Flight Lieutenant Andrew McEwen
About Flight Lieutenant Andrew McEwen
Red 3
Years with the Red Arrows: 2026 is his second season with the team
Joined the RAF: 2009
RAF CAREER
Andrew carried out elementary flying training and then basic fast-jet training in Yorkshire – at RAF Church Fenton on the Tutor and RAF Linton-on-Ouse on the Tucano respectively.
He then undertook Royal Navy Officer of the Watch training to gain a Navigational Watchkeeping Certificate, driving warships, between 2012 and 2014. Andrew spent a year at sea, on board aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious and Type-45 destroyers HMS Dragon and HMS Dauntless. There was also a period learning at HMS Dartmouth College and HMS Collingwood, for navigational and maritime studies.
Following this, Andrew completed advanced fast-jet training at RAF Valley, flying the Hawk T1 – the same aircraft as that used by the Red Arrows.
Between 2015 and 2018, he went on an exchange tour with the United States Marine Corps, operating the Harrier AV-8B. This included eight months at sea as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit on USS America – an amphibious ship – travelling the world and on operations. He visited Hawaii, Guam, Borneo, Singapore, Qatar, Djibouti and Israel.
A move followed to the F-35B Lightning II – the RAF’s fifth-generation multi-role aircraft which combines advanced sensors and mission systems with low observable technology, or ‘stealth’.
After spending time in a simulator role, Andrew headed to the Operational Conversion Unit and then to the frontline in 2022, as a member of 617 Squadron – The Dambusters. This saw flying on operations and multiple NATO exercises around the world, including being based on the UK’s flagship carrier, HMS Queen Elizabeth.
EDUCATION AND LIFE BEFORE THE RAF
- Born in Wexham, Berkshire
- Educated at St Nicolas Primary School and Burnham Grammar School
- Studied architecture at the University of Manchester
- Member of Manchester and Salford University Air Squadron (MASUAS)