RAF Display Teams

The Airfix Folland Gnat was not only the RAF’s fighter training aircraft but also the first Red Arrow. In 1963, 2 years before the Red Arrows were formed, however, the Yellowjacks flew the Gnat as one of the RAF’s semi official display teams.  

For this build, I used the Airfix decals with the exception of the larger over wing roundels which came from a spare set of Lightening under wing roundels. I assessed the required size based on the same kit with the Red Arrow markings  

With hindsight, I may have overdone the panel lines  

An ‘outside’ view  

The Airfix Jet Provost in the colours of the Red Pelicans, the 1964 predecessors to the Red Arrows 

 

 

The Red Pelican with the Yellowjack in the hanger 

Lovely detail in this Airfix Jet Provost 

 

 

 

My second Gnat sees the arrival of the Red Arrows 

Decided adding both pilots in this build 

Oddly while the other Gnat kit had many decals to choose from, this kit was short of some quite basic ones. 

Check out the larger warning triangle behind the co-pilot. I added this from the other Airfix Gnat. No idea why it would be so much larger 

 

Another shot outside that hanger  

The trio of display aircraft 

Red Arrow, Yellowjack, and Red Pelican 

This one needs no introduction! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not wanting to spend a fortune on such a dull build, I selected the 1983 Airfix Hawker Hunter as my base for the Black Arrows team aircraft. While there may be better kits out there, I’d not seen any reviews to sway me to spend a bit more for any other.  

Probably the simplest spray job I’ve ever had to do.  

My take on the Black Arrows. The Airfix decals were atrocious so binned the lot and used some others from my stash.  

 

 

 

Back at the airfield  

The 2 Red Pelicans. Both @officialairfix but kits from two very different times!

The red painted 1966 Jet Provost T4 is from Airfix’s most recent 2019 kit the red & white 1970 T5 is from the 1973 kit with yellowing decals as evidence!  

The 2 Red Pelicans. Both @officialairfix but kits from two very different times!

The red painted 1966 Jet Provost T4 is from Airfix’s most recent 2019 kit the red & white 1970 T5 is from the 1973 kit with yellowing decals as evidence!  

This build celebrates the 14 May 1983 when the Red Arrow Hawks performed over the US Navy Academy at Annapolis, Maryland where they met up with their Navy counterparts, the Blue Angels, flying A-4 Skyhawks.  

Pictured here are the Blue Angels leader #1 with Red 1 of the Red Arrows. Both built from Airfix kits, albeit the decals for the Blue Angels were an after market purchase of Cam Pro decals - not the best quality so will be a provider I’ll have to remember to avoid in future.  

The Vampire was used by many RAF squadrons before the Red Pelicans & Arrows took over the primary aerobatic role .. meanwhile, in Australia the RAAF adopted the Vampire as the aircraft of choice for official team, The Telstars