Someday (Soon, We Hope) This Kind of Thing Won't Be
Newsworthy... Just Normal
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, has joined
the 21st century and announced that a female pilot is one of two
candidates selected to join the world-famous 'Diamond Nine' for the
2010 display season.
The successful candidates Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore of
number X111 Squadron, RAF Marham and Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank of
number 1(Fighter) Squadron, RAF Cottesmore, will fly as part of the
2010-2012 display team. The Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots will
join the Red Arrows in September 2009 to begin training for their
three-year tour with the team, based at RAF Scampton in
Lincolnshire.
Around 30 Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots apply for the
prestigious places on the team each year. Kirsty is not the first
female to have applied to join the Red Arrows, but was the first to
make the prestigious 'shortlist' of candidates, and is now the
first to be selected for the team.
Until recently, no female fast-jet pilot had reached the stage
in their flying career to fulfil the application criteria; be
assessed as above average in their flying career, have a minimum of
1,500 flying hours and have completed at least one front line
fast-jet operational tour. Applications to join the Red Arrows from
Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots meeting the relevant criteria are
treated equally and considered purely on merit.
Wing Commander Jas Hawker, Officer Commanding and Team Leader of
the Red Arrows, said: "The shortlist of candidates to join the Red
Arrows represents some of the very finest fast-jet pilots in the
Royal Air Force. Their skills, experience, dedication and
enthusiasm are second to none. We are equally proud to be welcoming
both pilots to the team and are looking forward to their arrival in
September 2009."
Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore (31) joined the RAF as a pilot in
1998. Originally from Lincolnshire she has served as an instructor
on the Hawk aircraft at RAF Valley in North Wales and is currently
flying Tornado GR4 with XIII Sqn based at RAF Marham in
Norfolk.
Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank (30) from Worcestershire joined the
RAF in 2000. Like Kirsty, he has also served as an instructor on
the Hawk at RAF Valley, from where he went on to his current
operational tour flying the Harrier with 1(F) Sqn from RAF
Cottesmore, Leicestershire.
2009 will be the Red Arrows' 45th display season. Since the
Team's creation in 1965, the Red Arrows have flown over 4,000
displays in 53 countries. Today the Red Arrows are renowned
throughout the world, acting as ambassadors for Great Britain when
displaying overseas. They also support UK industry by demonstrating
the capabilities of British equipment and expertise. The Royal Air
Force has some 3,000 servicemen and women deployed overseas on
operations at any one time. Many of the Red Arrows' pilots and
support staff have recently returned from Afghanistan and Iraq and
many will be temporarily sent on operations overseas during their
time with the Red Arrows. As soon as they leave the Team, all will
return to duties which directly support the Royal Air Force's
operational commitments around the world.
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