interview www.bahrainthismonth.com 42 November 2022 The Royal Air Force (RAF) Aerobatic Team, colloquially known as the Red Arrows, is one of the most iconic symbols of the UK’s RAF. The display squad, which has wowed millions of fans across the world with its manoeuvres, rolls and incredible synchronisation, comprises nine BAE Hawk planes and their pilots. The team is set to perform three awe-inspiring displays at the Bahrain International Airshow from November 9 to November 11, so Kristian Harrison sat down for a chat with Flight Lieutenant Patrick Kershaw, also known as Red 3, about the historic occasion and what it takes to become one of the ‘Reds’. Please could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background, and how you came to join the RAF? My introduction to flying planes came during my time obtaining my Business Administration degree at Leicester De Montfort University. I joined the East Midlands University Air Squadron whilst there and they sponsored me for my final year. I was then selected to join the RAF and do my flying training as part of the fast jets category. I passed my training then did four years flying the Tornado GR4, including operations in the MENA region, before becoming a qualified instructor on the Hawk T1. I was selected to join the Reds in 2021 as Red 3 and this is my first display season. I’ve been in the RAF for 16 years now and I feel immensely privileged that I’ll spend three of those flying with the Red Arrows before returning to other operational duties! What does it take to join the Red Arrows? Firstly, you need a great amount of flying experience and to rack up 1,500 hours in a fast jet. There are more than 30 applicants every year for very limited spots, and then these are cut further to around 10. There are then intense assessments, not just of your flying capabilities but also how well you work in a team, before final selection. Have you been to Bahrain before and are you excited about visiting? I actually visited Bahrain very briefly in 2012 while I was taking a jet out to the Middle East as part of an operation, but that was just a brief stop at the Shaikh Isa Air Base. This time, we’re displaying over three days so I’m really looking forward to meeting some of the people that live on the island and getting out and seeing some of the sights and experiencing the country properly. Can you tell us about the logistics behind getting the Red Arrows to Bahrain? Despite some rumours to the contrary, we don’t ‘ship’ the Hawks abroad or even store them on TAKE TO THE SKIES
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