World Tour Plans - 1995 - Tony Cunnane's Life and Times

The pages in this section about the Red Arrows' Africa Tour are a compilation and re-editing of extracts from my book "Red Arrows - The Inside Story" published by Woodfield, ISBN 1-903953-13-8

In December 1994, when everyone was beginning to come to terms with the impending closure of Scampton, the first hints of an extended overseas tour in the autumn of 1995, perhaps to South Africa, started to filter through to Rumour Control at the Red Arrows’ HQ at RAF Scampton. Even though South Africa was now legitimate in the eyes of the world and defence companies in many parts of the world were eyeing up sales prospects, it did not seem even remotely possible that the Red Arrows could be going there. However, these rumours made a nice change from worries about the Team’s future home and, rumours or not, it did not stop everyone getting out their atlases to work out how the Team might get there and how many intermediate stops might be required. The Hawks, without any air-to-air refuelling capability, would need to land and refuel roughly every 800 miles. The general consensus was that a journey down the western side of Africa would not be possible for political as well as operational considerations, but a transit down through the Middle East and East Africa certainly looked possible and several countries looked particularly inviting.

I had been to South Africa as the guest of British Airways in 1992 when I had flown to Johannesburg and Cape Town and back on the flight deck of a Boeing 747-400. I had immediately been captivated by Cape Town and the prospect of a return trip with the Red Arrows was appealing. None of the Red Arrows had been to South Africa and I probably started boring the Team with my stories of how much they would enjoy it if only we could get there.

As the months went by, it began to look more and more likely that the tour was on. The whole concept was the brain child of the Head of the Defence Export Services Organisation, Charles Masefield. DESO is a department of the MoD that acts as an intermediary, bringing together representatives of British defence-related companies and potential customers overseas. Mr Masefield, later Sir Charles Masefield, reckoned that British companies attending major aviation exhibitions overseas would benefit greatly by having the Red Arrows as a star attraction. Fortunately British Aerospace (as it was still known in 1995), the makers of the Hawk, and Rolls Royce, the supplier of the Hawk Adour engine, were especially keen on the idea. Displays would be given in those countries where there were suitable international aviation exhibitions and the timing of those meant that the Red Arrows tour would have to be split into two quite separate entities, one to Africa and one to the Far East.

Formal approval to go ahead with the first part of the so-called World Tour, through the Middle East to South Africa, was not received at Scampton until just six weeks before the date set for departure. At the time of year when Team members usually start looking forward to the end of season parties and a spot of well-earned leave, everyone had instead to start thinking about inoculations, passports and visas and what to do with the wife and children. Two pilots, Red 6, Sean Chiddention and Red 9, Benny Ball, who were due to leave the Team in early October 1995 at the end of their 3 year stint, had to stay on an extra 5 months but they did not find that any great hardship! Their replacements, Andy Offer, the 1995 solo Harrier display pilot, and David Stobie, ex Hawk solo display pilot, had reported for duty as scheduled in September and they accompanied the Team throughout the tour - flying either in the rear cockpit of one of the 11 Hawks or, less comfortably, in the back end of the support Hercules.

Already much of the detailed planning had, necessarily, been completed. The staff of British Airways’ Operations Division at Heathrow had given considerable help to the Team during the planning of the long legs over the vast tracts of Africa. The Company even provided two complimentary tickets to take the Team Manager and Engineering Officer to South Africa for on-site surveys. British Embassies and High Commissions along the route played their part by booking hotels and arranging the complicated diplomatic clearances.

By August 1995, when the rumours had come to fruition, no-one still thought it really believed that before the following Spring the Team would have travelled to, and displayed in, Africa, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Singapore and Australia – and moved base to Cranwell.

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