Original subtitles

They are the elites, daring combat veterans flying on the edge

of what's possible.

They're called the best aerobatic display team in the world.

On reflection what we're doing is extraordinary.

It just feels absolutely normal now.

For the first time they've allowed cameras to follow them

for an entire year...

..as a new leader takes charge in one of the most challenging periods

in the squadrons' history.

It's a year of triumphs.

Of tragedy.

On Tuesday the squadron's aircraft crashed at RAF Valley.

And of courage.

We have to move on.

And the best way to do that is to get on with our jobs.

But ultimately it's a year of breathtaking, awe-inspiring flying.

These are the Red Arrows.

The start of the Red Arrow's display season is now

only two months away.

The team have just achieved a landmark in their preseason

training, their first nine-jet sortie.

That's a huge moment for us, actually.

And it was one that I wasn't really sure that we would get to.

So, yeah, monumental to get it done.

But for another few weeks they'll continue to train mainly

as two elements.

Enid, the front five reds are getting new pilots,

Jon Bond and David Stark, up to speed.

The most experienced Red Arrow's pilots make up the rear element

called Gypo, after a previous team leader.

They perform the most difficult manoeuvres in the display.

There's a light-hearted rivalry between the two sections.

There's definitely a healthy level of banter between Gypo and Enid.

It keeps you on your toes.

You want to perform as well as possible when Enid are watching.

And vice versa.

You can't get your ice cream, you gotta earn it.

If something's a bit dull or not going very well, we go,

"Oh, that's a bit Enid!" And that really winds him up.

The synchro pair, who performed the hair-raising opposition

manoeuvres get stick from everyone.

Synchro actually have an office down the corridor.

Probably to accommodate their ego.

And the rest of the pilots get put in here.

So we had a bit of a parking sign may show that chat get a bit

too much about how amazing their last fudge was, we can kick

them out of the office.

It can get a little bit crowded so they take it

in the spirit it's meant.

I guess after the turn, I'm going to roll and point

towards my ground feature.

Today the rear elements are going to attempt their first full routine,

which they'll perform in the second half of the display.

I would just take a crowd rear, right over the top of you.

So if you can stay 500 and below.

Yep. I'll just drop over the top of you.

As long as you have vision with us then I'm happy.

Start as we mean to... Yeah, exactly.

All right, commence, yeah?

Performing the entire high G routine is physically demanding

for the pilots.

You feel the blood starting to pool in the lower parts of your body,

your legs and your feet.

You feel the G pants inflating around your legs and abdomen.

So that's quite an unusual feeling.

And if you're not careful you can start to get

grey tunnel vision. So if you start to get that

you have to strain harder against the effects of G.

When you're pulling eight G everything weighs eight

times its weight, if we're just sitting here now.

So for example the helmet that we wear,

that is weighing eight times its normal weight.

You're sitting still. All you're doing is sitting there.

However, the physical aspects of this job is pretty extreme.

As well as perfecting their aerobatics, like all fast jet

pilots, the Reds need to continually practice

dealing with emergencies, such as engine fires,

on a flight simulator.

The hawk simulator is in RAF Valley in Anglesey.

In the pilots of Enid are heading there for training.

But they're not going alone.

And what's an added bonus is that we can take the guys

who are going to be the new circus members for 2018, and just expose

them to some of the feelings that they will experience,

whilst flying in the back of a hawk.

This flight is called the shakedown.

It's the final stage of training for Circus,

the engineers are allowed to fly back seat to service the jets

when they travel away from base.

The shakedown sortie, for me it was a bit more of a build-up of tolerance

of flying, cos I don't do too great with it.

So my flight down there was quite plain.

I wanted to go into the Mach Loop.

The Mach Loop is a famous low-flying route through the Welsh mountains.

New Circus members experience it as part of their shakedown.

We pulled in maybe two, two and a half G.

Started to feel a little bit queasy.

So I said to my pilot I don't think I can go into the loop today.

Will landed early at RAF Valley.

The other Circus back seaters, like Jon Bayliss,

managed to stay the course.

Jon came running over, big beaming smile.

Green covered in sweat.

Talking about the Mach Loop.

And he look over at my little sick bag and had a little smile

on his face. Had a little joke. Pointing to it.

But his flight seems to be a hell of a lot better

than mine was.

Will return from RAF Valley as the senior pilots head

out for another sortie.

See you later. Have a good one.

We had landed back at Scampton and I was working out in the hangar.

