epic to watch in person.
Royal International Air Tattoo has been described as the world's greatest airshow by Buzz Aldrin.
Its worlds biggest military airshow in the world
Absolutely amazingly spectacular. Makes me proud to be British ❤
Royal International Air Tattoo
Dam straight
I've been lucky to see them fly over 20 times and it always gives me goosebumps.
The last time I went to an airshow the Vulcan was still flying. I loved that "howl"
Same!!. I've got goosebumps. ❤❤
So Proud of my English Blood! So Proud to be a Canadian!!!🇬🇧🇬🇧🇨🇦🇺🇸❤️❤️❤️🙏🏼
The Red Arrows really are among the best at this kind of thing. Proud to be British seeing this.
Among the best. C'mon. They are THE best.
The Royal International Air Tattoo = RIAT. It's one of the world's leading 'air shows', which displays some of the most skillful flying from the best pilots in the UK. It's also the world's largest military air show, (held annually, usually over the third weekend in July, at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England).
RAF Fairford is technically an RAF Base, but is operated by the USAF.
Used to go every year. When the harriers were still flying and the Vulcan bomber.
@@trevjen1000
Also, the runway at Fairford is rated with an unrestricted load-bearing capacity, meaning that it can support any aircraft with any type of load. It was/is NASA's 'Space Shuttle' emergency abort landing site and used to have (may still? ), NASA-trained fire and medical crews stationed on the airfield.
And I get to see it all for free, several times over the weekend. They practice over my house.😊😊😊
@@evelynharper6346 that is not fair. 😥
For me, the most impressive fact is that they're all front-line, fast jet pilots, who volunteer to serve with the Red Arrows in aircraft that were designed in the 1970s, devoid of on-board computers; they rehearse on the ground with stopwatches and "synchronised dancing" around a briefing room - Junior Service Madmen!
The Red Arrows are the RAF's legendary aerobatic display team based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire. It does a lot for recruitment as you can imagine. Red Arrows pilots are seconded from their squadrons (air regiments) for about three years before returning to front line duty.
It’s not waddington mate. Wrong side of Lincoln. Waddington is the surveillance and drone airbase. Awaks etc.
How do they do that Steve? Lots of practice and balls of steel......We have an air display every year here, weather permitting and the Red Arrows are always the stars of the show. Absolutely brilliant.
I remember as a youngster, walking towards the airfield to watch an air show, and one of the red arrows flew over so low that I could see the pilot waving to us.
My mother lives at the edge of the lakes so they do a lot of low flying training, you can see the pilots and they do wave
These pilots are the very best in the RAF. This is one small part of what makes Great Britain great so proud to be British.
Love watching your reactions Steve
The answer to "how do they do that?" is that Red 1 at the front leads the formation, and all 8 other pilots have a visual reference point to Red 1's aircraft, which they learn for each maneuver. When it comes to rolls, turns and loops, the pilots will use the cadence of Red 1's voice to know when to put input into the stick/throttle. Other than that, it's a hell of a lot of practice and skill.
Watching this video makes me proud to be British❤The Red arrows are fantastic !😊
Hi mate l live in uk and I was once drive ing past raf Cromwell in Lincolnshire cranwell is the sit of raf university and the red arrows were practiceing thier air display I just pulled up at side of road and watched them for an hour it was fantastic Dave spencer
Some years ago, a German friend and a group of his friends went to Lake Geneva from Southern Germany to see a Red Arrows Display and waited in anticipation for their arrival. One friend, holding a pocket watch said " Well, They're late". a split second later, they were all laying on their backs and the one with the watch declared "Er, no they're not". The Red Arrows flew so low towards them across the Lake that they all fell backwards in disbelief. My German friends fondest memory and apparently the group still talk about it.
Lol that's funny and great too. Only the army turn up late 😜🤣🤣🤣
@@philgreen8277 TRUE!
Proud so proud to be the best in the world .. front line pilots Brilliant
Last time I saw these guys, they didn't start from Take Off. They came roaring in from behind the stands, made everyone duck😉
Same happened to me they came from behind us lol there spectacular to watch live.
