Crowds will hear the voice of a new Red Arrows commentator at airshows next year – who is one of three pilots joining the team for 2026.
Preparations are now underway for the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team’s next season.
Among those beginning training are pilots new or returning to the Red Arrows, succeeding individuals who left after the 2025 summer campaign.
They include Squadron Leader Stu Roberts, who will fly in the Red 10 role and attend each of next year’s events on the ground as safety supervisor and show commentator.
There are also two new display pilots who will be part of the nine-strong formation – Flight Lieutenant Matt Brighty is joining as Red 2 and Flight Lieutenant Chris Deen will be Red 3.
Sqn Ldr Roberts: “My reaction to finding out I had been selected for the Red 10 role was a mixture of excitement and trepidation, I’m really looking forward to getting out with the team but I’m acutely aware I’ve got big shoes to fill after my predecessor’s sterling four years as the familiar voice of the display.”
It is a return to the Red Arrows for Sqn Ldr Roberts, who was previously one of the display pilots during a three-year tour with the team, which culminated in being Synchro Leader.
More recently, he has worked at Display Wing Headquarters, qualifying as a flying instructor on the Hawk T1 jet used by the Red Arrows.
However, the new position will be very different and varied.
As Red 10, he will be responsible for supervising every practice and public display from the ground throughout the winter and summer months, maintaining radio contact with the Team Leader during shows.
The role also requires the pilot to provide feedback and mentoring, coordinate the season’s calendar, commentate at events, fly the spare aircraft and photochase – taking an RAF visual communicator in the Hawk jet’s rear seat to get stunning imagery.
Sqn Ldr Roberts, who joined the RAF in 2009 and flew the Typhoon on the frontline, said: “Display flying for three years with the team was some of the most demanding and rewarding flying I have ever done.
“Flying on both the left and right side of the formation as well in Synchro gives me a great insight into what the team are trying to achieve during winter training and the season.
“I’ve got a pretty good idea what the role entails from an operational perspective, supervising the display and providing the commentary.
“However, there’s a huge amount of work that goes in behind-the-scenes to organise the display schedule, ensure the display sites are suitable and liaise with event organisers.
“I also need to work out how to get a photographer into the right piece of sky to maintain the standard of iconic air-to-air photography or capturing high-profile flypasts where you only get one chance!”
He added: “From my time previously on the team I was blown away by the output and capability that is delivered throughout the season as well as the impact the display can have at home and overseas.
“I wanted to be part of that delivery again and also get an opportunity to experience the response to the display from on the ground.”
Flt Lt Brighty, who was born in Crawley, West Sussex, joined the RAF in 2007.
He said memories of seeing the Red Arrows perform at events when he was younger was a clear motivating factor for pursuing a career in military aviation.
The new Red 2 said: “I was often taken to airshows as a child and, of course, the Reds were always the highlight of the show and it was obvious, even then, that they hold a special place in the British psyche.
“I just remember being in awe of their displays and thinking ‘I would love to do that one day’.”
Flight Lieutenant Matt Brighty
Red 2
“That desire deepened when I first had a go behind the controls of a light aeroplane and developed an admiration for formation flying in particular.
“There are many aspects of the job that I know I’ll find hugely satisfying and enjoyable but I think the main thing is knowing that the displays and flypasts put a smile on the faces of the people that watch them.
“On a professional level, I’ve always admired the skill of formation flying since watching the Reds as a child and it’s something I’ve always wanted to master myself.”
Flt Lt Brighty has previously flown the Tornado and Typhoon in the RAF – the latter as its display pilot in 2023.
He said: “It’s been great to be back flying the Hawk again, it’s such a great little aeroplane.
“It’s been humbling at times having to cope without the luxury of things like a head-up display but it’s slowly coming back.
“Flying with the team and performing formation aerobatics is largely going back to pure handling skill.
“The modern frontline fast-jets, that we have just come from, are arguably much easier to fly in pure handling terms, owing to technological advances in their design.
“For me, the skill in flying a Typhoon or F-35 in their intended roles, comes in being able to absorb and process the sheer amount of information that is presented to you by their various sensors.
“Whereas with the Red Arrows, we are really going to have to hone our hands and feet flying skill again, which will be challenging!”
Flt Lt Deen is originally from Reading and graduated from the Durham University before beginning his RAF career in 2009.
Since then, he has flown a variety of aircraft – including the F/A-18 E & F Super Hornet during an exchange tour with the United States Navy.
He said enjoying displays by the Red Arrows as a child was also inspiration for his future.
Flt Lt Deen said: “I remember, as a young boy, watching the Red Arrows display in Falmouth harbour and being in awe of how they would dive down off the hills and then seemingly skim the mast tops, or speed out low over the water and around St Mawes Castle.
“I remember thinking that looked so amazing and I’ve obviously held onto that though all these years.
“When I was told I’d been successful in selection for the Red Arrows I was buzzing.”
Flight Lieutenant Chris Deen
Red 3
“The previous year, I had experienced the disappointment of not being selected, so to finally know it was going to happen was amazing.”
He described what aspect of the Red Arrows’ work he was most looking forward to experiencing.
He said: “Being involved in flypasts of many of the largest and most prestigious events will be an honour, knowing you’re helping to fly the flag that so many people will see will be a thrill.”
The former frontline Typhoon pilot said the initial few weeks of being with the Red Arrows had included converting back to flying the Hawk – an aircraft many of the pilots trained on earlier in their careers.
Flt Lt Deen said: “It’s been great fun getting back into the cockpit of such a simple jet.
“We’ve had a couple of backseat flights with the team during their final displays of the 2025 season and it felt a little more real when the thought came that we’d have to do this ourselves in the very near future.”
Typically, two or three pilots join the Red Arrows each year to succeed those finishing their tours.
They will spend about three years with the team before returning to frontline, instructional or staff duties.
To apply for the Red Arrows, pilots must be highly-experienced with around 1,500 fast-jet flying hours and having been assessed as above-average throughout their careers.
Each candidate must also have completed a frontline tour of duty, flying aircraft such as the Typhoon or F-35, securing the skies of the UK or supporting operations overseas.
A shortlist of candidates is examined during a thorough week-long selection each year, comprising a flying test, formal interviews and other components.
Training for all of the Red Arrows’ pilots is now underway in anticipation for the 2026 display season.
Initially, this is centred on flying from the team’s home base of RAF Waddington and, gradually, over the next five-to-six months, a new aerobatic show will be worked on.
The new season usually gets underway around May, with full dates and details released in the New Year.
You can find out more about the 2026 Red Arrows pilots by visiting the Teams section of the website.
