Red Arrows Story

Formed in 1965, the RAF's Red Arrows are the most famous formation aerobatic display team in the world. On their many overseas display tours, the 'Reds' have attracted a worldwide following as ambassadors for Great Britain. Peter R. March describes the history of the Red Arrows, from their beginnings as the Yellowjacks in the early sixties, to the formation of the Red Arrows in 1965 flying the Gnat. The Reds flew the Gnat up until 1979 when the team re-equipped with the Hawk advanced jet trainer, which they continue to operate into the 21st century. Peter also reveals how the team perform their close-formation aerobatic routines, their participation at air shows, how they fly the Hawk aircraft, and what it takes to become a Red Arrows display pilot.

Peter R. March is an aviation author, photographer and journalist. He is the editor of the RAF Yearbook for the RAF Charitable Trust/Royal International Air Tattoo, a regular contributing editor to Aircraft Illustrated and Pilot magazines, editor of Ian Allan's annual abc Military Aircraft Markings, and author of more than fifty books in his own right on aviation subjects, including The Concorde Story (2005) and The Spitfire Story (2006) for Sutton. He lives in Bristol.