They did this at Blackpool 2022. The crowds were all lining the beachfront and the Red Arrows swooped in from behind. It was a WOW moment !! ❤❤
@@helenthomas5935they did this year to.. They always come in from behind the tower
They did that at Ayr last weekend. Unfortunately I didn't get their entrance on camera, but did get a few selected highlights, along with the other aircraft on display:
th-cam.com/video/YKirz0-CcHE/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Z_GtRtv55PqoNcrw
The best in the world at what they do .
There is a video on youtube of the red arrows training its an onboard camera with the lead jet it explains how they do it with white lines on each wing and markings on the window that shows angles they line the white lines on the wings with the window marks . And yes they do come within feet of each other
The Red Arrows are regular pilots seconded to this display unit for three years. At the end of their secondment they go back to their regular units. Their departures are staggered, so each year only three pilots would leave and be replaced by new ones. This gives the whole team continuity. How do they get so close to each other - one word - practice. We are very proud of the red arrows.
Seen them many times and yes they are as close as it looks 👌🏻 they are the best in the world and most famous ❤️🏴🇬🇧👌🏻
The jets carry a converted centreline ventral gun pod. The BAe Hawk was designed as a jet trainer ,weapons trainer and light attack aircraft, so has the ability to carry a 30mm Aden gun in a pod. The Red Arrows pods have 3 compartments carrying diesel. One has straight diesel, one has red dyed diesel and one has blue dyed diesel. The pilot has 3 buttons on the control column, when pressed, the relevant coloured diesel is injected via small pipes into the exhaust plume at the back of the jet. This then vaporises in the hot jet exhaust to become smoke.
They carry just enough of each colour for the display. The timings for each colour determine the quantity so x seconds of red smoke, y seconds of blue and z of white.
The pilots control the smoke themselves. They have a master switch in the cockpit to turn it on and off and then 3 buttons on their control stick to switch between red white and blue. The white smoke itself is just diesel that they mix with the aircraft’s exhaust (which makes it vaporise). And they mix red and blue die in with the diesel to get the coloured smoke.
The Red Arrows are the RAFs display team, each pilot is drawn from a front-line RAF Squadron, they do a three year tour on the team, then back to a regular squadron, so nine in the team, three year rotation, each year there're three new pilots, so there's plenty of practice before the display season starts. The smoke is produced by injecting diesel fuel into the jet tail pipe. There're three small diesel tanks, one has clear diesel for white smoke, one has diesel with red dye, the other has diesel with blue dye. The injection is controlled by buttons on the joystick that would normally be for selecting guns or missiles. The aircraft are BEA Hawk T2 training aircraft.
Watched them as a child as family are military uncle and auntie both sergants in RAF, Everyone in th uk has such admiration for the Red Arrows we all stop and smile, so proud of all our forces
Leader goes on the redio "Smoke on..... GO" "Break...... GO" "Smoke off...... GO" and that's how it is so syncronised!
Precision flying at its best.
Skills learnt during wartime formation flying turned into entertainment 😮
Living in the uk its amazing when you see the red arrows fly over. Everyone stops and watches in awe
The amazing thing is that they fly in formation when they are travelling to a display too or to another airport in another country ahead of a display :)
I'm one of the lucky ones that see them most days practice over Lincoln U.K
Years ago I and a few friends were enjoying a summers day on Brighton Beach. All of a sudden the Red Arrows screamed overhead and performed a routine out over the ocean. No one was expecting it, there weren't any air shows nearby. They must have been practising and just fancied showing off to us.
They used to be based at Hayling Island. Always saw them on the ground when dinghy sailing.
@@amandasilver4622 Thanks for that, Amanda, mystery solved. Just googled Hayling Island as I've never heard of it, it's about 30+ miles from Brighton. Less than 5 minutes away in jet terms :)
@lewilewis3944
The Red Arrows used to fly displays between the Palace Pier and West Pier as the opening act to the now defunct Brighton Lions Carnival week.
They used to come in over the central parade of shops on the main seafront road.
They did this for many years in their Folland Gnats before switching to BAe Hawk T mk1's.
This went on for many years without incident until some idiot decided to park his yacht with a massive mast right in the middle of the display area.
One of the Singletons clipped his mast on one of their head-on passes and had to ditch his Hawk in the sea just past the Palace Pier, ejecting to safety at the last moment but not before making sure he cleared the pier and all the people watching the display from there.
