United Kingdom Royal Air Force

Red Arrows

BAE Systems Hawk T1 formation aerobatic team of the Royal Air Force

The Red Arrows are the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team and one of the best-known military formations in the world. The unit combines frontline flying experience, close-formation precision and a large technical organisation to represent the RAF and the United Kingdom. From 2026, public aerobatic displays are flown by seven Hawks, while nine-aircraft formations remain available for selected national and state flypasts.

Team formed
1964
First season
1965
Aerobatic display
7 aircraft
Selected flypasts
Up to 9 aircraft
Aircraft
Hawk T1
Unit strength
About 150 personnel

The team

A flying formation at the front, supported by an RAF unit of around 150 people.

The public face of the Royal Air Force

The Red Arrows are not a civilian entertainment act carrying military colours. They are a Royal Air Force unit whose purpose is to demonstrate the Service’s standards of precision, preparation and teamwork, support recruitment, represent the United Kingdom overseas and contribute to defence diplomacy. Every public display is therefore the visible end of a much larger military operation involving flying, engineering, logistics, safety management and mission support.

Officer Commanding and Red 1 are different jobs

The Officer Commanding is responsible for the entire Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, including safety, engineering, personnel, operations and engagement. Red 1 is the Team Leader in the air: the pilot who designs the annual sequence, leads the formation and calls each manoeuvre. The two responsibilities may be held by different officers, a distinction often missed when the Red Arrows are described only through their flying line-up.

Display pilots arrive with frontline experience

Applicants must normally have at least 1,500 fast-jet flying hours, have completed a frontline operational tour and be assessed as above average in their flying role before they can enter the selection process. Interviews, flying assessments and peer review follow. Pilots generally serve a three-year tour, allowing a small number of newcomers to learn alongside experienced team members rather than rebuilding the formation from the beginning each winter.

Red 10 supervises from the ground

Red 10 is the display supervisor and commentator. During practice and public performances, Red 10 remains on the ground, maintains two-way radio contact with Red 1 and monitors the show from the crowd’s viewpoint. The role joins operational supervision with public explanation, translating the calls, shapes and changing sections of the routine for spectators.

The Blues keep the aircraft and operation moving

Most of the unit is made up of engineers and technical specialists known as the Blues because of their royal-blue display-season coveralls. Mechanical, avionics and weapons technicians maintain the Hawks, while logistics staff, drivers, survival-equipment specialists, operations personnel, photographers and administrators sustain the wider programme. The flying display cannot exist independently of this ground organisation.

Circus and Dye Teams travel with the display

Ten aircraft technicians and a visual communications specialist are selected for the travelling support group known as the Circus. Each is allocated to a pilot and supports the aircraft away from RAF Waddington. Separate Dye Teams replenish the under-fuselage smoke pods. The smoke is both a visual signature and a safety aid, helping the pilots judge the wind and relocate separated sections of the formation.

The display

Seven Hawks now fly the aerobatic show, while the Diamond Nine survives for selected flypasts.

The familiar structure remains: a first half based on large formation shapes, loops and rolls, followed by a faster second half in which the formation separates and the Synchro Pair performs opposition work. The change introduced in 2026 concerns aircraft numbers, not the team’s commitment to a complete aerobatic sequence.

Seven-ship aerobatics

Reds 1 to 7 form the public aerobatic team from 2026. The opening phase uses all seven aircraft in wide shapes, loops, rolls and formation transitions designed to fill the display area.

Enid: Reds 1 to 5

The front five are known as Enid, after Enid Blyton and the Famous Five. They provide the central formation and continue working together when the rear pair separates.

Synchro Pair: Reds 6 and 7

The pair delivers the opposing passes, mirrored rolls and crossing figures of the second half. Official training has used a minimum 100-foot miss distance for head-on opposition manoeuvres.

Nine-ship flypasts

Reds 8 and 9 can join for selected national, state and ceremonial flypasts. These appearances preserve the scale and symbolism of the Diamond Nine without describing the normal aerobatic show as nine-ship.

