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Flying with the Red Arrows by Jamie Hunter - part 3 of 1 2 3 4 5

Published 01/02/2009

Jamie Hunter Jamie conducted basic flying training with the RAF and then completed his Private Pilot's Licence, however, he is no longer a pilot and always flies as a passenger in his work as a photographer. Jamie uses the Nikon D3 usually teamed with the 24-70mm lens.

His company, Aviacom Ltd, provides photographic services for the aviation industry. www.aviacom.co.uk Like most of my compatriots and those who influenced me, I was fuelled by a love of aeroplanes and a desire to become a fast jet pilot. Unfortunately that wasn't to be and embarked on a quest to become a renowned aviation photographer.

I have been running my own specialist company offering such services since 2000 and I have accumulated huge experience flying and photographing everything from airliners to stealth bombers.

I have been privileged to fly with the Red Arrows as a photographer since 2005. I am now cleared to fly in all of the team aircraft, which means I can fly with everyone from the leader right up to the extreme 8G environment of the syncro pair.

Every year, the team embarks on a gruelling training programme to prepare for the new airshow season. This also means spending two months at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to make use of the good weather to fine tune the show. Here, the team flies three full display practices a day. As a passenger I 'walk' to my allocated Hawk jet well in advance of the nine team pilots to ensure I am ready when they arrive. The pilots arrive at the jet with only minutes to spare.

They don g-suits, life saving jackets and helmets, and strap into the Hawks in very short order - ready to meet the required split-second timing of the entire flight, which starts with a pre-determined check-in time. 'Reds check, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Akrotiri tower, Red Arrows, nine aircraft ready to taxi'. As 'The Boss' checks us in with the tower, I put my dark visor down and raise my oxygen mask as my pilot, Red 8, Flt Lt Greg Perilleux, checks I am ready to close the canopy.

The MDC detonator cord in the canopy can potentially fire on closing the canopy so every care is taken when closing it in the Hawk. I have already dialled my weight into the ejector seat and lowered the seat to ensure I have a fist's worth of clearance above my white Mk10B helmet and the canopy. As we line up on the sunbleached runway the adrenaline is already starting to flow - and I am just a passenger taking photos. 'Display take-off coming left'. The call from the leader comes as we line up at intervals along the runway. 'Reds rolling... now'.

ith full power applied the pilots release the brakes and we roll down the runway as one. With my feet sitting lightly on the rudder pedals, the inputs come thick and fast from my pilot as he keeps the Hawk perfectly straight on the runway and in formation with the aircraft ahead. Once airborne the nine Hawks immediately move into tight diamond formation - this really is close, rock-solid formation flying and the pilots are all working incredibly hard. Balance of power, airbrake, rudder and stick are what these highly-skilled pilots use to hold this tight position (no computers here) and it is very impressive from my position as a passenger.

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• Flying with the Red Arrows by Jamie Hunter page 2
  
• Flying with the Red Arrows by Jamie Hunter page 3
  
• Flying with the Red Arrows by Jamie Hunter page 4
  
• Flying with the Red Arrows by Jamie Hunter page 5
  

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