The red arrows displays are breathtaking. Im fortunate enough to get to see them practice their displays because of where i live. I live close to where they are stationed.
So proud to be British. I was lucky to be a child in my RAF family and years ago lived where the Red Arrows trained. Amazing noise and action.
The Red Arrows, though probably the best known, are not the only RAF display team. There's also the Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the RAF Chinook Display Team, the Grob Tutor Display Team, the Typhoon Display Team and The Falcons - the UK’s premier military parachute display team.
I adore the Reds. But my heart belongs to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF). And of course, the star attraction, our Lancaster.
Seeing the chinook gracefully prance around in the air at Bournemouth beach airshow was mind blowing. IT CAN DO THAT?
Red arrows leader also known as red 1 tells them when to put smoke on and off when to turn etc. Also they fly 6ft apart when in formation
I live about 10 miles from where these are based, they are brilliant, make you proud to be British when you see them perform
Elite pilots, the best of the best!
Pilots stay with the Red Arrows for a 3-year tour of duty. There are 11 pilots in the team and 100 engineering and support staff their officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team
It's the biggest air show in the world. The Red Arrows were originally based at RAF Fairford but relocated to Brize Norton because they used Fairford to do flight testing for Concorde, as it has a long runway. Which was also one of the designated emergency runways for the space shuttle .
'a ton of practice' is exactly it. Every day they can fly, they do. They have a dedicated airspace here in Lincolnshire and also a winter training base in Cyprus.
We have just watched their display in Teignmouth (pronounced Tin Mouth) in South Devon. It’s the best one we watched ever, had to be over 30,000 people there for the Airshow. The display was over the sea and they flew only 500feet above it at times, breath taking. Weather perfect for a change.
It makes me proud to be English my dad was in the R.A.F for 40 years and as an electrician worked on many planes.
they will line up in formation on the ground and memorize fixed points to where they know when they look at tip of their wing where the plane next to them should be in reference with it. at times they will be as close as 6ft apart when in the air
When we were little, the Red Arrows were based near us and practised over our garden. Dad told my sister who was a toddler at the time e , that they were flying for her. She's 51 now and still calls them her Red Arrows. RIAT is the Royal International Air Tattoo. A great event. A real celebration of flight.
Fun fact. RAF Fairford is/ was a backup landing location for the space shuttle because of the length of the runway. I live near by and used to work for the RAF benevolent fund who help organise the show. I remember when the US invaded the middle east I saw countless B52 bombers there lining up ready to go.
I've seen them display many times in my life and it's the same heart-pumping thrill each time ❤❤❤
I literally just saw the red arrows from my house...the Swansea Air show has just finished. One of the jets came right past my house ,turned & flew back towards the sea..I could see the pilot clearly in the cockpit. Love the Red Arrows. Love & light from South Wales 💜🏴🌻.
I used to live in RAF Gaydon Warwickshire in the late 1960 (Marston Avenue) and the RED ARROWS ((1965)(formally the YellowJacks 1964)) were stationed there. At the time they flew Hawker - Siddeley Gnat T1 aircraft and we would watch them at practice. If they saw us kids out playing they used to do low level flying down Marston Avenue (which was tree less at the time) at a height of about twenty (20) feet, which is just about roof gutter height for the housing we lived in. The avenue was wide enough for them to fly along two (2) abreast. I meet the piolets quite often as my dad was one of the support personnel (did the refueling) and to this day my dad (aged 90 this year) has air show programs with all the pilot's signatures on them. Gaydon is no longer an RAF base but BMW use part of the old airfield as there test track and the British Motor Museum is also there.
I live in sunderland north east of england, we have one of the lonegest running air shows in the world, planes from all over the world, last few has been cancelled, for obvious reasons, i remember having my 2 girls and my wife, get there 7am spot on the beach, so the kids can play, picnic, few beers when supermarket opened and bottle wine, sandwiches and snacks and drinks for the kids, it was summer time, kids in the swimming costumes, playing in the sea, building sand castles, all that sort of stuff, 12 hour days, free of charge, quarter of a million peo[le came down in them days, in the 90s,
what these planes could do was amazing, they used to perform just off the coast over the sea, safety incase some did go wrong, watching helicopters do the loop, very noisey, well organised
Good thing is if your having a little event in a town and on their route back from an airshow they will come by on route! Love these guys. Have been fortunate to watch them practice regularly. Even been over my town today on practice ❤ glad you enjoyed
I’ve seen them many times and they never cease to amaze. Incredible! Makes me a proud Brit!
