Red Arrows

My first experience with the Red Arrows goes way back to 1965 when, with my Dad at the Biggin Hill airshow, we watched the teams first ever public display in their Folland Knats. To be honest I remember the occasion more for the unfortunate crash of a Tiger Club Stampe (G-AROZ) which hit the ground not too far from where we were standing and the sight of the blackened pilot stumbling away from the wreckage. Thankfully he survived.

Mike Ling Red 10 doing the commentary at the Bournmouth Air Festival

Of course I have witnessed the teams brilliant displays many times and at many places since then  and therefore it was both a great surprise in 2005 and a great privilege for me to get to know them and spend time with them when they saw my work at RIAT and invited me to collaborate with them which helped me create my Red Arrows Collection of paintings, prints and photographs.

11 Red Arrows hading home to RAF Scampton

The Reds with a Folland Knot and Hawker Hunter at the Kemble Airshow

The Reds line up at RIAT

A Saudi Hawk from their display team at the Al Ain airshow in Abu Dhabi

In the crew room at RAF Akrotiri Cyprus

the Locker Room, RAF Akrotiri