The RAFAT Hawks are prepared at Shawbury then flown to Cranwell or Leeming
for repaint.

Just to spin it the other way, it did feel slightly odd flying a jet in Red Arrows scheme and opening up with the gun on Pembrey.

Being allocated it for air combat with when the other jets were painted grey was less well received!

Red Arrows Borg
 

The black jets are often just temporary swaps whilst the RAFAT jets get an overhaul. The synchro jets get moved around the fleet etc in order to avoid a ridiculous AFI.

Air combat in a red jet... That's simply not fair! At least it wasn't trailing smoke.

Numbering
 

Display flying-Reds 1-7
Flypasts-Reds 1-9. The Team uses Red 10 as the 9th aircraft, but whenever he flies he is referred to as Red 9 (or sometimes 19). He flies on the left which is always an 'odd' number and helps avoid a 'coggie'.
If you see a 10-ship, the 10th will be flown by Red 11, 'Wing Commander RAFAT'.
Black Hawk used during the training season when aircraft were in very short supply; borrowed from 100 Sqn. The Team now have 13 aircraft although only 10 are smoke capable. The other 3 have modified engines and could fly in any position, but have a gun-pod modified into a baggage pod and NO smoke. Hoping this will be rectified for next years return to a 9-ship however...

Red 10 spotted on ground at Shrivenham on Thursday, where there appeared to be a lot of people in No1s or equivalents. Having not done ACSC, my Key Stage 1 military estimate is that the Reds were doing a flypast for a graduation with 7 ac.

Reverend, that's exactly what they were doing...albeit with 6 Reds, because R6 had apparently injured his neck and was unfit to fly.

Now there's food for thought. I would pay money to see the Reds in line abreast, strafing a range. How about formation DACT against another team? ;)

I42 - we managed 'DACT. once 'internally' during a high-level transit/battle cross-over between main and Gypo. Interesting debrief.:)

I'll bet it was. It must be tough to keep your eyes on the leader in that situation. Do you want to expand on your comment? ;)

Not really - it was sorted out in traditional fashion without fisticuffs (and not retained as a display item...:))

7 ac - 4-ship and a 3-ship in close trail flew over Melchett HQ in Cambridgeshire this afternoon. Might have to write and complain - not nearly low or loud enough!

A fine sight on the first half decent weather day for a long time.

Saw the 7 ship Reds display for the first time at Farnborough on Sunday. Obviously Gypo suffers a bit from being two aircraft short in the second half, but all in all it still flows well and looks good.

The two lost pilots were mentioned during commentary and the inclusion of a dedicated formation to them in the display is a nice touch that went down well with the public.

Overall a good display the was well received and deserved the applause it got. :D

Red Arrows Borg
 

Slightly off thread but,

I remember scampton receiving correspondence from an Islamic convention that was being held on the Lincolnshire show ground over the road. Basically, they asked RAFAT to avoid flying those wretched military jets over the convention...

Sunday evening, Reds arrive back at Scampers for the usual break over the patch via the show ground with smoke on. Point well made I thought.