Press Information 2019
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PRESS INFORMATION 2019 The Blades Aerobatic Team is the only aerobatic airline in the world, flying dynamic displays across the UK and Europe, and passengers in close formation, with the same safety standards as the European airlines. 1 [email protected] +44 (0)1604 671309 About the blades Now entering their 14th display season, with over 25,000 hours of flying between them, the pilots of the world-famous Blades Aerobatic Team are amongst the most experienced display pilots in the world. The team performs its globally recognised display to approximately four million spectators every year. With former RAF Red Arrows pilots at the controls, the team demonstrates the ‘Best of British’ ethos and style in everything they do. Flying precision, close-formation aerobatics, in 2019 the Blades celebrate an aviation milestone; 1,000 displays flown by the team throughout the UK and the world. As the only aerobatic display team fully sanctioned by the Civil Aviation Authority to fly fare-paying passengers in close formation, the Blades Aerobatic Team is able to offer ‘Unforgettable Experiences’ from its base in Northamptonshire. • Only Aerobatic Airline in the world • The Blades’ full time pilots are all former Red Arrows • 8 times British Unlimited Aerobatic Champion, Gerald Cooper is welcomed as a star guest pilot • The Blades won the inaugural World Formation Aerobatic Challenge in China 2017 • Currently, the team holds the World Record for the highest number of consecutive loops 2 [email protected] +44 (0)1604 671309 First overseas deployment in Bahrain First sponsor Myles Garland April 06 joins (Barclays) takes over as 2007 Blade 1 2008 First corporate 2009 event 2006 2006 Longest serving Blades First public display at Blades formed “Beckingham Palace” pilot, Andy Evans becomes Blade 1 by Andy Offer & 2012 Chris Norton 2018 Mark Cutmore takes over as Blade 1 2011 5th Extra 300 purchased 2019 Longest serving Red Arrow, Mike Ling joins the 2018 Blades Ben Murphy & the Blades Racing Team have most successful rookie season in the 2018 2016 RBAR Master Class The Blades Racing Events Team established Team is launched and supports the launch of 2019 for the Red Bull Air the Blades-inspired Aston Race Master Class Martin Vantage model 2016 Blades Aerobatic Team’s First female pilot, 1,000th display and Kirsty Murphy joins launch of the Blades Flight Club 2017 The Blades win the Formation Aerobatic 2017 Challenge in China Ben Murphy takes over as Head of the Blades Dynamic display Performing in front of live audiences of approximately four million people a year, the Blades display is designed to showcase the performance and capabilities of the Extra 300 as an aerobatic stunt plane. Undertaking aerobatic manoeuvres less than four metres apart in perfect formation, executing high-speed synchronised passes and extreme gyroscopic aerobatics, the team has won not only crowd loyalty, but also international accolades with their cutting-edge displays. • Demonstrates over 30 separate awe-inspiring manoeuvres • During the 15 minute display each aircraft covers 25 ‘air miles’ • The aircraft reach speeds of more than 200 miles per hour, with crossing speeds of around 350 miles per hour • The Blades Aerobatic Display Team is one of very few display teams which is permitted to arrive at a public display over the heads of the crowds • The Blades are a leading display team renowned worldwide for flying precision and close-formation aerobatics to the highest level. Since the team began in 2006, The Blades have flown hundreds of displays throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle-East. 4 [email protected] +44 (0)1604 671309 Blade 1, Andy evans Former Red Arrows Pilot 2019 marks Andy’s second season as Blade 1 and Team Leader. & Team Manager (Red10) He was one of the original co-founding members of the team in 2006, and has spent the majority of his seasons splitting his flying between the Blade 2 and 4 positions. A Co-founding member of The Blades With an impressive 8,500 flying hours, Andy is one of the most experienced display pilots in the world with almost 3,000 hours spent flying the Extra 300. He also uses Qualified Flying Instructor his experience as a Qualified Flying Instructor to teach aerobatics. As the Team Leader, he commands the team during the displays, and manages the itinerary. Front line Jaguar Pilot in the Royal Air Force Andy joined the RAF in 1985 as a member of Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron, and was a total of Over 8,500 flying awarded his wings in 1989. A former Jaguar hours pilot, Andy flew on operations over the Balkans and spent three years as the Air Show Advisor to the Royal Saudi Air Force One of the most experienced National Aerobatic Team. Andy is also a Extra 300 pilots in the world former Red Arrow pilot, flying with the (3,000 flying hours) Team between 1997 and 2000 in positions Red 2, 4 and then 8. After his third year, he subsequently Flown over 1000 public & became the first Red Arrow’s pilot private displays to stay at Scampton and work with the Team as the Manager, flying as Red 10. 