Dazzling show by Red Arrows
28 May 2006



Crowds lined the Bahrain coast yesterday to watch the world-famous Red Arrows put on a dazzling acrobatic aerial display.

Nine crack Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots put on a 22-minute performance above the Manama waterfront in BAE Systems' Hawk jets.

Among the audience was His Majesty King Hamad, who joined other VIP guests at the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa to watch the show from a special vantage point.

Led by Squadron Leader Dicky Patounas, the UK's Red Arrows arrived in Bahrain as part of a tour of Europe, India and the Middle East.

They accompanied the UK Defence Ministry's new advanced jet trainer, the latest version of the BAE Systems Hawk, on the three-week mission.

The Red Arrows' tour of India, the Middle East and Europe is being supported by the UK's Defence Export Services Organisation, Rolls Royce and the VT Group.

It has already passed through India, Jordan, Oman, the UAE and will set off for Saudi Arabia today before shows in Cyprus, Greece and Spain.

Squadron leader Patounas said his crew travelled at speeds of up to 400mph (643.7km) during the aerobatic display - with just six feet of air separating them at times.

They created a special manoeuvre, which they called the Palm Tree, in honour of their visit to the Middle East.

The pilot described the experience as "exhilarating", but said his crew are never able to relax to enjoy the display.

"We are concentrating very hard as our concentration levels have to last for the whole of the display, we cannot let up our guard for a second," he told the GDN in an interview at the airport yesterday.

"We are aware of everything that is going on, but we are not considering the fact that we are upside down, doing 400mph and flying only six feet apart. People will think of it as a roller coaster ride."

The pilot compared the experience to driving on a motorway in thick fog at 100mph (160.9km) - one foot behind a car in front that is swerving all over the road.

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