By Chris Story

Last updated at 13:29, Monday, 16 November 2009

Two Cumbrian pilots will line up with the world-famous Red Arrows for their 2010 season.

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Squadron Leaders Graham Duff and Graeme Bagnall are among the elite aviators in the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic display team, renowned for their breathtaking high-speed flying.

And joining them next year will be the Arrows’ first female pilot, Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore.

Sqn Ldr Duff, of Penrith, will fly as Red Eight.

He attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School – becoming an air cadet with Penrith ATC on his 13th birthday – before going on to become a member of Bristol University Air Squadron while studying an aeronautical engineering degree at Bristol University.

He joined the RAF in 1996, starting as a pilot of ground-attack Jaguar aircraft. He has seen active service in Iraq, as well as taking part in exercises in the USA, Europe and Middle East.

This will be his second year with the Arrows team.

Sqn Ldr Bagnall, meanwhile, flies as Red 10.

The former St Bees School pupil first joined the team in January. Although not one of the display pilots, he is the Arrows’ road manager and is trained in aerobatics.

That job includes flying in formation with the team while going to and from events.

All the air-to-air photography of the team is shot from his aircraft.

His main job during the winter training season is to put together the display schedule with the RAF events team, deal with fly past requests, survey new display sites and learn the display so he can commentate on it.

The pilot also acts as ground supervisor and flight safety officer for the team.

Competition is always intense among pilots to join the Red Arrows, based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

Only the best are successful. Candidates must have completed at least one front-line tour of duty as a fast-jet pilot and a minimum of 1,500 flying hours.

First published at 11:37, Monday, 16 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk