Lincolnshire’s ultimate RAF display pilots to feature in new TV series

A new television series starting this weekend will be giving people an inside look at the thrills of Lincolnshire’s most in-demand RAF display teams.

Britain’s Ultimate Pilots: Inside the RAF will be shown for the first time on BBC Two at 9pm on Sunday, October 11.

The opening episode focuses on the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows – whose home base is RAF Scampton, north of Lincoln.

The programme goes behind-the-scenes as the squadron prepares for one of its busiest weekends of this year’s display season, complete with a challenging flypast over Buckingham Palace for Her Majesty The Queen.

A film crew get pictures of RAF Typhoon jets, which are based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, for a new BBC documentary series. Photo: MoD/Crown Copyright 2015

Over a further three episodes, the documentary looks at the RAF Coningsby-based Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Typhoon display team, as well as the Chinook display team, which operates out of RAF Odiham in Hampshire.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Filming took place over several months and the documentary crew spent a large amount of time at both RAF Scampton and RAF Coningsby.

Viewers will be able to see the day-to-day challenges of the Red Arrows than, which comprises more than 120 people.

Air Commodore Nigel Bradshaw, Assistant Chief of Staff, HQ Air Command Media and Communications, said: “Giving a film crew unprecedented access to some of our display teams gave us the opportunity to highlight their professionalism and the varied operational environments they are drawn from.

“Importantly, the documentary also allowed us to show operational roles, including the Chinook in Afghanistan, while the inclusion of a Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon scramble at RAF Coningsby demonstrated how we continue to secure British skies 75 years on from the Battle of Britain.”

The crews also filmed the world-class training facilities available to RAF personnel, including the advanced Typhoon simulator at RAF Coningsby and the Royal Navy’s Underwater Escape Training Unit at RNAS Yeovilton.

Flight Lieutenant Antony Parkinson of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, being filmed by a camera crew at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, for a new BBC documentary series. Photo: MoD/Crown Copyright 2015

The series was filmed and produced by Archie Productions on behalf of the BBC. The same company produced the 2014 BBC documentary Red Arrows: Inside the Bubble.

Archie Productions Executive Producer John Marley said: “The Red Arrows are an internationally-renowned institution and our exclusive access highlights the breadth and scope of work undertaken by all the RAF display teams.

“These films offer a unique insight into their day-to-day life over the summer months and we were thrilled to work with the RAF again.”