Fairford: Red Arrows Reveal New Tailfin

20 February 2014, 11:50 | Updated: 20 February 2014, 12:08

The Red Arrows have told Heart they will be sporting a new tailfin design for this summer's Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.

The Union flag look - with jets and trails replacing the iconic stripes - is to tie in with the display team's 50th anniversary.

The Red Arrows say the striking design reflects the best of British and highlights their role as ambassadors for the UK and the public face of the Royal Air Force.

The change is also the biggest in the history of the famous aircraft.

Team Leader and Red 1 Squadron Leader Jim Turner said: 

"The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, are extremely proud of our heritage and we hope this tailfin design brings with it a sense of pride for both past members of the Team and for members of the public to share in.

“I wanted a design created that reflected the very British soul of the Red Arrows while keeping it simple and achievable in terms of both time and cost.

"The Red Arrows capture both the spirit of British excellence and the quality of its engineering and I hope we are able to continue inspiring young people to join the Royal Air Force in the future."