Red 10 (Road Manager)

Squadron Leader Graeme Bagnall

Graeme flew the Tornado GR4 before joining the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. He is a qualified Hawk pilot who flies the spare aircraft to displays for use in case one of the display aircraft becomes unserviceable. He never flies in public displays but he takes part in flypasts flown on transit sorties. Most of the air-to-air photography and video of the Team is shot from Red 10’s aircraft and so he must be skilled at positioning his aircraft for the perfect shot. Red 10 has two important jobs on the ground at every display: he is the Team’s flight safety officer, maintaining 2-way radio contact with the Team Leader throughout the display, and he is the Team Commentator.

Age - 37

Education -Went to St Bees School in Cumbria and joined the Combined Cadet Force. He received a Royal Air Force Sixth Form Scholarship and after his A-Levels was awarded a Royal Air Force University Cadetship. He studied Computer Science at Southampton University where he was a member of the University Air Squadron.

Career - He joined the Royal Air Force in 1994 and after training he began operational flying on the Tornado GR1/4 ground attack aircraft. He completed a tour on II(AC) Squadron at Royal Air Force Marham before being posted to Royal Air Force Valley as an instructor on the Hawk at the Tactical Weapons Unit. On leaving Valley, he returned to Marham and completed a short tour on 31 Squadron before joining II(AC) Squadron again – this time as a flight commander. He has completed several operational tours in the Middle East and has been on many military exercises worldwide. He is now in his second year with the Red Arrows.

Background - Graeme is married to Tracy and they have a son, Matthew (3). His hobbies include picture framing, playing the piano to a mediocre standard, skiing both on snow and water, playing squash and supporting the London Wasps rugby team.