Red Arrows Aircraft

The Hawk T1 has been the Red Arrows' aircraft since 1979 — a highly capable advanced jet trainer designed and built in Britain. Originally developed by Hawker Siddeley (later BAE Systems), the Hawk has proven itself as a reliable, manoeuvrable aircraft perfectly suited to precision formation flying.

The team flies modified T1A variants, equipped with smoke pods under the fuselage to produce the iconic red, white and blue trails. Diesel dyed with powder pigment is injected into the jet exhaust at display altitudes, creating the vivid coloured trails seen at every show.

Despite the Hawk's age — most of the team's airframes date from the late 1970s — the aircraft continues to perform reliably. There have been ongoing discussions about a future replacement, but as of 2026 the Hawk remains the team's aircraft, with the fleet maintained to airworthy standard by the Circus ground crew at RAF Waddington.

Before the Hawk, the Red Arrows flew the diminutive Folland Gnat T.1 from their formation in 1965 through to 1979. Despite its small size, the Gnat was an exceptionally agile aircraft perfectly suited to the tight formations that became the team's hallmark from the very start.

The Gnat's compact dimensions — a wingspan of just 7.3 metres — allowed the team to fly formations far tighter than most contemporary aircraft, establishing the Red Arrows' reputation for precision that endures today.