Red Arrows: Celebrating 50 Display Years

Text from the bottom of the print:
First formed in 1964 as the official Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows have been thrilling and delighting audiences since their first performances at Clermont Ferrand and Biggin Hill in May 1965. These were to be the first of 65 team displays flown that year, not just in France and the UK, but also at events in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. This tremendous effort in their first year earned the team the Royal Aero Club’s prestigious Britannia Trophy for their outstanding contribution to the reputation of British aviation, setting the benchmark for the future of the team in no uncertain terms.

2014 is the 50th display season flown by the team, a remarkable achievement by a remarkable group of pilots, engineers and support staff. It also sees the 40th anniversary of the first flight of the BAE SYSTEMS Hawk, the fast, agile and supremely reliable advanced jet trainer that has been the team’s aircraft since 1980 and is still in production in advanced versions today. The Red Arrows and their Hawks have presented the finest in British aviation prowess to the world, performing over 4,500 displays in 54 countries across the globe. The team not only display the professionalism of the Royal Air Force and the quality of the British aviation industry, but also act in the role as ambassadors for the United Kingdom, developing and maintaining friendships with the many nations they visit.