Editing Red Arrows (section)

===Establishment===
[[File:Hawker Siddeley Gnat T1, UK - Air Force AN2239232.jpg|thumb|left|[[Folland Gnat|Gnat T.1s]] on the flightline at [[RAF Kemble]] in 1973]]

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the formal name of the Red Arrows, began life at [[RAF Little Rissington]] in Gloucestershire, then the [[Central Flying School]] before moving to [[RAF Fairford]]. The Red Arrows moved to RAF Kemble, now [[Cotswold Airport]], in 1966 after RAF Fairford became the place of choice for [[British Aircraft Corporation|BAC]] to run test flights for the [[Concorde]] supersonic airliner.<ref>{{cite web |title=10 amazing Red Arrows facts to impress your friends with |url=https://yourairport.co.uk/2017/07/19/10-amazing-red-arrows-facts/ |publisher=London Biggin Hill |access-date=27 October 2019}}</ref> When [[RAF Scampton]] (near [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]]) became the CFS headquarters in 1983, the Red Arrows moved there. As an economy measure, Scampton closed in 1995, so the Red Arrows moved {{convert|20|mi}} to [[RAF Cranwell]]; however, as they still used the air space above Scampton, the emergency facilities and runways had to be maintained. On 21 December 2000, the Red Arrows returned to RAF Scampton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lincolnshire.org/red-arrows/|access-date=29 January 2020|title=History of the RAF Red Arrows|date=August 2012}}</ref> On 13 October 2022, the Red Arrows moved to their new base at [[RAF Waddington]].<ref name=RAFWaddington />

The first team, led by [[Flight Lieutenant]] Lee Jones, had seven display pilots and flew the Folland Gnat T1 jet trainer. The first display in the UK was on 6 May 1965, at Little Rissington for a press day. At the subsequent National Air Day display, three days later, at [[Clermont Ferrand]] in France, one French journalist described the team as "''Les Fleches Rouges''", confirming the name "The Red Arrows". By the end of their first season, the Red Arrows had displayed 65 times in Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium and were awarded the [[Britannia Trophy]] by the [[Royal Aero Club]] for their contribution to aviation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalaeroclub.co.uk/medals-and-awards.php?id=34|access-date=29 January 2020|title=The Britannia Trophy}}</ref>
[[File:British Aerospace Hawk T1, UK - Air Force AN1355498.jpg|thumb|right|[[BAE Hawk|Hawk T.1s]] on the flightline at [[RAF Mildenhall]] in 1985]]

In 1968, the then team leader (Sqn Ldr [[Ray Hanna]]) expanded the team from seven to nine jets, as he wanted to expand the team's capabilities and the permutations of formation patterns. During this season,  the 'Diamond Nine' pattern was formed and it has remained the team's trademark pattern ever since. Ray Hanna served as Red Leader for three consecutive years until 1968 and was recalled to supersede Squadron Leader Timothy Nelson for the 1969 display season, a record four seasons as Leader, which still stands.<ref>{{cite news | title = Ray Hanna Recalled to Red Arrows | url = http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%202346.html | publisher = Flight International | date = 26 June 1969 | access-date = 12 August 2009 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121020065922/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%202346.html | archive-date = 20 October 2012 }}</ref> For his considerable achievements of airmanship with the team, Ray Hanna was awarded a bar to his existing [[Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)|Air Force Cross]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/death-announced-of-ex-red-arrows-leader-ray-hanna/64301.article|access-date=29 January 2020|title=Death announced of ex-Red Arrows leader Ray Hanna}}</ref>

After displaying 1,292 times in the [[Folland Gnat]], the Red Arrows took delivery of the [[BAE Hawk]] in 1979. Since being introduced into service with the Red Arrows, the Hawk has performed with the Red Arrows in 50 countries.