The Red Arrows Spring 2022 Practice Display at RAF Scampton

The Red Arrows practice their display sequences at RAF Scampton but are due to be moving this year to their new home, RAF Waddington. They have already been familiarising themselves with their new home in March, by flying out there and practicing for a couple of weeks.
The Red Arrows’ aerobatic display changes each year. The new 2022 display will be revealed on successfully being granted Public Display Authority - usually in May.
Reds 1 to 5 form the front section of the team’s formation, known as Enid, and Reds 6 to 9 make up the rear part. In the video, you will see 2, 4 and 5 Red Arrows practicing. The Synchro Pair, Reds 6 and 7, perform the highly-popular opposition manoeuvres during this latter section of the show.
There is in fact a Red 10, which acts as the team’s Supervisor who maintains two-way radio contact with the Team Leader. He also provides the commentary. Ted has flown in Red 10 (XX188) September 2021, in a flight from Bournemouth to RAF Scampton.
History
So, the official name of the famous Red Arrows is actually the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Teams (RAFAT). It was in 1964 when the Royal Air Force amalgamated its display teams into one, premier unit - the Red Arrows. The name was taken from the Black Arrows team and the colour scheme as a tribute to the Red Pelicans, while the aircraft chosen to be flown, the Gnat, had been used by the Yellowjacks. Now, I like to quote this almost true fact, but the Red Arrows were once yellow! Well, sort of. Before official display teams came about, there was a display team named the YellowJacks. They flew the Folland Gnat trainer aircraft. In 1965, seven of the Yellow Jacks' Folland Gnats were given to the Red Arrows and painted Red.
In the first season of 1965, the team - flying seven aircraft in a display and based at RAF Fairford - performed 65 shows. A media event at RAF Little Rissington on May 6 was the team’s first official display, with the first public performance in the UK on May 15 at Biggin Hill Air Fair. The team permanently increased to nine display aircraft in 1968 and the Diamond Nine became the Red Arrows’ trademark formation.
The Gnat, which had flown 1,292 displays, was replaced by the BAE Systems Hawk, a modified version of the RAF’s fast jet and weapons trainer, for the 1980 season. Also that year, permission was given for the team to have the motto Eclat - meaning excellence. It wasn't until the 1979 did the Red Arrow start using the BAE Hawk T1 and flew it for the 1980 season.
RAF Scampton - the station famous for its role in the 1943 Dambusters raid - became the team’s new home in 1983, moving from RAF Kemble - its base since 1966. Apart from a period at RAF College Cranwell between 1995 and 2000, the Lincolnshire station has been the Red Arrows’ permanent home ever since.
The Red Arrows are famous for their vibrant vapour trails - often known as the smoke. They are a crucial element of the team's displays, primarily for flight safety. The vapour trails allow Red 1 to judge wind speed and direction, and allow the aircraft to locate each other in the second half of the show when different sections of the formation are frequently several miles apart. The vivid and colourful smoke trails also enhance the visual impact of the display when viewed from the ground. Well known manoeuvres such as the heart, rollbacks and carousel would just not be the same without it.
The Red Arrows have a dedicated dye team who ensure the aircraft are replenished with the correct amount of diesel and dye. These engineers travel all over the country, working within tight timescales to ensure that when Red 1 makes the call it is "Smoke on, Go!"
Links and info:
Official RAF
www.raf.mod.uk...
Info links:
stanley-travel...
en.wikipedia.o...
en.wikipedia.o...
Red Arrow Serials in video:
XX311
XX188 (Ted flew in this one!)
XX278
XX310
XX295
XX232
XX323
XX325
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