When my husband was in the RAF I used to sit in my front garden in Cyprus and watch them practicing their routine over a few weeks in Spring ready to be given the all clear to perform over the summer months! They used to fly so low over the house sometimes the ornaments would rattle on the shelves! They are truly awesome.
My parents have just returned after 18 years in Cyprus working for the MOD and they'd watch it all from their clifftop garden. 😊
There is a video doing the rounds on TH-cam of the Red Arrows doing a tour of USA. Really interesting video, goes into a lot of detail of the pilots and support team.
Precision and skill and trust. I've had the privilege of seeing the red arrows on several occasions they are phenomenal 👌
As Brits we are all incredibly proud of the Red Arrows - Esp considering the pilots are only there for 3 years, before returning to regular duty. I have been watching them since the early 70's (My school reports every year said the same thing - 'Diane must NOT run to the window in class to watch The Red Arrows fly over' (back then I did it for Concord too!) oops... LOL
RIAT in 2018 was at the airbase at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire - between Cardiff in Wales and Oxford and north of Bath.
The red arrows perform at every big Royal occasion - the jubilees and the annual trooping of the colour. They fly over my house going in or coming out of London - or both. Sometimes we get the Royal memorial flight - a spitfire, a Lancaster bomber and a hurricane. You can hear them long before you see them, with the familiar engine sounds from WW2 films. We also got to see the last flight of Concorde. Everyone came out of their houses and waved. Mad really as nobody on board could see us.
My dad was offered a place in the Red Arrows but turned it down as he thought it was too dangerous (I'd just been born). He was a Squadron Leader as well as a flight instructor that taught pilots how to fly the Hawk aircraft that they use.
And yes, they are as close as they look.
You do not get offered a place in the Red Arrows, you apply for it and get interviewed, no one ever turns down "being selected" !
@@steverpcb You could well be correct, I'm only going off what I was told 10+ years later when he was no longer with us. At the time he was a flight instructor but no longer in front-line service due to an ejection incident in a Tornado.
For the Coronation of King Charles in May, they created a huge CR at the end of their fly-past when the Royal Family was on Buck House balcony.
I enjoyed seeing this so much. I haven't seen the Red Arrows 'in the real' for a long time. It's really spectacular, isn't it? Amazing skills and awesome discipline. There is no-one like them. Thanks for this, Steve. 🤩
I loved watching your reaction ❤ I always enjoy the Red Arrows. We've seen them a lot this year because they're usually part of any Royal fly past. That's an awesome sight...flying over Buckingham Palace!!
There is a video on here that follows their American Tour when they toured America with your version of the Red Arrows, I think they are called the Blue Angels(?). They use a dye in the smoke for the colours and they are 2 seater training jets but only have the pilot in during the display. They use the 2nd seat for when they fly their mechanic who go with them on displays. Their 9 main jets and 1 spare jet and pilot if 1 has problems and can't fly, they also have a pilot on the ground that sometimes does the commentary during the display. Obviously with things like this, there have been accidents and several pilots have been killed. I remember one year they had to do some displays with only 8 jets as 2 pilots were killed the same year in separate incidents. Obviously it takes time to train them up. They are all serving pilots in the RAF and if chosen they do I think 3 years in the displays (others will correct me if I have got the length they do wrong).
I'm lucky enough to see the Red Arrows nearly every day as I live only a mile from the RAF station where they are based. Only yesterday one of the fight flew directly over my house, only a couple of hundred yards above us. The noise was incredible. Amazing guys.
Was lucky enough last year to be on an RAF base last year with our cadets when the arrows were in, stunning display. One of the cadets were on their first ever flight and the arrows buzzed them on their way in to land and escorted them down, never going to top that as your first flying experience.