And the senior management just sort of called everyone in and said

there's been an incident that's happened at Valley.

A training exercise that went badly wrong.

This is the aftermath of a Red Arrow crashing from the sky.

The pilot survived, but this evening a Ministry of Defence spokesman

announced his engineer died in the crash.

It is with great sadness that the Royal Air Force can confirm

the death of an engineer from the Royal Air Force

aerobatics team the Red Arrows, in a tragic accident today.

Knowing what I knew.

I knew Jon was there.

I knew he was the last one, that was coming back.

So, yeah, two and two together.

I might not be the brightest of persons,

but I figured out it was Jon.

I knew that the engineer had been Jon.

Jon had been flying in the back-seat of Starkey's jet.

Moments after taking off from valley, heading home

to Scampton they crashed.

Starkey ejected seconds before impact,

suffering a serious leg injury.

Jon didn't manage to escape.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

After we were all briefed and sort of given the bad news

that it was Jon, that he's, sort of, gone.

We all got together.

A typical RAFA, really, get into groups, chat.

Talk is very good.

We talk through memories of Jon, and how we felt about Jon

and how much he'll be missed. How much he meant to us.

Each of us shared of a little experience about him.

Sort of celebrate his life.

Following the accident the Red Arrows go into lockdown.

The jets are grounded, and everyone is sent home.

Two days after the tragic accident, the Red Arrows

are still closed down.

Team leader Martin Pert returns to record a video message.

Emotions are still pretty raw at the moment for everyone on the team.

And we just need to figure out how we go from here.

On behalf of everyone at Royal Air Force aerobatic team

I'd like to thank you, the friends, fans, and followers

of the Red Arrows for your unstinting support this week.

As air crew we are exposed to these risks.

Whereas for the engineers for it to happen to one

of their own, in such a unique circumstance,

is really difficult for them.

As you'll all be aware on Tuesday, the squadron's aircraft

crashed at RAF Valley.

Unfortunately, because of Starkey's injuries it's likely that he's not

going to be able to take part in the 2018 display season.

So I need to make some quick, potentially difficult, decisions.

Jon was not just an exceptional colleague and dedicated engineer,

he was also a leader, and friend to so many across our small team.

We can't just stop forever, and it's just balancing how we get

back on the horse.

But also remaining sensitive to what's happened here,

because we're all human, and this hurts.

Three days later, work for the Red Arrows has to resume.

Preparations need to be made for Spring Hawk their annual six

week training exercise in Greece.

They were due to depart in just two weeks' time.

It is a tough time, we'll never forget Jon.

And he's probably looking down on us as well saying, come on keep

going don't mourn for my loss.

It's still quite emotional on the squadron it will

be until we have the funeral.

Keeping your mind on work, keeping focus does help.

We have to move on.

And the best way to do that, is to get on with our jobs.

It's Gary Smith's job to get 80 engineers and 50 tonnes of equipment

to Greece.

What we will need is on the Monday, April 16, at 9 o'clock,

we need you to be at the base. Sir, yep.

Preparations must continue, because guaranteed good weather

in Greece is essential for the pilots to prepare for PDA.

The public display of authority test,

when they must prove they're good enough to display to the public.

These are the characters of the people we've got.

The squadron spirit is incredibly strong which is great.

The bounce back will happen.

We will grieve for some time, but we will also get back

to what we need to do.

We are back to flying today, so that's a good step

forward for us.

We are recovering our aircraft from over in Valley.

So they've landed in today.

But with the display season only eight weeks away,

the team are a pilot short.

Taking on Starkey's specialised red three role at such short notice

is an almost impossible task.

But there's one person who may be able to do it.

We're actually going to get Squadron Leader Ling who was Red 10

for the previous nine seasons or so back into the team.

He's a previous Red 3 the pilot he flew in that position

a few years ago.

Although originally a display pilot, for many years Lingy

was the team supervisor, giving the commentary from the ground.

A big round of applause.

Give it up, it's the Red Arrows.

Well, I've got a lot of experience in the Red Arrows as a supervisor.

It's been quite a while since I last actually flew in the number three

position so it's picking up where I left off ten years ago,

to get back in the three slot.

And remember what my muscles need to do,

to fly as stably as I can.

When he left the team five months ago Lingy

had spent a record-breaking near decade in a red flying suit.

Now he's back for an encore.

Boss? Hello. Welcome back. All right, yeah.

Cheers. Good to see you. How are you? All right.

I personally need to go fly with Lingy.

He needs to sit on my wing, get used to my inputs.