Full, rolling and flat shows

A full looping display needs cloud above 5,500 feet. Between 2,500 and 5,500 feet the team substitutes rolling figures; below 2,500 feet it presents a flat sequence of passes and steep turns.

Smoke as a flying tool

Red, white and blue trails make the formation easier to follow, but they also show wind movement and help separated elements find one another. Close figures can place aircraft only a few feet apart.

The aircraft

BAE Systems Hawk T1: the British trainer behind the display since 1980.

A purpose-designed advanced jet trainer

The Hawk was developed by Hawker Siddeley as a compact, economical replacement for older RAF jet trainers. The prototype first flew in 1974 and the Hawk T1 entered RAF service in 1976. Student and instructor sit in tandem beneath a long canopy, with the rear seat raised to improve forward visibility. The airframe is fully aerobatic, transonic and able to deploy without the extensive ground support demanded by a combat jet.

Why it suited the Red Arrows

Compared with the Folland Gnat, the Hawk brought greater size, range and power while remaining predictable and responsive in close formation. Its two-seat cockpit allows an engineer or photographer to travel in the rear seat on selected transit flights. The single Adour engine is economical enough for an intensive training programme, yet gives the acceleration and vertical performance needed for formation loops, rolls and dynamic breaks.

The Red Arrows modification

Team aircraft remain fundamentally Hawk T1 trainers. Their defining display changes are the under-fuselage smoke installation and a slightly uprated engine standard that improves throttle response. Smoke fluid is introduced into the hot exhaust, with dye creating the red and blue trails and undyed fluid producing white. The aircraft are normally flown clean, without the weapons associated with the Hawk’s former training and light-combat roles.

Hawk T1 or Hawk T1A?

The Royal Air Force officially describes the team’s aircraft as Hawk T1. T1A identifies T1 airframes modified for an air-defence weapons role, and individual Red Arrows airframes can be recorded under that designation. It is therefore inaccurate to present “Hawk T1A” as a unique purpose-built Red Arrows variant. The clearest performer-page description is Hawk T1, followed by a separate explanation of the airframe-level T1A designation and the team’s display equipment.

The final RAF operator of the original Hawk

The Hawk T1 left wider RAF service when 100 Squadron withdrew the type in March 2022. The remaining airframes are now allocated to sustaining the Red Arrows. Official planning keeps the Hawk with the team through the end of the 2029 display season, making fleet management, component availability and engineering knowledge increasingly important as the aircraft approaches the end of its RAF career.

The story so far

From seven Gnats at Fairford to seven Hawks in the team’s final aircraft era.

1956–1964

The RAF team tradition before the Reds

The Black Arrows, Blue Diamonds, Red Pelicans and Yellowjacks were among the prominent RAF formations of the period. Maintaining several separate squadron teams placed demands on operational units, leading the Service to create one premier team.

1964

The Red Arrows are formed

The RAF amalgamates its display activity into the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. The name combines the Black Arrows heritage with the red identity associated with the Red Pelicans, while the chosen Folland Gnat had already been demonstrated by the Yellowjacks.

1965

First official and public displays

Seven Gnats give the first official presentation for the media at RAF Little Rissington on 6 May. The first public display follows at Clermont-Ferrand in France on 9 May, and the first UK public show is at Biggin Hill on 15 May. The debut season totals 65 displays.

1966

The team moves from Fairford to Kemble

RAF Kemble becomes the Red Arrows’ long-term Gloucestershire home. The Central Flying School connection, intensive training and dedicated engineering support become defining parts of the team’s operating model.

1968

Nine aircraft and the Diamond Nine

The display formation permanently grows from seven to nine Gnats. The Diamond Nine becomes the team’s trademark and later receives formal recognition in the Red Arrows badge.

1979

The Gnat era closes

The compact Folland trainer completes its final Red Arrows season after 1,292 displays. Its small size had allowed exceptionally tight formation geometry, but the team now converts to the larger and more capable Hawk.

1980

The Hawk enters the display

The first full public season on the Hawk T1 begins. The new aircraft establishes the silhouette, sound and performance associated with the modern Red Arrows. The team also receives permission to use the motto Éclat, meaning brilliance or excellence.

