Red Arrows promise thrills
Print Edition
COMPLETE synchronicity — down to every breath.
That’s the key to the stunning aerial displays put on by the Britain’s legendary Red Arrows — officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.
The Red Arrows arrived in China for their first ever visit on last Saturday and they are scheduled to perform at the 11th annual Airshow China, in Zhuhai, south Guangdong Province, next week.
Hammerhead breaks, slalom and rollback maneuvers – the nine-strong squad of Hawk T1 jets is promising a dazzling display for the milestone event, Squadron Leader David Montenegro said at the Smart Talk which was organized by British Council in Beijing on Tuesday.
Montenegro, the leader of one of the world’s most recognizable display teams, said the 25-minute show would see the jets fly as close as about 2 meters apart at more than 644 kilometers an hour.
The pilots must concentrate on timing. “Only when you put yourself in the right position, can you be in complete synchronicity with the other pilots,” he said. “I will tell you every single turn, roll and loop.”
Precision is essential and extensive practice is necessary to be in the right position: “We even breathe carefully to calculate times.”
Established in 1964, the Red Arrows have since completed more than 4,700 displays in 56 countries. They often perform at major national occasions, such as the opening of the 2012 Olympics in London.
The team includes 109 ground crew and support staff: specialists in avionics and dyes, weapons technicians, photographers, logistics and transport experts, mechanical engineers, and survival equipment fitters.
Montenegro is responsible for all aspects of the displays, from running the training program and creating the routines to leading the team on the ground and in the air.
But even he admits to making mistakes. “Everyone has an element of human error, but my mistakes are evident to the team,” he said. “I have to give the team confidence to follow me. I have to build up trust up with my team.”
Two or three new pilots join the Red Arrows each year, succeeding those who finish their tours. Typically, they spend three years with the team before returning to other duties.
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