2026 will see two new show pilots be part of the RAF Crimson Arrows to interchange those that have accomplished their tour with the staff, whereas 2024’s Crimson 6 returns to the squadron as Crimson 10.
Two model new pilots will be part of the Crimson Arrows starting with subsequent yr’s show season, whereas one of many staff’s most distinguished roles may also change fingers as they welcome again a well-recognized face.
Squadron Chief Stu Roberts first joined the Royal Air Power Aerobatic Crew (RAFAT), generally generally known as the Crimson Arrows, in 2022. His choice adopted a profitable stint with the RAF’s Hurricane drive, which noticed him deploy operationally to the Center East and to Jap Europe. Within the 2024 season, Roberts led the staff’s well-known Synchro Pair as Crimson 6, participating within the crowd-pleasing excessive pace crossover passes alongside Crimson 7.
After three years as a part of the show staff and a yr as an teacher on the Hawk, Roberts has been chosen as the following Crimson 10. Crimson 10’s most seen function is on the bottom at air shows offering the staff’s commentary, nonetheless he may also pilot the staff’s main backup jet whereas accompanying the 9 show jets to every location. The tenth jet additionally joins the remainder of the staff throughout flypasts, and the rear seat can be utilized by a photographer to seize air to air imagery of the total formation.
“My response to discovering out I had been chosen for the Crimson 10 function was a mix of pleasure and trepidation,” Roberts mentioned. “I’m actually wanting ahead to getting out with the staff however I’m acutely conscious I’ve received massive sneakers to fill after my predecessor’s sterling 4 years because the acquainted voice of the show.”
He added: “Show flying for 3 years with the staff was a few of the most demanding and rewarding flying I’ve ever performed. Flying on each the left and proper aspect of the formation as properly in Synchro provides me an amazing perception into what the staff are attempting to attain throughout winter coaching and the season. I’ve received a reasonably good thought what the function entails from an operational perspective, supervising the show and offering the commentary. Nevertheless, there’s an enormous quantity of labor that goes in behind-the-scenes to organise the show schedule, make sure the show websites are appropriate and liaise with occasion organisers.”
Show Pilots
Becoming a member of the Crimson Arrows as ‘rookie’ pilots are Flight Lieutenants Matt Brighty and Chris Deen, who will tackle the positions of Crimson 2 and Crimson 3 respectively.
Flt Lt Brighty isn’t any stranger to the airshow calendar, turning into the primary ever pilot to have flown each with the Crimson Arrows and with the RAF’s Hurricane Show Crew. Initially flying the Twister GR4 operationally, he transformed to the Hurricane in 2017 and served on deployments to the Falkland Islands and on the Baltic Air Policing mission. Brighty flew the Hurricane show through the 2023 season, usually utilizing the massively standard and recognisable ‘Blackjack’ scheme show jet, serial ZJ914.
“I used to be usually taken to airshows as a toddler and, after all, the Reds have been all the time the spotlight of the present and it was apparent, even then, that they maintain a particular place within the British psyche,” Brighty mentioned. “That want deepened once I first had a go behind the controls of a lightweight aeroplane and developed an admiration for formation flying particularly. There are lots of facets of the job that I do know I’ll discover massively satisfying and fulfilling however I believe the primary factor is figuring out that the shows and flypasts put a smile on the faces of the people who watch them.”
Flt Lt Chris Deen had the same path to Brighty, starting operationally on the Twister GR4 earlier than progressing to the Hurricane FGR4. Nevertheless, in between these two postings, Deen secured a placement with the U.S. Navy beneath an trade programme. Embedding with Strike Fighter Squadron 122 (VFA-122) ‘the Flying Eagles’, he was instructed on the right way to fly the F/A-18E/F Tremendous Hornet after which grew to become an teacher on the plane himself.
Deen had beforehand unsuccessfully utilized to hitch the staff, so his choice this yr got here as very welcome information: “The earlier yr, I had skilled the frustration of not being chosen, so to lastly comprehend it was going to occur was superb.”
“I keep in mind, as a younger boy, watching the Crimson Arrows show in Falmouth harbour and being in awe of how they’d dive down off the hills after which seemingly skim the mast tops, or pace out low over the water and round St Mawes Fortress. I keep in mind pondering that appeared so superb and I’ve clearly held onto that although all these years,” he added.
Again to Fundamentals
Each new show pilots have remarked on the huge shift they face between flying the superior fly-by-wire Hurricane and the, compared, very simple Hawk T1. The Crimson Arrows have operated the Hawk T1 since 1979 and at the moment are the one Royal Air Power unit nonetheless flying them, with the coaching squadrons having moved onto the newer Hawk T2.
“It’s been nice enjoyable getting again into the cockpit of such a easy jet,” Flt Lt Deen mentioned. “We’ve had a few backseat flights with the staff throughout their ultimate shows of the 2025 season and it felt a bit of extra actual when the thought got here that we’d have to do that ourselves within the very close to future.”
Brighty remarked: “It’s been nice to be again flying the Hawk once more, it’s such an amazing little aeroplane. It’s been humbling at instances having to manage with out the posh of issues like a head-up show however it’s slowly coming again. Flying with the staff and performing formation aerobatics is essentially going again to pure dealing with talent. The trendy frontline fast-jets, that we’ve got simply come from, are arguably a lot simpler to fly in pure dealing with phrases, owing to technological advances of their design.”
The Hawk T2 solely has 10% commonality with the Hawk T1, this and extra on this fascinating interview with an RAF Hawk pilot pic.twitter.com/xv1oEL8Ehi
— Hush-Package Aviation Information, Historical past & Satire (@Hush_Kit) Might 12, 2019
Utilizing current spares and surplus Hawk T1 plane, the Crimson Arrows are because of proceed working the venerable jet till 2030. Substitute will possible comply with the lead of any upcoming resolution relating to the early substitute of the Hawk T2, which have been initially because of be withdrawn in 2040. Now we have coated the RAF’s want to maneuver on from the Hawk extensively, and there are a dizzying variety of choices – all with their very own complicated positives and negatives – for the service to think about.
Till then, the Crimson Arrows proceed to function their signature pink Hawk T1s.
