The Red Arrows appeared to have another near miss shortly before a bird strike forced an emergency landing during an air show on Sunday (August 28). New pictures show a bird flying perilously close to Squadron Leader Tom Bould's (Red 1) aircraft as the team took off.
The Red Arrows had used Hawarden Airport in Wales as a base for their Rhyl Air Show displays at the weekend. Photographer Steve Ebbrell explains: "Red 1, the Red Arrows leader, very nearly had a bird strike on take off. The bird is large, and looks like a crow, it flew right across their flight path."
Dramatic later pictures show a Red Arrows jet with a shattered windscreen - after it was hit by a bird during the Rhyl show. The plane, Red 6 piloted by Squadron Leader Gregor Ogston, was forced to cut short the display a few minutes early - after the cockpit canopy was smashed.
The ace flier peeled away from the display team and headed back to Hawarden under an ''emergency 7700 squawk transponder code'' - meaning an emergency. Those on the ground waiting for the Red Arrows to return saw the jet land safely at Hawarden but with a shattered canopy just above the pilot’s head.
Bird strike pilot Gregor Ogston commented: "Thank you to everyone for the kind messages and good wishes. As ever, our well rehearsed emergency procedures, togetherness and training resulted in a safe outcome - true teamwork. Looking forward to displaying for you all again very soon."
Images shared with North Wales Live show debris from both the canopy and feathers from the bird, who sadly did not survive, as the collision happened. The pilot was later praised by David Montenegro, the officer commanding the Royal Air Force Aerobatic team, who said his immediate actions were "delivered calmly and correctly" ensuring the safety of the rest of the team.
The red Hawk T1 jet managed to safely fly to back to Hawarden airfield located at Airbus Broughton, where they were based over the weekend for their two day display at Rhyl Airshow. The pilot was thankfully unharmed.
A spokesman for the RAF Red Arrows team said: “Thank you to everyone at this weekend’s Rhyl Airshow. We had to finish the Red Arrows display a few minutes early after one of our jets suffered a bird strike, damaging the cockpit canopy.
“This type of incident is not uncommon in aviation and is extremely well-trained for. In this instance, Red 6 and the whole team responded perfectly together, with no further risk to the pilot and aircraft.
“Happy to report the jet landed safely and the pilot is unhurt. Thank you for all of the well-wishes and many messages of support, asking about the pilot.”
All pilots were given a hero's welcome back at Hawarden and treated to a round of applause by bystanders as they disembarked following their slightly early return. The £5m pound jet was expected to remain at Hawarden to undergo an 'intensive inspection' and repair works, before rejoining the team at their RAF Scampton base in Lincolnshire.