All the things that we spent months and months of winter training doing

which we will celebrate with Lingy because of his

significant experience beforehand.

But it will add to our training burden.

We need to think about how we get you up to standard that we need

before Spring Hawk.

We'll probably start pretty much straight in the deep end.

We just go off and do formation work. Formation aerobatics,

not done for a while, so ease me nice and gently.

And then it's more about the cadence, and getting to know

how two flies it. To bat and ball off of him more than anything.

Any time on briefing you, I'll probably get Bondy

in as well, just so he's brought into what were doing.

That will probably allay some of his fears about starting

all the way from scratch again.

Is there anything for me? Any sort of burn desires?

Currency wise, how are you doing?

Slalom is the only one I haven't flown from the front,

from when I was three, ten years ago.

But slalom is the one I think might take a little bit of work

to get used to the rhythm and the cadence.

As Red 3 there are other skills Squadron Leader Ling needs.

It's a position normally flown by new pilots, and comes

with additional responsibilities.

The very important duties for Red 3 are sorting

the coffee machine out, getting everyone there rations.

Ringing the bell a minute before any event.

So all the good stuff. But, yeah, very important.

The team runs when everyone does their job properly.

So yeah, it's now clean.

Job done, he can now go flying.

The display season is less than two months away, but Lingy

has to start with the basics.

Learning the core manoeuvres, flying with his opposite number Bondy.

Myself and Starkey went through the whole workup together.

We've been out to rehearse the moves, et cetera,

just between ourselves, cos a lot of the cadence starts

with myself and Red 3.

We've practised that together, and we spent a lot of time

over winter training doing that. But now we've got to learn that again.

Morning. Morning, Sir.

So we can hopefully get back to where we were before the accident

and quickly as possible.

Thank you very much.

In my first year when I was Red 3, we had around five months

of training but this year I've got five weeks.

So we've got our work cut out but everyone is going to gel

together, the team's going to work hard,

and we're going to get to that point.

Today we've just been putting some

of the second half manoeuvres together.

So for the first time we have to fly the detonator.

The goose.

Revolution.

Lingy has flown all these before, though ten years ago.

But now he faces a particularly difficult manoeuvre

for the first time, Slalom.

Slalom is performed by the front five jets.

Starting off in a line for fan out into a V formation called battle.

Then they swap sides crossing in a perfect line.

It was it requires process extreme precision and exact timing.

Lingy first has to perfect the move with just Bondy.

When I was with 3 we flew a manoeuvre called the Helix.

The Helix was very similar.

But what happen in the Slalom is with the aircraft cross.

That's the biggest learning curve, for me, putting the aircraft

in the right place and getting the time right.

To make it symmetrical we all need to cross in the middle

at the exact same time. We do that on cadences, so we count.

But as Bondy crosses, Lingy is still far out.

His move is too slow.

They make more attempts.

The timing gets better, but still isn't perfect.

Despite his nine years of experience on the team, he won't

have been exposed to this manoeuvre.

So that's why I think he's probably finding it challenging as, perhaps,

he might be. He will get it, it's just going to take some time.

That was good. That was the second half sortie.

The 1st and 2nd-half manoeuvres.

So good to get the blood pumping, bit of G, and keep her a little bit

of everything moving, really.

It was the reverse back, Will, and then anticipate the power.

To get her all the way back across.

Except the third one I got left way behind.

That last one might be better. I've been learning a lot from Bondy.

It's great flying again, obviously, and I just hope that I can perform

well enough to get the team back to the place where they were,

about a month ago.

Good fun, eh? Yeah.

All right, welcome back. Good progress made.

We've seen detonator, goose, revolution, slalom.

So four good elements of the second half crimped off.

Excellent.

But just as Lingy is starting to get to grips with the routine,

the Reds are grounded again.

Because an extremely serious defect has been discovered on a hawk jet.

We've got an aircraft currently at RAF Valley on a minor servicing.

The removed the ailerons as part of that minor.

And I found initially a crack on the hinge point,

which attaches the aircraft itself.

Ailerons are the movable surfaces on the wings, that are raised

or lowered to roll the aircraft.

If they failed the jet would become almost uncontrollable.

Although the fault has been found on only one hawk, none can fly

until every aileron is removed,

to check the defect isn't more widespread.

We're stripping the ailerons off the aircraft, currently.

When looking at stripping the paint off, and doing an independent check

to make sure that that control surface is fit for purpose,

when it's back on the aircraft.