1983

RAF Scampton becomes home

The Central Flying School moves from Kemble to Lincolnshire and the Red Arrows relocate with it. Apart from a temporary period at RAF College Cranwell between 1995 and 2000, Scampton remains the team’s base until 2022.

1995–1996

A major world tour

The team undertakes one of its most ambitious overseas programmes, demonstrating the Hawk and representing the United Kingdom across several continents. The deployment reinforces defence, diplomatic and industrial roles that extend far beyond a domestic airshow season.

2002

Concorde over London

The Red Arrows fly with British Airways Concorde during celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee, creating one of the most widely remembered British ceremonial aviation images.

2010

Kirsty Moore joins the display formation

Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore becomes the first woman to fly as a Red Arrows display pilot, completing a full tour with the team and marking an important milestone in its history.

2012

Jubilee and Olympic flypasts

The Hawks appear over London for the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony, placing the team before an enormous international television audience.

2016

First display in China

A large Asia-Pacific and Middle East deployment includes the Red Arrows’ first display in China, demonstrating the team’s role in British international engagement and aerospace promotion.

2019

Western Hawk reaches North America

An eleven-week tour of the United States and Canada combines airshows, flypasts, school visits and industry engagement, bringing the team back to North America on a large scale.

2022

Waddington becomes the new home

The Red Arrows permanently relocate from RAF Scampton to RAF Waddington in October. The same year also sees the Hawk T1 withdrawn from 100 Squadron, leaving RAFAT as the type’s remaining RAF operator.

2024

The Diamond Season

The team marks its 60th season with nine-aircraft displays, commemorative markings and a Canadian tour. By the beginning of the year, almost 5,000 displays had been completed in 57 countries.

2026

Seven-ship aerobatics begin

Standard aerobatic displays move to Reds 1 to 7 to support sustainable management of the ageing Hawk fleet. Reds 8 and 9 remain part of the organisation and join selected nine-aircraft ceremonial flypasts. Wing Commander Sasha Nash also becomes the first woman to command RAFAT.

Understanding the identity

The famous image is Diamond Nine, but the current aerobatic team is seven aircraft.

01

1964 is the formation date; 1965 is the first display season

The Royal Air Force created the unit in 1964, but the Red Arrows did not fly their first official presentation until 6 May 1965. Both dates are correct when used for the right purpose: 1964 for the team’s creation and 1965 for the beginning of public flying.

02

Seven-ship display does not mean the nine-ship team disappeared

From 2026, Reds 1 to 7 fly the aerobatic sequence. Reds 8 and 9 are still available for selected national and state flypasts. A current profile must therefore separate display format from ceremonial formation size.

03

Diamond Nine remains part of the badge and legacy

Nine aircraft defined the Red Arrows for most of their history and the formation remains central to their visual identity. The move to seven-ship aerobatics is a fleet-management decision during the final Hawk years, not an attempt to erase that heritage.

04

Hawk T1 is the correct headline designation

T1A describes weapons-capable conversions within the wider Hawk fleet and may apply to individual airframes. The RAF officially presents the Red Arrows aircraft as Hawk T1, while the team-specific changes are the smoke system and responsive engine fit.

In remembrance

Remembering those lost during Red Arrows flying and training.

The team’s history includes fatal accidents involving pilots, rear-seat aircrew and an aircraft engineer. Their names belong within the story of the Red Arrows and are recorded here with restraint, grouped by incident rather than presented as spectacle.

26 March 1969 · RAF Kemble

Jerry John Bowler

Killed when a loaned Folland Gnat struck trees while rejoining formation during practice.

20 January 1971 · RAF Kemble

Euan Perreaux, John Lewis, John Haddock and Colin Armstrong

Killed in the mid-air collision of two Gnats during Synchro Pair practice.

13 December 1971 · RAF Upper Heyford

David Longdon and Richard Storr

Killed when their Gnat crashed during formation practice for a flypast.

3 March 1978 · RAF Kemble

Stephen Noble and Dennis Hazell

Killed during pre-season practice in a Folland Gnat.

