For many, one of the biggest thrills at the opening ceremony of the Tour de France in Yorkshire was watching the superb aerial display put on by The Red Arrows.
They’ll be out in force again this month attending the opening of the Commonwealth Games and Scotland’s National Airshow.
In the thick of the action at both events will be Flight Lieutenant Joe Hourston from Cromarty on the Black Isle, better known as Red 3.
Only the elite of the elite pilots get to join the Royal Air Force Aerobatic team, aka The Red Arrows, which celebrates its 50th display season this year.
Joe, who was born in Inverness, raised in Cromarty and is married to Sarah from Fort William, will stay with the Red Arrows for three years.
He’d previously been a Tornado GR4 pilot with 617 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth and served in Afghanistan.
“I’m loving every minute of the new job, but gutted there’s no flights scheduled over the Black Isle this year,” said Joe, 35.
While it’s a dream job for many, becoming a pilot wasn’t on his agenda while he was a pupil at Fortrose Academy.
“I was reminded recently that I used to want to be an architect, but instead I went to Glasgow University to study aerospace engineering which led to aviation, the air force and becoming a pilot.
“My first tour was as an instructor at RAF Valley in Wales, then I was based at Lossiemouth for four years where I flew with 617 Squadron, The Dambusters.
“While there I was deployed to Afghanistan which, although it’s what you train all your career to do, was a real-eye opener.
“Our job was to support what the guys on the ground were doing. It was great to put into practice the skills we’d learned in training.”
When the chance to become a Red Arrows pilot arose, Joe, dad to two-year-old Hamish, jumped at it.
“Since day one of deciding to be a pilot I’ve wanted to be a member of the team because of what it represents and the variety and challenge of the flying itself.
”There’s minimum criteria required for the role, such as you have to be assessed as above average and have achieved a minimum of 1,500 hours in a fast jet – which takes at least six years to complete,” said Joe.
The tough selection process involves flight tests, interviews and other exercises.
“There’s also a lot of peer assessments because, as the team works so closely, and we rely on each heavily, there can’t be any friction, everyone has to get along.”
Joe joined the team nine months ago and is based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, where he flies BAE Systems Hawk jets.
“Every week there seems to be landmark occasion, but the biggest thrill so far for me has been getting to wear the red suit as, when you first join the team, you wear a standard green suit.
“Other highlights have been flying over Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s birthday and putting on a display for the Tour de France.
“Not that we get a chance to see what’s happening on the ground.
“I’m looking at the boss, Red 1, the whole time and if I took my eyes off him for a second I’d start wobbling all over the place, which would affect those flying next to me.”
Joe, whose parents live in Cromarty, is quick to point out that while the pilots get all the attention, there’s a huge team of people in the team working behind the scenes, from management to engineers who make it all possible.
“It’s wonderful to be part of this team and, in turn, help inspire people to consider a career in the RAF .
“I’m sure three years with the Red Arrows will seem far too short by the end.”
Contact: www.raf.mod.uk/reds for more information on the Red Arrows. www.nms.ac.uk/airshow
Scotland’s National Airshow takes place at the National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, east Lothian on Saturday, July 26. www.nms.ac.uk/airshow