A lot of work at a crucial time.

Ultimately, we need to get it done before we now deploy

to Spring Hawk.

It's devastating news for the pilots who face PDA,

the Public Display Test in only six weeks' time.

So the flying programme is completely on hold for the moment.

Let's prioritise getting the jets serviceable.

We need to look at getting us flying for our own morale, but also

so we can just keep track, progressing towards

our Spring Hawk departure.

The aileron issue has come at a really cruel time.

When we desperately need to get flying again after the accident,

we find ourselves grounded for up to possibly

three to four weeks now.

It's entirely possible that we won't be ready for PDA.

If we don't make PDA whilst we're out on Spring Hawk in Greece.

The likelihood is we would have to this cancel some

of the displays at the beginning of the season.

The Red Arrows have been grounded for days.

The engineers are working flat out to get the pilots flying again.

It is tough, it's challenging.

And we're already still grieving for one of our own, as well,

so everything, all combined, it's a really difficult time

for the guys and girls.

They managed to clear three jets to fly, at least allowing

replacement pilot Lingy to continue his training.

We need to have him flying full nine shifts

within about two weeks.

Normally, a pilot who was coming training for the first time

and spend approximately hundred and 70 to 200 sorties

before they got anywhere near a nine ship.

You know we're looking at Lingy doing that within nine or ten.

That's testament to both his talent and his experience levels

having being with the team for the last nine years.

And an important decision has been made, regarding

the squadron's imminent departure for Greece.

We've delayed our departure to Spring Hawk, and that is

so we can offer up the opportunity for squad members to attend

the funeral of Corporal Bayliss.

And that's the right decision to make.

Engineer Jon Bayliss' funeral is held with full military honours.

Colleagues, friends and family pay their respects.

And there's a fly-past of typhoons from Jon's previous squadron.

His close friends from the Reds, Jordan Thorburn and Will Allen

act as coffin bears.

It was an extremely hard thing to do.

It's something that I felt I really, really wanted to do

and be a part of that.

Jon would want to be remembered as a 29-year-old.

I've known the guy over ten years, and every birthday,

how old, Jon? 29!

Hair colour, it was never ginger. African sunset, Danish gold.

He didn't have radar ears, he just had a slightly small head,

that's what it was.

Jon'll be wanted to remember as a young Danish gold guy,

with a slightly small head.

Jon would want everyone smiling along with him,

and just celebrating his life. That is what Jon would want.

It was just infectious, his smile.

Certainly for the aircrew upstairs

and being able to transmit that to the engineers.

It's something that will live with me for the rest of my days.

Early the following morning the Red Arrows begin

their deployment to Greece.

The one week delay has allowed more jets to be passed fit to fly.

But, possibly, not enough.

We want 11 aircraft at Spring Hawk but things seem to conspire

against us at the moment, to try and achieve that.

Because all these things have come at the wrong time and making

it really difficult for us to achieve what we want to,

is get those 11 aircraft out. Out to Greece.

Most of the 80 ground crew will be flying out on a transport

aircraft from nearby RAF Waddington.

Circus 10, photographer Rose Buchanan should

have been flying in the back-seat of a red jet.

But because of the accident ex-circus member Hannah Smoker

is to take her seat.

I'm just covering for Rose, just on the transit out to Greece

for Spring Hawk.

So I'm just going to fly out in the jet for the two days.

Just because Rose hasn't had a familiarisation yet.

Just haven't had chance to get her just up in the jet.

So she'll get that out once she's out in Greece.

And then she'll be doing the flying back.

One of Jon Bayliss' best friends, Jordan Thorburn,

has taken on the role of Circus 3.

So I'm flying out flying to Spring Hawk.

I'll be flying back from Spring Hawk, as well.

And I'll be flying pretty much the whole first half of the seasons.

So up to our midseason break point, is currently

how far I've been told I'll be flying.

For the rest of circus, it's their first-ever long-haul flight

in a Red Arrows' jet.

Sort of nervous. Excited, looking forward to it.

I look forward to getting the team together.

I look forward to getting the training sorted out

in Greece, really, in the hops, unsupported hops.

Be a brilliant experience and the flying itself.

So, all in all, I'm excited about flying.

And nervous about flying.

The downside of flying back-seat is the lack of luggage space.

Just a pair of pants that's it.

Every spare inch is used, including the electronics bay.

I just put an overnight as well.

Emergency in that bag and then I got an overnight bag

in the carrier bag, which will go underneath.

