Red Arrows

The Red Arrows were not the RAF's first aerobatics team. Their lineage runs through a series of predecessors: the Black Arrows of No. 111 Squadron, who in 1958 performed a world-record loop with 22 Hawker Hunters; the Blue Diamonds of No. 92 Squadron, who continued their role with 16 blue Hunters; and the Red Pelicans, flying BAC Jet Provost T Mk 4s. In 1964 the RAF centralised all display teams into one outfit, concerned that pilots were spending too much time on formation practice instead of operational training. The new team's name combined "red" from the Red Pelicans' aircraft colour and "arrows" from the Black Arrows.

The team was formally established at RAF Little Rissington in Gloucestershire, initially equipped with seven Folland Gnat T1 jet trainers inherited from the RAF Yellowjacks display team, whose leader Flight Lieutenant Lee Jones became the first Red Arrows team leader. Their first display took place on 6 May 1965 at Little Rissington for the press, with the first public display on 9 May 1965 at the French National Air Day in Clermont-Ferrand. A French journalist there called them Les Fleches Rouges, confirming the name in the public consciousness. By the end of their inaugural season the team had performed 65 times across Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, and earned the Britannia Trophy from the Royal Aero Club.

In 1968, team leader Squadron Leader Ray Hanna expanded the display from seven to nine aircraft, enabling the Diamond Nine formation that remains the team's signature to this day. Hanna served a record four seasons as Red Leader and was awarded a bar to his Air Force Cross. After performing 1,292 times in the Gnat, the Red Arrows took delivery of the BAE Systems Hawk T1 in 1979. The Hawks are fitted with uprated engines and a diesel-dye smoke system that produces the characteristic red, white, and blue trails by injecting the mixture into the jet exhaust. During displays, pilots may experience forces up to 5g, rising to 7g in the Vixen Break manoeuvre, close to the Hawk's 8g structural limit.

The team operated from RAF Little Rissington, then RAF Fairford (before Concorde test flights claimed that airfield), and from 1966 at RAF Kemble. When RAF Scampton became the Central Flying School headquarters in 1983, the Red Arrows moved there. Brief stints at RAF Cranwell followed economy-driven closures, before a return to Scampton on 21 December 2000. The team relocated to RAF Waddington on 13 October 2022.

The record for most displays in a single year is 136, set in 1995. The 4,000th display was performed at RAF Leuchars during the Battle of Britain Airshow in September 2006. The 2019 Western Hawk tour of North America — more than 25 cities, 21 displays, and 30 flypasts — was the largest tour in the team's history. In 2024 the team celebrated their 60th Diamond Season with a special anniversary decal and a new "anniversary break" manoeuvre.

The Red Arrows ceased performing formation aerobatics in Germany following the 1988 Ramstein airshow disaster, having previously displayed there 170 times.

Since 1966 the team has operated with nine display pilots per year, all volunteers. Pilots must have completed at least one operational tour on a fast jet such as the Tornado, Harrier, or Typhoon, accumulated at least 1,500 flying hours, and been assessed as above average in their operational role. Pilots serve a three-year tour, with three joining and three leaving each season so the team always contains first-, second-, and third-year members. The team leader must be a pilot who has already completed a full three-year tour with the Red Arrows.

During the second half of each display, the nine jets split into two sections. Reds 1 to 5, known as Enid (after the Famous Five creator Enid Blyton), continue close formation work. Reds 6 to 9, known as Hanna (honouring Ray Hanna), perform more dynamic manoeuvres. Red 6 and Red 7 form the Synchro Pair, executing a series of opposition passes. There are no reserve display pilots: if a pilot cannot fly, the team performs with eight aircraft; if Red 1 is unavailable, no display takes place. Pilots training for the season wear green flying suits and may only wear red suits once they have been awarded their Public Display Authority.

In May 2009 it was announced that Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore would become the first female Red Arrow display pilot, joining for the 2010 season having previously flown the Tornado GR4 at RAF Marham.

The "Blues" — the engineering and support team — number more than 90 personnel. Up to eleven members travel in the rear seats of the jets to display venues as the "Circus", providing immediate servicing and refuelling on arrival.

In December 2021, the Chief of the Air Staff ordered an inquiry into the Red Arrows following allegations of bullying, misogyny, sexual harassment, and drunkenness. Up to 40 personnel, many of them women, described the team's culture as toxic. A November 2022 investigation concluded that at least two pilots had sufficient cases against them to warrant discharge from service, and the commanding officer was suspended pending further investigation. All remaining team members were required to attend training in unacceptable behaviour and active bystander conduct. Redacted versions of both inquiry reports were published in November 2023. The Chief of the Air Staff apologised and stated he was appalled by the findings. Four complainants subsequently criticised the inquiry in a Sky News documentary.