RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire is one of the RAF’s busiest Stations as the hub of UK Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) and the main operating base for airborne intelligence aircraft and systems. It is also home to the Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team (RAFAT) or more commonly known to us as “The Red Arrows”. Celebrating their 60th season, the Red Arrows are now back to their famous Diamond 9.
We also welcome two new Red Arrows pilots, who have already begun training for the 2025 display season. Flight Lieutenants Rob Thomas and Andrew McEwen have joined the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team with years of experience operating on the frontline, including with the Typhoon and F-35B aircraft.
Throughout the rest of the year and until Spring 2025, you see will the Red Arrows practicing their sequences in many various formations, from singletons, synchro pairs, Enid or Hanna and even their full Diamond Nine, training and practicing to be who they are…the ECLAT.
Flying distinctive Hawk fast-jets, the team is made up of pilots, engineers and essential support staff with frontline, operational experience. Together, they demonstrate the excellence and capabilities of the Royal Air Force and the Service’s skilled, talented people.
Air ISTAR is the RAF’s eyes and ears in the sky and provides British and NATO military commanders with critical information about activity on the ground, in the air, and at sea. The Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington provides timely and contextual integrated mission support to front line commanders.
RAF Waddington has been almost continuously active since opening as a Royal Flying Corps training base in 1916 teaching hundreds of pilots to fly a wide variety of aircraft. With the run-down of squadrons after the War, the Station was put on a care and maintenance basis in 1920. Waddington was the first base of the RAF to operate the Avro Lancaster with 44 Squadron. Post-war Waddington hosted a variety of Lancaster, and Avro Lincoln squadrons, and a squadron of lend lease Washingtons, before preparations began for the arrival of the Vulcan bomber. In June 1955 two Canberra squadrons arrived and the first Vulcans arrived in May 1957.
By August 1961, three squadrons of Vulcans formed the Waddington Wing which remained here until March 1984 with the type’s planned retirement being postponed because of the Falklands conflict. RAF Waddington provided the three Vulcans for the Black Buck raids that bombed Argentine positions at Port Stanley airport. With many RAF tankers supporting the airbridge to the Falklands, six Vulcans were hastily modified for air-to-air refuelling duties to support training back in the UK.
Today, Waddington is one of the RAF’s busiest operational airfields and its squadrons and personnel are involved in supporting operations all around the world. Despite the demanding operational tempo, the Station continues to maintain a high profile and has delivered record-breaking Air Shows until 2014.
MORE INFO
Waddington
https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-waddington/
Red Arrows
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/red-arrows/the-team/
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An excellent second visit of the week to Waddington and the Red Arrows didn't disappoint. Thanks for braving the cold wind to bring us this superb stream Nikos and Ted.
Had to pop out near the end of the Stream at 1430 so missed the end LIVE Hope you all have a great weekend TCS Party🎉🎉🎉
Thanks for the streams from Waddingham this week. I'm in Boston and the first stream I couldn't pick up very much of the Red Arrows A2A, just the odd bit through the noise, but today's syncro pair was a bit better. Using a UBC-125XLT with a Skyscan indoor discone antenna.
I would imagine that the British get the same sense of pride watching the Red Arrows as we Americans do when watching the Blue Angels (Navy) and Thunderbirds (Air Force). I'd love the opportunity to see the Reds in person sometime, but they don't do very many shows in the US…It appears to me that The Reds performance is more designed to throw a spotlight on the pilots, and their formation flying skills, whereas the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds shows are geared more towards demonstrating the capabilities of the front-line combat aircraft while also demonstrating the skills that are taught to and practiced daily by every Naval and Air Force aviator, only faster and closer together than they ever would in a real world scenario. The main 2 formations they use are the 4-ship Diamond and 6-ship Delta with 4-ship echelon and trail formations, as well as 5-card and 5-ship line abreast thrown in for a single maneuver each. They only perform as a full 6-ship team in Delta for a short part of the last bit of their performance, as with both teams they have solos that do opposing maneuvers in between passes of the diamond.
You're actually doing a service to the Nation and viewers elsewhere, as 'our national broadcaster' rarely or never shows this kind of thing anymore.
I was driving past in my lorry today as this was happening…. i think that was me in the beginning of your video? P.C Howard lorry? It's hard to concentrate on driving when you see this above you… 😮😮 If you stand on top of your van then i saw you…
1st class footage 1st class stream 1st class channel all standard on TCS great work again Nikos