And now the team finally know how many jets

are fit for them to fly in.

We were hoping to take 11,

but we have managed to achieve ten which is phenomenal.

The guys and girls have really pulled it out the bag this week.

It's been remarkable the way they've work so hard, to achieve...

to get ten aircraft ready on the line, today.

Lissy passes on the good news to the pilots

in their pre- fight briefing.

Zero, 7-40. Morning, Boss. Morning, everyone.

Morning.

The ten aircraft that we're taking on this morning

are all serviceable, by miracles of miracles.

The guys worked really hard last night. I see. Thank you.

Amazing work. Ten aircraft all right?

I'm hoping we're going to be on the timeline.

The weather is fantastic. I'll see you ten past.

We've got ten aircraft serviceable this morning, after an amazing

amount of work from our engineers.

We're about three four weeks behind, we've obviously subbed

in Lingy who's Red 3,

he's been doing particularly well given his experience beforehand.

But, there are elements of the show that we've not flown in four weeks

or even longer.

So from Tuesday of next week we'll be flying three slots

a day, every day.

We just need to pick up where we were five weeks ago.

The flight out will be over two days, with stops in France

and Croatia.

The pilots' families have come to wave them off

on their five-week deployment.

How's it going mate? You all right? Not too bad. Good, good.

I think everyone is looking forward to Spring Hawk as a place

that we can move forward as a team.

For everyone to regroup, the team to rebuild.

And for us to really focus on achieving PDA at the end of May.

Let's hope it's this nice in Croatia.

Spring Hawk will be crucial for the team to pull back together

after the accident.

I think we just need a consolidated period away from all the admin.

All of the trivia, all of the memories that will be dragged

up because of the accident.

Go somewhere completely unique for most of the team.

Beautiful sunshine, we're able to display every single day.

Three trips a day. It's hugely important.

The ground crew fly direct from RAF Waddington...

Landing at Tanagra airbase only a few hours later.

It gives them time to prepare for the jets when they arrive

the next day, after the overnight refuelling stop in Croatia.

The weather's been like this.

It's been not a cloud in the sky for the moment we left Scampton.

Hello! All right, well, done. Good to see you.

Yeah, you too. You see ten aircraft.

Yes. Yes. Well done.

Here we are ten jets.

I almost can't believe it, to be perfectly honest.

It's the first international training that I've done

with the Reds so,

looking around at nine other airplanes around me

it was pretty special.

Airsickness sufferer Will has made it through his first long-haul

back-seat flight.

Stomach's completely settled now.

In fact, no, I tell a lie, coming into Croatia...

You told me you had a couple of moments. Yeah.

Where there was a few turns.

A few G turns. And then we done a fly pass.

And then the brakes land.

I sort of timed my breathing wrong on the break to land.

So I didn't have many turns left in me at that point

but I was all right.

Haven't been sick? Nope. Done being sick. Only once.

These next four weeks are absolutely vital.

Every single trip for now counts, and the guys know it,

you can see it.

A day off tomorrow, and we'll start flying in earnest on Tuesday.

The team head to their accommodation on the nearby coast...

Very good to see you again, my friend. How are you? Good.

..for some much needed rest.

Dawn, two days later.

The team start work early in Greece.

The almost guaranteed sunshine allowing them to fly three sorties

a day, every day.

Despite having no bell...

Ding-a-ling!

It's still Lingy's job to call the morning briefing.

Morning, everyone. Three stops today. First time,

which is great so, enjoy that. Lots of other stuff going on,

and hopefully that flow continues. Let's look up, thank you.

Almost immediately they fly their first nine-aircraft sortie

since the accident, incredibly, only two weeks since Lingy returned.

We always knew that Lingy was the right man for the job.

I think even I'm somewhat amazed at how well he's done so far.

We flew him six, maybe seven, times before he got

into the main formation.

And those were small formations of two or three aircraft.

But within about eight or nine trips, he was up to almost

full display standards.

Lingy has picked up really quickly he's all over it.

And it's just me now that's running along behind.

And roll.

There are some things that come flooding back, and some things

that I'm learning.

I'm finding it quite tricky, actually,

just because I've not been flying in the three slot for ten years.

So doing it now, and trying to be as stable a platform

for the guys outside, Reds five, seven and nine certainly

in the big ships, it's been harder than I thought.

It's all there, it's coming along.

And we've got the training now for the next three weeks before PDA.

Passing PDA is all about precision.

Accuracy is encouraged by the pilots making each other pay

fines in to a social fund for any mistake.

