MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (101/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service on
12 May 2009
The Royal Air
Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, is proud to announce that a
female pilot is one of two candidates selected to join the
world-famous 'Diamond Nine' for the 2010 display season.
The successful candidates Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore of
number X111 Squadron, RAF Marham and Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank
of number 1(Fighter) Squadron, RAF Cottesmore, will fly as part of
the 2010-2012 display team, enthralling millions with their
exhilarating manoeuvres, demonstrating the skills and excellence
of the Royal Air Force, promoting British industry and
contributing to defence diplomacy.
The Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots will join the Red Arrows in
September 2009 to begin training for their three-year tour with
the team, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.
Around 30 Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots apply for the
prestigious places on the team each year. Kirsty is not the first
female to have applied to join the Red Arrows, but was the first
to make the prestigious 'shortlist' of candidates, and
is now the first to be selected for the team.
Until recently, no female fast-jet pilot had reached the stage in
their flying career to fulfil the application criteria; be
assessed as above average in their flying career, have a minimum
of 1,500 flying hours and have completed at least one front line
fast-jet operational tour. Applications to join the Red Arrows
from Royal Air Force fast-jet pilots meeting the relevant criteria
are treated equally and considered purely on merit.
Wing Commander Jas Hawker, Officer Commanding and Team Leader of
the Red Arrows, said: "The shortlist of candidates to join
the Red Arrows represents some of the very finest fast-jet pilots
in the Royal Air Force. Their skills, experience, dedication and
enthusiasm are second to none. We are equally proud to be
welcoming both pilots to the team and are looking forward to their
arrival in September 2009."
Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore (31) joined the RAF as a pilot in
1998. Originally from Lincolnshire she has served as an
instructor on the Hawk aircraft at RAF Valley in North Wales and
is currently flying Tornado GR4 with XIII Sqn based at RAF Marham
in Norfolk.
Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank (30) from Worcestershire joined the
RAF in 2000. Like Kirsty, he has also served as an instructor on
the Hawk at RAF Valley, from where he went on to his current
operational tour flying the Harrier with 1(F) Sqn from RAF
Cottesmore, Leicestershire.
For the latest news on the Red Arrows visit http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds
- ENDS -
NOTES TO EDITORS:
2009 will be the Red Arrows' 45th display season. Since
the Team's creation in 1965, the Red Arrows have flown over
4,000 displays in 53 countries. Today the Red Arrows are renowned
throughout the world, acting as ambassadors for Great Britain when
displaying overseas. They also support UK industry by
demonstrating the capabilities of British equipment and expertise.
The Royal Air Force has some 3,000 servicemen and women deployed
overseas on operations at any one time. Many of the Red
Arrows' pilots and support staff have recently returned from
Afghanistan and Iraq and many will be temporarily sent on
operations overseas during their time with the Red Arrows. As
soon as they leave the Team, all will return to duties which
directly support the Royal Air Force's operational
commitments around the world.