The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows have announced the 3 new pilots for the 2023 season, the team have also confirmed that will be flying as an 8 ship, citing safety concerns in training 4 new pilots for this year.

In 2022 the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic team, have seen two pilots leave and the team was flying with a seven-ship formation, instead of the usual nine aircraft. This also meant that many maneuvers for the complete formation had to be removed or tweaked to compensate for the loss of two pilots.

This year is the 59th display season for the Red Arrows and the team will be performing as an 8-ship during their displays and as a 9-ship during the flypasts. It was also announced that the team is hoping to return to their trademark diamond nine formation in 2024, their 60th display season.

The New pilots

Red 2 - Flight Lieutenant Richard Walker

Flight Lieutenant Richard Walker was born in Oxford and attended Abingdon School. He joined the RAF on a Cadetship in 1991, flying with Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron. He studied modern languages at Manchester University.

On completion of flying training, Rich was posted to fly the Harrier and became a qualified weapons instructor, completing tours on each of the four RAF Harrier squadrons. These included operations over the Balkans, Africa, the Middle East and Afghanistan as well as day and night carrier qualification and exercises worldwide.

He has also previously flown the Hawk T1 as an aggressor pilot on 100 Squadron and is a qualified flying instructor, most recently on the Hawk T2 on Advanced Flying Training.

Rich joins the Red Arrows from 3(F) Squadron at RAF Coningsby, where he flew the Typhoon, including NATO Air Policing missions.

Red 3 - Flight Lieutenant Tom Hansford

Flight Lieutenant Tom Hansford was born in Inverness and grew up in Aberdeenshire, attending Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen. He studied physics at Oxford University and joined the RAF section of the Combined Cadet Force. He was a member of the University Air Squadron, flying the Tutor from RAF Benson.

Tom joined the Royal Air Force in 2008 and completed flying training on the Tucano and Hawk T2 aircraft. He was selected to fly the Typhoon and was posted to 1(F) Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth in 2015.

While on the frontline, Tom participated in various multinational exercises and operations in Europe, North America, the Middle East and further afield, as well as Quick Reaction Alert duties in the UK and the Falkland Islands. His next postings were as a qualified weapons instructor to 3(F) Squadron and 29 Squadron, both at RAF Coningsby, teaching the latest tactics to the next generation of frontline Typhoon pilots.

Red 4 - Flight Lieutenant Ollie Suckling

Flight Lieutenant Ollie Suckling was born in York and educated at St Peter’s School in the city. He studied physical geography at Hull University and was a member of the St Peter’s School Combined Cadet Force and Yorkshire Universities’ Air Squadron.

Joining the RAF in 2007, Ollie was selected to fly fast jets and completed basic fast jet training on the Tucano before moving to RAF Valley to complete advanced flying training on the Hawk T1. Ollie was then selected to fly the Tornado GR4 and on completion of the Operational Conversion Unit was posted to 31 Squadron at RAF Marham.

During his time on the Tornado, Ollie completed multiple tours, including in Afghanistan, and deployed in support of Coalition operations as well as multinational exercises worldwide. In 2017 he was posted to XXV(F) Squadron at RAF Valley as a qualified flying instructor, teaching future fast-jet pilots the skills required to progress to the frontline.

In 2021, Ollie moved back to RAF Marham to undertake a ground role in the F35 Integrated Training Centre.

Ollie is not a stranger to the airshow world he was previously also a civilian display pilot flying classic jets most notably the strikemaster Mk82A and Mk80A with the Strikemaster Display UK.

The Red Arrows begin training for the forthcoming season almost as soon as the previous year has ended.

Typically, winter training starts in October, with small groups of three or four aircraft formations. Each pilot flies three sorties a day, five days a week, and the formations grow in aircraft number as training progresses.

These flights involve a thorough brief, debrief and discussion to ensure safety is paramount and the formations are precise. One complete cycle consisting of these elements lasts about two hours, usually with a 30-minute flight.

Winter training lasts until mid-March or early-April, when the team usually moves overseas to a location with more predictable, settled weather to maximise flying hours and perfect the display. This is known as Exercise Springhawk.

During Springhawk the team is assessed by senior Royal Air Force officers, with the aim of gaining Public Display Authority. If this is awarded, the team’s pilots change from green coveralls into their famous red flying suits and the ground crew are allowed to wear their royal blue display coveralls.

The season then officially begins and public performances by the Red Arrows are permitted.

The team’s 2023 schedule can be found here