High flyer! Engineer’s ‘incredible’ year with the Red Arrows
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
A Hull-born Royal Air Force engineer says a year flying with the Red Arrows has been the highlight of his military career.
Sergeant Harry Kay has just completed a season as part of a handpicked group of ten technicians that travel with the world-renowned aerobatic team.
Known as the Circus, these engineers and support staff are paired with a pilot and fly in the rear cockpit seat of the Red Arrows’ distinctive Hawk jets between big shows and events.
After landing away from the team’s home base of RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, it is this group of technicians who then service and prepare the aircraft ready for the next display or performance – often working to tight timelines.
Harry, 34, who now lives in Hessle, said: “As part of this Circus group of travelling support engineers, you can find yourself landing in a diverse range of locations to carry out this vital role.
“Over the last year, I’ve been fortunate enough to fly across the UK, mainland Europe – including Greece, France, Croatia and Switzerland – as well North America, during a five-week tour of Canada.
“However, probably my favourite moment was a transit flight that, by chance, took the aircraft across the Humber Estuary, passing close to Hessle with a brilliant view of the Humber Bridge and Hull clearly in sight.
“You have a brief chance for reflection, realising that you’re in a formation of red fast-jets, flying over somewhere you know extremely well, but then have to remain focussed on the task and be ready to carry out a detailed post-flight service.
“Although the challenges and surroundings change from one location to the next, that’s one of the important aspects of being part of the Circus – to always ensure the high standards of teamwork, safety and engineering are maintained, wherever you are in the world and the situation you face.”
Harry attended Hull Trinity House school and joined the RAF in 2007 as an avionics technician, before going on to work on the electrical components and systems in a variety of frontline aircraft types, such as the Tornado and Typhoon.
During his career, he has deployed on exercises and operations across the globe.
But joining the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team in 2020 remains a very big moment during his time with the military.
Harry said: “Being part of the Red Arrows support team has been a true highlight – understanding how many millions of people see the jets each year and take great inspiration and enjoyment from a display or flypast.
“I know of many people who first thought about a career in the RAF or military when they saw the Red Arrows perform as a child and that is incredibly rewarding for each and every one of us in the present-day team.”
With a combination of dynamic aerobatic displays, colourful flypasts and inspiring ground events, the Red Arrows have been enthralling people around the world since 1965.
The team is well-known for its nine-aircraft show that features close-formation passes, big loops and precision moves where the jets are just a few feet apart from one another as they roll in the sky.
As with the aircrew, members of the Circus have individual numbers denoting which pilot they fly with that season.
Flying with Red 9, Harry was Circus 9 in 2024 and, as the Senior Non-Commissioned Officer (SNCO), was also this support team’s leader, managing their development and ensuring the aircraft were maintained safely.
Each Circus member receives specialist training to ensure they are ready to fly in a fast-jet and are selected on an annual basis, for that season, and drawn from the Red Arrows’ 110-strong ground team of RAF personnel.
They accompany the aircraft on transit flights – but not in aerobatic displays – and ensure the jets are serviced at each location when operating away from the Red Arrows’ home base anywhere around the world and before big, high-profile occasions, such as a flypast for the King’s Official Birthday.
This arrangement allows the team to carry out its busy season of displays more efficiently, which often entails two performances in different locations across any typical day in the summer.
Harry said being Circus Leader this year was particularly special.
He said: “The 2024 campaign was the Red Arrows’ 60th season. To be part of the team that maintained the Diamond Nine formation of aircraft in this diamond anniversary year was incredible, an honour, and I was lucky to work alongside brilliant, motivated men and women.
“The year also included a tour to Canada, to help celebrate the Royal Canadian Air Force’s centennial and I was also able to see the beauty and power of Niagara Falls during a flypast.
“Wherever we landed and the team performed – whether in the UK or overseas – there was an amazing response to the new display by people of all ages and backgrounds.”
The Red Arrows are now carrying out winter training at their Lincolnshire base, with their 2025 display season expected to get underway in May.