I’ve long since been a fan of the Red Arrows, those crazy pilots that take to the skies for close formation flying and manoeuvres that quite frankly boggle the mind. The TV show that aired on Channel 5 this time last year was a great insight into the highs and lows of the group trying to get their display ready to perform. Injured pilots, new leaders and commentators, and a significant amount of delays due to bad weather, that’s most of the story that surrounds the Red Arrows.

The Red Arrows have had a terrible year. I had never heard of a Red Arrows pilot dying before, and now we have seen two fatalities in the space of four months. Although there may be slight consolation in the fact they “died doing what they loved”, there’s no escaping the fact that it’s a tragedy. It’s made worse by the fact that the Red Arrows is a display of incredible skill, determination and bravery, and manages to show off in one of the few ways Britain can.

A few months ago, I posted my hastily edited video of Red Arrows footage, and I thought I did a pretty good job following those speedy little planes around the sky. I love the Red Arrows. It’s bizarre because I do not like to fly, everything about the idea of being in the sky fills me with dread, I have nightmares about plane crashes that I’ve clearly made up, but I do love those planes.

I have spent my Sunday evening arguing with Final Cut, however, I got there in the end. Here’s some footage I put together from this year’s Bournemouth Air Show. Music: Manda and The Marbles, Upside Down Also at the air show, the Avro Vulcan Bomber. Mr C donated some money towards getting the Vulcan back in the air, so we’ll dedicate this short clip to him!

A colleague and I were discussing the Red Arrows - she was keen to see them, and I was saying it was a lot of effort. She was a bit flabbergasted. The thing is, you see, that we have already seen them twice this year, so far. We saw them at Goodwood, where they were fabulous, although a little lost behind the trees. We also saw them at the Air Tattoo, which I don’t think I have mentioned, but we took plenty of pictures and you can look forward to those soon.