Open edition with printed signature. Paper size 306 x 297 mm. Image size 250 x 250 mm
I painted this picture of the Red Arrows from photographs I took at The Air Show in Ayr, a few years ago. The Isle of Arran can be seen in the background through the fine rain that was present for most of the day. It was incredible to watch them narrowingly missing one another at terrifying speeds. I can’t imagine how they maintain the tight groups in which they fly while travelling at hundreds of miles an hour! The rain on the day of the Air Show must have made their manoeuvres even more tricky and dangerous.
The Red Arrows, which is the official name of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, was formed in the mid-1960s, and replaced a number of unofficial teams which had been sponsored by the RAF. There were only seven of them originally and their first planes were Folland Gnat Trainers which had previously been used by the RAF Yellowjacks display team. These aircraft were used because they were cheaper to run than the fighters which would be needed in the event of war. After a couple of years the team was increased to nine planes which meant they could fly in their distinct ‘Diamond Nine’ formation.
Back in 1920, long before the Red Arrows were formed, teams from front-line bi-plane squadrons carried out aerobatic displays at an RAF Show in Hendon. Later in 1925, No 32 Squadron RAF flew an air display called ‘London Defended’ for six nights a week during the British Empire Exhibition.