22 January 1988 · RAF Scampton

Neil Duncan MacLachlan

Killed during low-level display practice in Hawk XX243.

20 August 2011 · Near Bournemouth Airport

Jon Egging

Killed when Red 4, Hawk XX179, crashed after the team’s Bournemouth display.

8 November 2011 · RAF Scampton

Sean Cunningham

Killed following an inadvertent ejection-seat activation while the Hawk was stationary before a training flight.

20 March 2018 · RAF Valley

Jonathan Bayliss

The Red Arrows aircraft engineer was killed when the Hawk in which he was travelling crashed shortly after take-off.

This section records fatal incidents connected with Red Arrows activity. It does not attempt to catalogue every aircraft loss, ejection or non-fatal accident in the team’s history.

Aerial view of eight red aircraft flying in formation, emitting white smoke trails against a blue sky.
A formation of nine red fighter jets flying in the sky, leaving white smoke trails behind.
Ten red fighter jets flying in a tight formation, leaving white smoke trails against a clear blue sky.
Eight red jets flying in formation high in the sky, leaving white smoke trails behind them.
A formation of ten red fighter jets flying in a zigzag pattern in the sky, leaving white smoke trails behind them.
A formation of nine red aerobatic jets flying in the sky, each leaving white smoke trails. The jets are flying in a diagonal pattern against a blue sky.
Seven aircraft flying in formation releasing colored smoke trails in red, blue, and white during an air show, with clouds in the sky.
Six red airplanes flying in formation against a partly cloudy sky, leaving white smoke trails behind them.
Six red fighter jets flying in formation in a clear blue sky, emitting white smoke trails.
Six red aircraft flying in formation against a blue sky, leaving white smoke trails behind.
Five red airplanes flying in formation releasing red, white, and pink smoke trails during an airshow.
Two red fighter jets performing an aerial stunt, emitting red and blue smoke trails in the sky during an air show.
A formation of seven red airplanes flying in a tight pattern against a blue sky, releasing colorful smoke trails in white, pink, and blue.
Four red military fighter jets flying in formation with smoke trails against a blue sky, with 'Royal Air Force' markings and Union Jack designs on the tails.
A formation of eight red aircraft flying in a V-shape pattern, emitting white smoke trails against a cloudy sky.
A formation of nine red aircraft flying in a tight pattern, emitting white smoke trails against a cloudy sky.
Eight red fighter jets flying in a diamond formation against a cloudy sky during an airshow.
Eight jet planes flying in a formation, releasing white smoke trails across a cloudy sky.
Group of seven planes flying in formation, releasing red, white, and blue smoke trails in the sky.
Nine red aerobatic aircraft flying in a diamond formation, leaving white smoke trails behind them, against a cloudy sky.
Red fighter jet releasing red and blue smoke during an air show.
Two red aerobatic airplanes flying in formation, leaving trails of smoke behind, against a cloudy sky.
Seven jet airplanes performing an aerial acrobatics display, creating colorful smoke trails in red, blue, and white in the sky.
Five airplanes flying in formation during an air show, leaving colorful smoke trails of blue, red, white, and gray in the sky at an airport with a modern terminal building and cloudy weather.
Six red airplanes perform an aerobatic stunt, leaving colorful smoke trails in blue, pink, and gray in the sky.
Four red jet fighter planes flying in close formation releasing white smoke trails in the sky.
Four red jets with Union Jack tails flying in formation, emitting colored smoke in shades of red, orange, and white against a gray sky.
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Six aircrafts flying in formation, releasing colored smoke trails in red, white, and blue, creating a large circular pattern in the sky during an air show.
Multiple aircrafts flying in close formation, releasing colored smoke trails in blue, white, red, and pink during an air show.
Six airplanes flying in formation during an air show, releasing colored smoke trails in red, blue, and white against a cloudy sky.
Two red fighter jets performing an air show, leaving colorful smoke trails of orange, blue, and red in the sky.
Two red Eurofighter Typhoon jets flying in formation against a gray sky, emitting colored smoke trails—orange from the front jet and blue from the rear jet.
A fleet of nine jet fighters flying in formation against a cloudy blue sky, with six jets emitting red, white, and gray smoke trails.
