A Red Arrows engineer praised for his “encyclopaedic knowledge” of the Hawk jet is marking 45 years’ service in the Royal Air Force.
Corporal Gary Cavanagh has spent the last quarter of a century with the aerobatic team and is its longest-serving member.
Originally from Durham, the 62-year-old said there is still the same sense of fulfilment from his job today as when he first started.
Gary, who now serves as a full-time reservist, has responsibility for the control, progression and archiving of all documentation relating to the Red Arrows’ Hawk aircraft, with the role involving the preparation of scheduled maintenance packages and ensuring standards and the airworthiness of the jets is maintained.
He said: “It’s a very rewarding experience – there’s genuine satisfaction that you’re providing a good service to other engineers on the team and the motivation comes from an aim to make life as easy as possible for those on the hangar floor.
“A lot may have changed over the years, there’s far greater regulation and everyone, in every role, will identify with how many more online courses there are to complete these days.
“But what hasn’t changed is the can-do attitude, to get the job done safely, and I’ve been fortunate to work with extremely talented people.”
Gary’s RAF career began as an airframe mechanic, completing initial technical training at RAF Halton before being posted to RAF Linton-on-Ouse, to work on the Jet Provost MK3A and MK5A.
Gary then returned to Halton and qualified as an airframe technician in 1984.
Following a short return to Linton-on-Ouse, Gary was posted to RAF Honington in 1985 and the Tornado GR1 – an aircraft he spent much of his career working on in a second line role.
During this time, he carried out acceptance checks of Tornados entering service and was part of the team who carried out extensive modifications on the jet as part of the preparations for operation Desert Storm during the first Gulf War.
Gary said: “The RAF has been a big part of my life. I decided on it shortly after my 16th birthday and joined aged 17 in January 1980.
I’d seen an advert for the RAF, it looked exciting, and I wanted to be a part of that. It sparked an interest. I didn’t see the point of staying at school at the time, I wanted to get out, learn new skills and earn money.
“I had to wait nine months for my engineering course to enter service with the RAF and, for this interim period, I entered a government Job Creation Scheme with the maintenance team at Durham Cathedral.
“Cleaning pigeon fouling to reduce weight on the main belfry tower reinforced my desire to join the RAF and made me think ‘I really need to do something different!’”.
Following many years on the Tornado, including at Lossiemouth, Gary was selected in 1997 as the manager of the Armed Forces’ Careers Office in Lincoln – a role he remembers fondly.
He said: “I really enjoyed working at the Careers Office – other than the Red Arrows, it’s the best job I’ve had.
“Every person walking through the door was different. We had everyone from a former Russian submariner who’d settled in Lincolnshire and wished to sign-up, to an ex-French Foreign Legionnaire.”
February 2025 marks 25 years since Gary moved to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team as one of the Red Arrows’ ground crew, affectionately known as the Blues due to the colour of their display season coveralls.
Turning down promotion to Chief Technician in 2005 to remain with the team, he transferred to full time reserve service in 2007.
During that period, he’s seen three different homes for the Red Arrows – RAF Cranwell, RAF Scampton and now RAF Waddington – and major milestones, including celebrations for the team’s 40th and 50th seasons and 2024’s highly-successful diamond anniversary campaign.
“It’s been the pinnacle of my career, as I know – quite rightly – that it is for so many others,” said Gary, who received an AOC’s Commendation for his work in 2016 and was voted, by his peers, as ‘Blue of the Year” four years ago in recognition of exceptional output.
He said: “You get huge reward, and it’s humbling, when you see people’s reaction to the Red Arrows during a display or big flypast.
“I was with my wife on the Mall in London for The Queen’s Golden Jubilee. There was huge applause when the Red Arrows went over Buckingham Palace, and this brought home how strongly the public admire the team.
“People have massive affection for the RAF and the team and, while we should never take that for granted or overlook it, it always fills you with pride – people feel an enduring connection and association with the Red Arrows.”
However, Gary says 2026 will be his final year in the RAF.
He said: “The RAF gave me a life. It gave me a chance and it’s been outstanding. But my contract comes to an end next year and it feels the right time to handover.
“Although, not liking being idle – I’ll have to find something else to occupy the time!”
Squadron Leader Andy King – the 14th Red Arrows Senior Engineering Officer during Gary’s career – said: “Corporal continued enthusiasm represents the passion and positive working environment we have collectively built at the Red Arrows.
It is an absolute privilege to have Gary's experience and dedication within our team.
“We are lucky to be able to call upon his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Hawk T1 every single day – as we pursue the safe and sustainable engineering delivery of a world-leading nine-ship aerobatic display.”