They are professionaly trained, they do moves such as pine tree split,infinity break, and more interesting and very close to colliding tricks!
saw these maybe 30 times at a local air show held over a weekend every year, held over the sea, so depending on the tide was how close they got.. they are fantastic. but ,you need to feel the noise they make.. brilliant
the red arrows are even more impressive when you find out that the parts and instruments are the same analogue systems as the originals. The team also consists of engineers and ground crew who specialize in this model of jet plane including the smoke delivery system, evenyone goes on the tour to do maintenance, there are 2 seats there is the pilot and the "Circus " one is usually a photographer. the Pilots have a 3 year tour of duty and are selected from the best candidates that qualify.
This was the 2019 American tour documentary which gives a feel for behind the scenes a little and explains more
th-cam.com/video/akagcuyGU3I/w-d-xo.html
As a kid about 14 i was in the army cadets in a narrow valley rock climbing and abseiling, the arrows showed up and I was looking down on them and could see the pilots, they made 3 passes through. I'd already seen them twice, just never from above.
The Red Arrows are one of Britains most prized symbols in my opinion... They actually flew over my house in formation on Saturday on their way over Glasonbury festival. Seen them fly over dozens of times over the years, but never at an airshow, they just seem to be somewhere in our skies all the time.
There was a great documentary where the Red Arrows & the USAF Thunderbolts met up and did some shows together, possibly on TH-cam.
They passed over mine on the way back :)
Saw them twice as a child passing over Biggin hill my sister and I stood on my dads Bedford van bonnet in SEEngland they were amazing I remember the noise was deafening.
I’m lucky to live only a few miles away from their base at RAF Waddington. They regularly do tricks above my house - they practice most days. They did a performance for a family day at the base on Friday with the Saudi Hawks. I got to watch it all in my garden. If anyone wants to see them, you can just visit Lincoln and park at the viewing area at RAF Waddington- or find a pub garden in a nearby village - and watch. You can often see them from the city centre too.
I just love the expression on your face when you are watching 👀 this video of the Red Arrows. Priceless.
The last time I saw the Red Arrows I was in Gibraltar. We were at the southern tip, Europa Point, and the Arrows were over the sea. It was glorious! Between wing tips they are sometimes on 6 feet apart!! Nerves of steel and skill levels beyond extraordinary 😊 I’m so proud of them.
The Red Arrows are a squadron in their own right and the pilots are drawn from frontline squadrons. They are with the team for 3 years. Many hours of practice like about 4 Months before they even put the display in front of the public. They know the display sequence by heart. They are approximately 6feet apart
RIAT stands for 'Royal International Air Tattoo' and is the name of the airshow which is an annual event. It usually (including in 2018) takes place in July at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. It is held in support of theRoyal Airforce Charitable Trust.
The Red Arrows are the official RAF Aerobatic Display team. The team consists of 11 pilots and about 100 others- engineers etc - and was formed in 1964.
They are the best pilots and the video doesn't show how low they fly too. I have seen them at what looked like literally metres above me zooming by. Was amazing.
They are absolutely brilliant
Yes, they are that close together....
The person that you can hear doing the commentary is also one of the team’s pilots who is taking a day off from flying and the entire team takes it in turn to perform the duty so although they have a script to follow they are able to ad lib if necessary.
There is a series of programs that follows the Red Arrows through an entire season of displays on an American tour and when they are travelling to their next destination the entire ground crew and their equipment is transported in a Heracles C130. On arrival at their new location the pilots are immediately instructed to rest and the ground crews will start to service their aircraft before they are rested to allow time for any necessary repairs in addition to the normal maintenance. This is why they always have 10 display aircraft present at every call that they make on their overseas tours. The lead aircraft is always known as Red 1, or boss because it is he who is responsible for calling out the start of every manoeuvre and all of the pilots will take their cues from Red 1 even if they don’t have any visual information to know when to start a run into the optimum location for the public to see the display from. Red 10 the non airborne commentator can also hear these signals to the pilots and matches his commentary to the orders that the pilots are reacting to so in the event of a change to the planned show he is capable of telling the public of the direction they need to look to see the aircraft.
To be fair the US military has some excellent air display teams as well. The USAF Thunderbirds and the navy Blue Angels are both brilliant.
Still come second or more probably 4th/5th in the World in display/ formation flying
I didn’t even know the Americans had any until like 2 days ago probably Because no one comes near to the red arrows
Red Arrows are simply the greatest. Not even up for debate
Had the privilege to watch them so many times over the decades.
