Editing Red Arrows (section)

{{Short description|Aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Red Arrows<br />Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team
| image                         = RAF Red Arrows badge.png
| image_size                    = 
| alt                           = 
| caption                       = Red Arrows [[Heraldic badges of the Royal Air Force|badge]]
| dates                         = {{Start date|1964}} – present
| disbanded                     = 
| country                       = {{Flag|United Kingdom}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = {{air force|United Kingdom}}
| type                          = 
| role                          = [[Aerobatic]] display team
| size                          = 11 pilots<br />100 engineering & support staff
| command_structure             = [[No. 1 Group RAF|No. 1 Group]]
| garrison                      = [[RAF Waddington]]<ref name=RAFWaddington />
| garrison_label                = Home station
| nickname                      = "The Reds"
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = {{langnf|fr|Éclat|Excellence}}
| colours                       = Red, white and blue
| colors_label                  = <!-- or | colours_label = -->
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| anniversaries                 = 
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| battles_label                 = 
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| battle_honours_label          = 
| flying_hours                  = 
| website                       = {{Official website|https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/red-arrows/}}
<!-- Commanders -->| commander1                    = {{Flagicon image|UK-Air-OF4-Flag.svg|size=25px}} [[Wing commander (rank)|Wing Commander]] Adam Collins
| commander1_label              = Officer Commanding
| commander2                    = {{Flagicon image|UK-Air-OF3-Flag.svg|size=25px}} [[Squadron leader|Squadron Leader]] Jon Bond
| commander2_label              = Team Leader (Red 1)
| commander3                    = {{Flagicon image|UK-Air-OF3-Flag.svg|size=25px}} [[Squadron leader|Squadron Leader]] Graeme Muscat
| commander3_label              = Display Supervisor (Red 10)
| commander4                    = {{Flagicon image|UK-Air-OF3-Flag.svg|size=25px}} [[Squadron leader|Squadron Leader]] Andy King
| commander4_label              = Senior Engineer
| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
| identification_symbol         = 
| identification_symbol_label   = 
| identification_symbol_2       = 
| identification_symbol_2_label = <!-- Aircraft -->
| aircraft_trainer              = [[BAE Hawk|Hawk T1A]]
}}
[[File:RAF Red Arrows depart RIAT Fairford 14thJuly2014 arp.jpg|thumb|The RAF Red Arrows depart the 2014 [[Royal International Air Tattoo]], [[England]], in a colour scheme that commemorates their 50th year.]]
The '''Red Arrows''', officially known as the '''Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team''', is the [[aerobatics]] display team of the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) based at [[RAF Waddington]].<ref name=RAFWaddington>{{cite web|url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/red-arrows/news/raf-red-arrows-move-to-new-lincolnshire-home/|title=RAF Red Arrows move to new Lincolnshire home|website=raf.mod.uk|accessdate=14 October 2022}}</ref> The team was formed in late 1964 as an all-Royal Air Force team, replacing several unofficial teams that had been sponsored by RAF commands.

The Red Arrows have a prominent place in [[British popular culture]], with their aerobatic displays a fixture of British summer events.<ref>{{cite news|title=Why everyone loves the Red Arrows|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3908187.stm|publisher=BBC|date=10 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220125454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3908187.stm|archive-date=20 February 2009}}</ref>  The badge of the Red Arrows shows the aircraft in their trademark diamond nine formation, with the motto ''Éclat'', a French word meaning "brilliance" or "excellence".

The four published roles of the Red Arrows are:

* Representing and showcasing the skills and values of the Royal Air Force
* Supporting British industry
* Assisting in defence diplomacy
* Aiding recruitment for the UK Armed Forces

Initially, they were equipped with seven [[Folland Gnat]] trainers inherited from the RAF [[Yellowjacks]] display team. This aircraft was chosen because it was less expensive to operate than front-line [[fighter aircraft|fighters]]. In their first season, they flew at 65 shows across [[Europe]]. In 1966, the team was increased to nine members, enabling them to develop their ''Diamond Nine'' formation. In late 1979, they switched to the [[BAE Hawk]] trainer. The Red Arrows have performed over 4,800 displays in 57 countries worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/aboutus/|title=Red Arrows - Royal Air Force|website=www.raf.mod.uk|access-date=6 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703031842/https://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/aboutus/|archive-date=3 July 2017}}</ref>

The team celebrated their 60th Diamond Season in 2024, with an anniversary decal applied to the fuselage and fin, as well as a special 'anniversary break' manoeuvre being included in the display.