One is a parking fine.

Their front wheel must stop exactly on the centre of the black line.

Parking's one of the things that you have to get right

at the end. So you call on the radio before you fly and then,

if you've got a certain amount of fines during the week

for late smokes, early smokes then, you get one opportunity

to get double or quits.

Everything's presentation on this job so, if that's wrong

then, obviously, all my fines for the week double.

I don't know. I don't think it's going to save me very much,

cos I think it was pretty bad, to be honest.

I think I'm in debt, so we'll see how it goes.

The decision on Si's double or quit gamble is the job of Red 8,

Matt Masters.

Well, I can see from here? That it's good?

Well, I mean how close we talking?

It's gotta be, it's gotta be on the line.

Doubtful, Simon, I'm afraid.

See, we started together as well you'd think he'd have a little bit

of bias towards me, but it's all gone now. No, no.

After three years.

After only two days flying in Greece Perty makes a momentous decision.

Incredibly, he thinks Lingy is now good enough for the team

to attempt their first full display routine of 2018.

Roll, checker, pull.

That's absolutely fine.

And then we'll just try to pick it up at a natural point.

Thank you. Have a good one.

Now they'll find out if he is.

Despite bringing in a replacement pilot and losing weeks of training

following the accident, the Red Arrows are going to attempt

their first full display routine of 2018.

Red's in.

And won't just be the pilots who's performance will be put

to the test.

This will be the first time the new dye team

will try to produce coloured smoke.

This is the first time we're actually putting colour

into the jets. So, it's a bit nerve-racking.

We bolt the rig with the dye prior to coming out to the jets.

Essentially, it just pumps that fluid straight into the pods.

The lads they're all listening now, to the colour actually

going into the tanks, physically.

And then, hopefully, when the jets go airborne and we come over the top

of us, all the colours will be correct.

Blue's off.

With your ear pressed against

the tank filling it's quite a distinctive noise.

It's as if a water bottle is slowly filling up and then when it gets

to the top, the distinct change of tone.

And when you hear that tone and the chatter of one of the vials

that's when you call to stop. Otherwise you

get over pressurization and the dye will come out the back.

This will also be the first time the new Circus engineers attempt

their famous choreographed safety checks.

Known as the See-off.

At the end of the day it's the first time doing it.

If you make a mistake, head up. Just carry on.

It's not just about the aircrew and what they're doing

with displays. It's about the engineers as well,

and what we can bring to it and making it's a full package

of perfection, hopefully.

You do a normal See-off but every time, you move everyone

looks into five's jet.

And then I'll look out. Make sure everyone's ready to go on to

the next step and I'll nod.

It's fine, but far from perfect.

Many of their moves are not in sync.

The weaker points today, was timing more than anything.

Just slightly off with the timing.

It's not too noticeable if you have two or three people doing it.

When you've got a line of nine doing it and anyone slightly out with the

time and it's just so noticeable. How did everyone feel that went?

For the first one?

For the first one I thought it was very good.

The only thing I've messed up on was down at the bottom.

I just forgot about the stop, check, turn. I felt all right.

The only thing wrong after the sticks though,

is that I went to go straight away. And realised nobody were moving.

You were like... I don't know what you were doing.

Now the dye team will discover if they got there colours right.

Absolutely going to be blue, white and red.

Or purple(!)

We've only gone and done it, boys.

Happy with that. Red where it's supposed to be,

and blue where it's supposed to be. Strong white.

And a very strong white.

Most of the display goes to plan.

But now it's the manoeuvre that's been Lingy's biggest

challenge, the slalom.

Can he cross perfectly in time?

It's close, but still not perfect.

And many of the team's other coordinated moves

could still do with some work.

But it's not bad at all for a team

who've lost so many weeks of training.

That was good. Yeah. First run through.

There were loads and loads of things in there.

But you know, that is the first time they've run through the full show

since we've got back to flying. So a big significant step up.

And now 50 or 60 shows like that, and we'll be ready

for the public, I think.

Certainly felt really nice.

Perfect conditions, the smoke out the back.

The colours were just phenomenal.

Yeah, the boys are in good form,

I think they're felling pretty confident.

Next time:

Eight top RAF fighter pilots chase their dream of becoming Red Arrows.

If I don't get selected I'd be pretty devastated.

It's obviously something that you really, really want

to do, and everybody here. Exactly the same.

And for the first time in their history the team face

the prospect of postponing their display season.

We can do better, as ever.

Just frustrating.

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