Can't begin to fathom what it is like to be in the cockpit.
Pride and respect ❤
The red arrows are often in the skies above my house because they live and practice here. They never get boring.
Same here!
I saw the Red Arrows at RAF Cosford. I will just say every single display team was amazing but, one thing stood out. Every team did a close pass. Only the Red Arrows made everyone duck as they did their close pass. They genuinely get close. Also the Typhoon display was amazing. The way that aircraft can just hang in the sky before taking off vertically is astounding.
This is actually a show done in America. So proud of our RAF! ❤️
Yes ...they are pilots of the royal Air force..the best of the best ..proud of our raf .. the best in the world...
Thats what you get from being possibly the Best piloits in the world .
Great Video. Red Arrows are awesome. My partner and I are going to RIAT this year on 15th July. This is at RAF Fairford in England. Just North of Swindon town. Pilots from air forces and display teams from all over the world come together for this event.
Heard a lot of how do they do that? They are just that good, honestly :)
DUDE 😂😂 Great reaction Steve...Love them ❤ 🏴
The Red Arrows are local to me, I see them practising all the time, we get a Valentines hearts all over our county every year. We're so proud to have them have their home here and fought really hard to keep them when their original air base closed down.
They are an acrobatics only unit, so the planes don't serve in combat. Generally the pilots have a lot of experience and its a honour to chosen as it shows you're an incredibly skilled pilot. They have to have been flying for the RAF for so long before even being considered.
I enjoy the Red Arrows. Fairford is in Gloucestershire, in the flatland south-east of the Cotswold Hills. To show the extraordinary depth of our history, Fairford is known for something else. It's quite large parish church - built about 1500 - has retained all its mediaeval stained glass, including a marvellous Last Judgement.
They've had to check that aircraft noise won't damage the glass, particularly when Concorde was nearby!
I've had the pleasure of a tour of the Reds hangar and sat in the leader's (Red 1) aircraft. During my visit, one of the team explained formation keeping and pointed out the bolt on the flap hinge. The head of the bolt, about 3/4 of an inch wide, is used by the pilots as a reference point when aligning their aircraft in echelon.
Now, to be able to see and manoeuvre on that bolt gives some idea just how close they are! And whilst travelling at a couple of hundred miles an hour in moving air currents in three dimensions.
To give you an idea of how close they're flying, their jets (BAE Hawk T1) are 11.85m (~38feet 10inch) long and have a wingspan of 9.39m (~30feet 9 inches).
ROYAL INTERNATIONAL AIR TATTOO - biggest air show in the world at RAF Fairford UK. Reds are selected fast jet pilots from I the RAF who join the display team for usually 3 yrs and fly the Hawk. The smoke is diesel based which is looked after by the Dye Team. Nobody else in the aircraft whilst they are displaying so they activate it all themselves. The Reds are as ambassadors for the Royal Air Force. I work at RAF Fairford and I am so lucky to see this first hand every year and I NEVER get tired of it 🤘🤙
They stay in formation by using there stiff upper lip as a guide. Red Arrows best aerial display team in the world.
There is a short TV series of the Red Arrows visiting the US and performing over different cities. It also shows some "behind the scenes". Very informative.
Watching The Reds is always amazing - but even more so live when they are flying overhead!
Why are they so good?..... Because there extremely well skilled and extremely well-trained by the RAF and they're the best in the world at their job
I live in the Isle of Man and the red arrows come over every year for the TT. They’re always fantastic and people come out from all over the island to see them.
They did that flying at each other thing right over my head once scared the crap out me
All of the pilots have to have served combat tours in fast jets. They also have to have 1500 hours flying time before even being considered.
In the 80s they sometimes used to train a little further afield than just Lincolnshire (where they're based) and you could see them occasionally from our garden. They're spectacular.
Another flight related thing to check out is the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Similar formation flying, but in Spitfires, Lancasters and Hurricanes. I've seen the Spitfires doing barrel rolls and loops, and it's awe inspiring.
Also if you haven't seen it, the jubilee flypast from last year - no aerobatics, just lots of aeroplanes.
I LOVE watching them fly over my house, tbs I’d say the Hercules that flew over for the last time recently were insane to watch too. It’s so beautiful to witness and soooo loud hahaha.