Aerial display of seven red jet planes flying in formation, releasing white smoke trails against a blue sky.
A formation of nine red aerobatic aircraft flying in a V-shaped pattern, leaving white smoke trails against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
A formation of nine red fighter jets flying in the sky emitting white smoke trails during an air show.
Seven red airplanes flying in a diagonal formation performing an air show, leaving pink, white, and blue smoke trails in a clear sky.
Six airplanes flying in formation, releasing colorful smoke trails in red, blue, and white, creating heart-shaped patterns in the sky.
Seven airplanes flying in formation, releasing colorful blue, white, and red smoke trails against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Group of nine red jets flying in formation with white smoke trails in a blue sky with some clouds.
Group of eight red jets flying in formation with white smoke trails against a blue sky
Two red jets flying in formation releasing red and blue smoke in the sky.
Two red military fighter jets in mid-flight against a clear blue sky, with one jet prominently displaying 'Royal Air Force' markings and Union Jack flag design on its tail.
A red British Royal Air Force jet flying through the sky, emitting blue and orange smoke trails, with a Union Jack design on the tail.
Multiple jet planes performing an aerial display, leaving colorful smoke trails in red, white, and blue in the sky during an airshow.
Ten red airplanes flying in tight formation in the sky, with some trailing white smoke.
A formation of nine red jets flying in the sky, emitting colored smoke trails in pink, white, blue, and gray.
Six red aircraft flying in a V formation, emitting smoke trails in the gray sky.
Six red Royal Air Force jets flying in formation, emitting colored smoke trails of white, red, and blue against a gray sky.
A formation of seven red aircraft flying in a tight pattern against a cloudy sky, emitting white smoke trails.
Nine red jet aircraft flying in formation against a gray sky, with white smoke trails behind them.
Four red Royal Air Force aircraft flying in formation against a gray sky.
A red Royal Air Force jet aircraft flying through the sky, emitting a trail of fire from its engine.
Five red jet planes flying in formation with blue and white smoke trails against a cloudy sky.
Four red Royal Air Force fighter jets flying in a formation, releasing colored smoke in blue, white, red, and orange.
Six red fighter jets flying in formation during an airshow, emitting colored smoke trails in red, blue, and white. The aircraft are angled in different directions against a cloudy sky.
A formation of fighter jets flying in the sky, leaving red, white, and blue smoke trails behind them.
Four red Royal Air Force fighter jets flying in formation with colored smoke trails in red, blue, white, and beige against a cloudy sky.
A red Royal Air Force jet flying in overcast sky, emitting orange flame from its engine.
Red Royal Air Force jet aircraft in flight with reflective surface showing sky, painted with UK flags and markings.
Six red airplanes flying through the sky in formation, leaving colorful smoke trails of white, blue, and light blue clouds behind them during an air show.
A red Royal Air Force fighter jet flying in the sky with camouflage and Union Jack flag design on the tail.
Two Red Bull Racing aerobatic planes flying in formation, emitting red and blue smoke trails, with Union Jack designs on the vertical stabilizers, during an air show.
Four fighter jets flying in formation releasing colorful smoke trails in pink and blue during an air show.
A formation of nine fighter jets flying in the sky, leaving white smoke trails behind them as part of an airshow performance.
Four fighter jets flying in formation releasing red, blue, and pink colored smoke against a light sky.
A formation of seven red fighter jets flying in the sky with colorful smoke trails in red, white, and blue.
An airshow with nine aircraft flying in a formation, leaving trails of colored smoke in red, white, pink, and blue.
Seven red aerobatic jets flying in formation, emitting red, white, and blue smoke trails against a cloudy sky.
A team of seven fighter jets performing an aerial display, leaving colorful smoke trails of red, white, and blue in the sky.
Six fighter jets flying in formation emitting red, blue, white, and pink colored smoke against a gray sky during an air show.
Six fighter jets flying in formation, releasing colorful smoke trails in blue, pink, and white against a gray sky during an airshow.