5 [email protected] +44 (0)1604 671309 BLADE 2 Kirsty Murphy Kirsty joined the Blades in spring 2016, and flew in the Blade 3 position. Previously she was in the RAF for 17 years, where she flew the Tornado GR4 operationally in Iraq and she was also a Qualified Flying Instructor on the Hawk T1. Kirsty was also the first, and is still, the only female RAF pilot to be selected for the Red Arrows, displaying with them between 2010 and 2012. In her final year with the team she was selected to be the Executive Officer. In total she flew 136 public displays and 133 flypasts in 11 countries. Kirsty also supports a number of high-end events as a Blades Events Consultant. She organises mulitple prestigious events such as the Red Arrows Vanquish handover event at RAF Scampton and most recently the handover of 24 Aston Martin DBS59 limited edition cars at Le Mans. Kirsty is married to Ben Murphy and mum to their young son, Orson. • 4th season with the team • An instructor on the Extra 300 • First, and only to date, female Red ArroW’s pilot • events consultant for the blades 6 [email protected] +44 (0)1604 671309 BLADE 2 & Race team pilot ben Murphy Ben joined the team in 2015 as Blade 2, and became the Team Leader in 2017, before handing over leadership to Andy Evans for the 2018 display season. Before joining the Blades, Ben flew fast jets, including the Harrier. In 2006, Ben was selected to join the Red Arrows and flew as Red 2, and then as synchro pair leader. He led the team during 2010 and 2011. 2018 saw him join 13 other elite race pilots in the Master Class of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship; in his first season, the Blades Racing Team finished 7th, which was the best ever result for a Challenger Class pilot moving up into the Master Class. Ben will continue to fly with the aerobatic team between the eight Red Bull air races being held around the world. • 4th season with the team • Second season in the Master Class Series in the Red Bull Air Race Championship • Previous Leader of the Red Arrows and The Blades 7 [email protected] +44 (0)1604 671309 BLADE 3 mike ling (lingy) Mike joins the Blades from the Royal Air Force and as the longest-serving pilot in the Red Arrows. He completed 10 years on the team including four display seasons flying as part of the Diamond 9 formation and six years commentating and supervising. At the end of his final season in 2018, Mike hung up his red suit having flown 2585 sorties in Red Arrows aircraft, played a part in 700 public displays and taken the Hawk jet to 46 different countries; as far west as New York and as far east as China. Having joined the Royal Air Force after finishing his A-levels, Mike’s first tour was teaching Basic Fast Jet Training on the Tucano, where he achieved Qualified Flying Instructor status at the age of 22. After his instructional duties Mike trained for 8 months in Canada and was then posted to RAF Leuchars in Scotland to fly the Tornado F3 as an air defence pilot, including operations as part of the Quick Reaction Alert force responsible for securing the skies of the UK and the Falkland Islands. 2019 is Mike’s first season with The Blades after 21 years in the RAF and a record 10 years in the Red Arrows. We are running a fly with Lingy competition! Spectators are asked to send in their best photos of our display throughout the summer to our social media channels or to [email protected] for a chance to win a flight with Mike Ling. • longest ever serving red arrow’s pilot • 2585 sorties in the red arrows aircraft • qualified flying instructor on the extra 300 8 [email protected] +44 (0)1604 671309 BLADE 4 james mcmillan 2019 is James’ second season with The Blades Aerobatic Team, joining directly from RAF Coningsby, where he flew the Typhoon on the Operational Conversion Unit. Despite being born in the UK, James’ family moved to New Zealand when he was ten, where his passion for fast-jets resulted in him being selected for the RNZAF whilst in his final year at school. He was selected for fast-jet training flying the Aermacchi MB339, becoming the youngest qualified fast-jet pilot in the RNZAF at the age of 20.