New Red Arrows pilots for 2022: (Left-to-right) Flight Lieutenant Stuart Roberts, Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat and Flight Lieutenant Patrick Kershaw – Image: Crown Copyright

Three new pilots have joined the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows,  for the 2022 Display Season. They begun their winter training in November at RAF Scampton and subject to Public Display Authority will be displaying in front of the public from early June 2022. As well as displaying around the UK, the Red Arrows will also be displaying at a number of events overseas.

 

Image: Crown Copyright

Red 2 – Flt Lt Stuart Roberts

Flt Lt Stuart Roberts, 35, will fly as Red 2 for next year’s display season.

He said the constant drive for excellence demanded by the team inspired him to apply for the Red Arrows.

He said: “I vividly remember seeing the team display as a young boy but, as I have spent more time in the Royal Air Force and had more insight into how the Red Arrows operate, I was drawn towards applying by its clear, common goal and the high levels of teamwork required from everyone involved to generate a consistent, world-leading display.”

Flt Lt Roberts, who was born in Germany, at RAF Wegberg, was educated at The Henry Box School, Witney, before studying geography at Loughborough.

He joined the Service in 2009 and flew the Typhoon aircraft operationally, including undertaking NATO air policing duties in Estonia and helping to secure the skies of the UK and the Falkland Islands by conducting Quick Reaction Alert.

 

Red 3 – Flt Lt Patrick Kershaw

Huddersfield-born, he completed a degree in business administration at Leicester De Montfort University, where he was a member of East Midlands Universities’ Air Squadron, and in his final year received an RAF bursary – going on to join the Service in 2006.

He was selected to fly fast-jets and, following training, was posted to the Tornado GR4 at RAF Marham. During his time on the Tornado he took part in operations over North Africa and the Middle East as well as numerous multinational exercises.

More recently, Flt Lt Kershaw has flown the Typhoon aircraft from RAF Coninsgby.

The 36-year-old said he is proud to be joining the Red Arrows for 2022.

He said: “Innovation, precision, teamwork are all at the forefront of what we do in the team and these qualities are shared throughout numerous industries in the UK.

“Being able to represent this as an ambassador for the next three years will be a privilege and honour.”

Flt Lts Roberts and Kershaw are two of nine Red Arrows display pilots.

Image: Crown Copyright

Image: Crown Copyright

Red 10 – Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat

(From March 2022)

Sqn Ldr Muscat, who was born in Great Sutton, Cheshire, and educated at Whitby High School, Ellesmere Port, said: “The Red Arrows are the best of British. The fact I can now stand as an ‘ambassador’ not only for the United Kingdom but also for the Royal Air Force is amazing and one which will be the highlight of my career to date and one I’m extremely humbled and proud to be doing.”

The 46-year-old joined the Royal Air Force in 1995 as a Communications System Analyst and, in 1998, became Non-Commissioned Aircrew as an Air Signaller.

He was selected for a Commission and pilot training in 2003, starting Initial Officer Training a year later.

Sqn Ldr Muscat flew the Tornado GR4 on the frontline as well as in multinational exercises and, more recently, he has been a Flight Commander on the Hawk T2 at RAF Valley.

Details of where the Red Arrows will be displaying in 2022 will be released in the New Year.

The full pilot line-up for the next season is:

  • Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – Wing Commander David Montenegro
  • Red 1 and Team Leader – Squadron Leader Tom Bould
  • Red 2 – Flight Lieutenant Stuart Roberts
  • Red 3 – Flight Lieutenant Patrick Kershaw
  • Red 4 – Flight Lieutenant Will Cambridge
  • Red 5 – Squadron Leader Nick Critchell
  • Red 6 and Synchro Leader – Squadron Leader Gregor Ogston
  • Red 7 and Synchro Two – Flight Lieutenant James Turner
  • Red 8 and Executive Officer – Squadron Leader Jon Bond**
  • Red 9 – Flight Lieutenant David Simmonds
  • Red 10 and Supervisor (from March 2022) – Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat

**Flt Lt Damo Green left the team in January 2022. See embedded Twitter post below