A new Team Leader of the Red Arrows has said it is a “tremendous honour” to take up the position.
Squadron Leader James Turner is beginning work in the Red 1 role, including designing a fresh display that millions of airshow fans will watch next season.
The former frontline Typhoon pilot returns to the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team after a previous tour between 2020 and 2023.
He said: “Having spent four seasons with the team, I know what a privilege it is to wear the red suit and represent the Royal Air Force.
“Some of my strongest memories are of meeting people at displays and hearing what the Red Arrows meant to them. Keeping that connection with the public matters enormously.
“To return as Red 1 is a tremendous honour, and the responsibility that comes with it certainly isn’t lost on me. Above all, I am excited about working with the people who make the Red Arrows what they are.”
Originally from Hertfordshire, Sqn Ldr Turner graduated from Imperial College London before joining the RAF in 2006.
During advanced flying training, he was chosen to become a Qualified Flying Instructor, spending three years teaching pilots on the Hawk T1 at RAF Valley.
In 2013, Sqn Ldr Turner joined 1(F) Squadron, flying the Typhoon FGR4 operationally.
Following his four seasons with the Red Arrows as a display pilot, he spent a year in the Falkland Islands, serving in the British Forces headquarters, before going on to work in RAF procurement and focusing on the Eurofighter Typhoon, in close collaboration with industry and partner nations.
Sqn Ldr Turner succeeds Wing Commander Jon Bond as the 25th Leader of the Red Arrows since the team's formation in 1964.
The new Red 1 said: “I’d like to thank Wg Cdr Bond for everything he has given to the team during his time as Team Leader.
“It’s a demanding role that carries a great deal of responsibility, both in-the-air and on-the-ground.
“He is leaving the team in a very good position and I’m looking forward to building on his work.”
To be Team Leader, a candidate needs to have been a previous Red Arrows display pilot.
As Red 1, this person is responsible for choreographing and developing a new aerobatic show each year.
They also coordinate the training programme and season preparation, being the focal point for pre-sortie briefings and crucial post-display feedback sessions.
Leading the team in-the-air, Red 1 flies at the front of the formation and gives radio commands to the other pilots, who learn to fly the show based on this vocal cadence.
Sqn Ldr Turner said “the scale of the responsibility” can be daunting.
He said: “You’re leading a formation in which everyone relies on one another, while also looking after a team with a busy programme and a very public role.
Having been a team member, I understand the standards expected and how much work goes into meeting them.
Squadron Leader James Turner
Team Leader and Red 1
“I have a healthy respect for the challenge, but also enormous confidence in the experience and professionalism of the people around me.”
He added: “Leading the Synchro Pair in 2023 reinforced the importance of trust, clear communication and thorough preparation.
“Those will be just as important as Red 1. I also want to carry forward an environment where people can speak openly, learn from each flight and support one another.”
Over recent weeks, Sqn Ldr Turner has been completing a handover from his predecessor and getting reacquainted with the team.
Work to prepare for the 2027 season begins in earnest from November at the Red Arrows’ home of RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire.
A building-block approach is used, with different parts of the seven-aircraft formation carrying out training in smaller numbers over the next few months.
Gradually, the distinct sections and shapes grow in complexity and the new display comes together.
Final pre-season training takes place overseas – to take advantage of more guaranteed, settled weather – before a packed calendar of airshows and events typically begin in late-May.
Sqn Ldr Turner said he was excited to develop the new aerobatic show.
He said: “It’s too early to give away the detail but I want it to be a display that long-standing supporters and first-time spectators can enjoy equally.
“Precision, teamwork and the excitement of seeing the Red Arrows together in the sky will be at its heart.
“Developing the display is something I’m particularly looking forward to and we’ll share more as preparations progress. And, of course, safety is always at the forefront of everything that we do in the Red Arrows.”
He added: “I’m most looking forward to working with the team again and seeing what we can achieve. The display is the most visible part of our work but it depends on the skill and commitment of people across the whole organisation.
“My priorities are to operate safely, strengthen our shared purpose and give everyone the confidence to contribute. From that foundation, I want us to deliver a display we’re proud of, represent the RAF well and inspire people who might be seeing us for the first time.”
