Air Power 2017

21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS AIR POWER 2017 57

21 ST CENTURY PARTNERSHIPS

Eastern Hawk saw the Red Arrows stage their biggest overseas tour in

a decade. Anne Paylor shares some of the highlights

EASTERN HAWK

T

he biggest Red Arrows overseas tour

in a decade was a pivotal part of

Exercise Eastern Venture, a tour aimed

at reinforcing the United Kingdom’s

credentials as an engaged global power, as well

as supporting UK interests across business,

trade and education and promoting the best of

British innovation, technology and creativity.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team (Red Arrows)

tour – Exercise Eastern Hawk – began in late

September 2016. It saw the team performing a total

of 18 displays and three fly-pasts in 63 days across

17 countries, including nine full displays over six

days at China’s 11th Zhuhai Air Show. It was the first

time in the squadron’s 52-season history that it had

visited China, and also the first time an RAF fast-

jet had touched down in the People’s Republic.

Twelve Hawk T1 jets were flown from the Red

Arrows’ home base at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire

to China and back, requiring 42 refuelling stops

and a well-planned logistical operation for both

the aircraft and the 100-strong support team.

The iconic Petronas

Towers form the

backdrop of a Red

Arrows fly-past

in Malaysia

(PHOTO: CPL STEVE

BUCKLEY/© CROWN

COPYRIGHT)