LIVE RAF WADDINGTON HOME OF THE RED ARROWS, ISTAR RIVET JOINT & SHADOW R1 10.12.24

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/

#redarrows #itsfriday #waddington #trending #funchannels #military #aerobatics #rafat #thereds #live #livestream #tedconingsby #militaryaviation #hot #super #cool #combat #training #raf #royalairforce #rafcareer #tedvideos

Official Ted Coningsby Merchandise
https://tedconingsby.co.uk/shop/
noTEDS
https://tedconingsby.co.uk/noteds/
Ted Social stuff
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ted_coningsby/
Facebook
https://m.facebook.com/tedconingsbyuk
X
https://twitter.com/tedconingsby
www.tedconingsby.co.uk

Ted Coningsby Membership:
Join our channel to get access to members only perks. In reality, we rely on your subscriptions to keep our channel growing, so this is a MASSIVE help and thank you to ALL of you who have subscribed. We go all over the country to get the footage we need for you to enjoy but this comes at a cost. Your membership will help fund us with the fuel and the equipment we need…
https://www.youtube.com/c/tedconingsby/join

source