SPRINGHAWK 2018: RAF RED ARROWS TRAIN IN GREECE

The world famous British aerobatic team visits Greece to complete its training for the 2018 airshow season.

Springhawk 2018: RAF Red Arrows train in Greece.

Exercise Springhawk is an annual overseas pre-season training carried out by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows. The five-week exercise allows the team to perfect and polish its display in more settled weather. This is the fourth consecutive year that the Red Arrows train in Greece.

On April 21, ten red Hawk jets and an A400 support aircraft left RAF Scampton for a three-leg transit to Greece that included one night stop in Zadar, Croatia, when the Reds had the opportunity to meet the Krila Oluje, their Croatian counterparts.

On April 22, the Red Arrows reached Greece and now they are ready to start their training which included three displays every day.

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 Squadron’s pilots are qualified for the aerobatic season and they can change from green coveralls into their famous red flying suits and the ground crew are allowed to wear their royal blue display coveralls.

The Red Arrows will perfom the first display to the public on June 2, for the Torbay Airshow, UK. The complete 2018 schedule is available here.

Written by Matteo Sanzani

Images: Red Arrows