A DAY WITH

A day with... WING COMMANDER DAVID MONTENEGRO

The Team Leader of the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s much-loved aerobatic flying squad, takes us skyward

BRITAIN: When did you discover your passion for flying? DM: When I was seven, I travelled with my parents to see family in Colombia. On a twin-engine propellor flight from Bogotá to Pasto, we were buffeted by turbulence and I remember watching the pilot grapple with the controls to land the aircraft safely. It was the first time I’d seen fear in my parents; however, I found it exhilarating and thought ‘this is the job for me’! I was further inspired by demonstrations at the Biggin Hill Airshow, near my family home – by the age of 11, I was hooked on aviation.

B: When did you join the Red Arrows, and how did you become Red 1 [the team leader who flies in the front position]? DM: When I joined the RAF in 1999, I was selected for the fast-jet training stream. It all began at age 18, upon securing an RAF flying scholarship at Manchester University, completing elementary training at the Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron – largely thanks to my instructor, Squadron Leader Rod Newman. On graduating, I joined the RAF, went to officer training at RAF College Cranwell, was selected as a pilot and did fast-jet training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, followed by advanced jet-training on Hawks at RAF Valley. Then I had frontline, operational tours as a fighter pilot. I was selected for the Red Arrows in 2009, becoming Synchro Leader after three years. After tours, including as a special projects officer within the US Marine Corps, I was made Red 1 in 2015. I became Officer Commanding of the Red Arrows in 2020.

B: What do the Red Arrows stand for? DM: At home and overseas, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team brings people together with a demonstration of precision and professionalism. Watching fast-jets looping and flying in close formation is a thrilling proposition, regardless of age, background

or location. Over recent months, this has been highlighted more than ever before, as millions returned to events disrupted by the pandemic. As a team, we were heartened to see groups, especially families, back at these occasions, which are so valuable to countless communities. Whether live or virtual, our aim remains constant: to inspire.

B: On a training day, what’s your routine? DM: On a standard training day, each pilot will fly up to three sorties, beginning with a weather-focused briefing at 0800, followed by a sortie debrief, and so on, Monday to Friday. It’s intensive, and very different to life on the frontline, where you might spend four hours planning a mission, six hours in the aircraft, three hours in the debrief and then perhaps not fly for another six days.

B: What are your responsibilities as Red 1? DM: Red 1 is a role that comes with immense responsibility and pressure. You’re in charge of all aspects of the display, from running the training programme to choreographing the show. A good example of what the role demands was when I led the team on an Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern tour, during which we displayed in China for the first time in the Red Arrows’ history. Taking 12 single-engine jet aircraft across 22,000 miles and 17 countries to get there and back in nine weeks was not without its challenges – not least getting through thunderstorms over India and Pakistan – but the tour proved a major success, reaching more than one billion people and helping to support a range of UK interests and objectives.

B: What’s most rewarding about your role? DM: Despite the challenges of being Red 1, the joy of flying a full display in sky-blue conditions represented the best days in the job, when all the pressures simply evaporated. There’s something incredibly special when you and the team are perfectly

Above, left to right: The Red Arrows put on a spectacular show as part of this summer’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations for the Queen; Young Prince Louis drew attention at the Jubilee’s Trooping the Colour ceremony when he clutched his ears while watching the stunning (but noisy) Red Arrows flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony, alongside the Queen, his mother, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and sister, Princess Charlotte

in sync. Many times, cresting the top of a loop surrounded by red jets, I’d allow myself to take in that second and think, ‘There’s no single place I’d rather be right now than leading this team.’

B: Can you describe the responsibilities and challenges of your present role? DM: The best thing is leading 130 talented people to safely achieve our mission objectives. I love the diverse nature of my work – moving between intricate aviation risk management and planning global tours, to engaging with a huge cross-section of society. And, to do all this while still flying the Hawk? It’s a really good job!

B: How do you feel before an important flight, such as the Platinum Jubilee flypast? DM: While, as a display pilot, you’re aware of the occasion – especially when it’s a huge, international event – it’s important to focus on the mission in hand and follow carefully rehearsed procedures. After a big flight, when you see media coverage and feedback, that’s the time to appreciate the moment.

B: Have you met any of the Royal Family? DM: In July 2016, I was fortunate to meet Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George at an airshow in Gloucester. I had met Prince William at a charity event the previous year, but this was the first time I’d experienced the cameras that accompany senior members of The Royal Family at public occasions. The previous year, at the Queen’s birthday flypast, the media captured images of Prince George waving as the aircraft flew overhead and got great pictures of him being lifted into the cockpit of my aircraft after expressing an interest in the Red Arrows jet.

B: How does it feel to lead a world-recognised team like the Red Arrows? DM: As a pilot you feel hugely privileged when, during one of our looping manoeuvres, you catch a glimpse of the thousands of spectators below. We hope that by watching our displays and being able to meet the team, people of all backgrounds are inspired to think, feel and – importantly – do things differently, creatively or innovatively. We’re incredibly proud of our heritage, and are always looking to advance our preparation and performance in the constant pursuit of excellence. David Montenegro’s new book, The Red Arrows, is published by Century (£20).