In support of the first ever Armed Forces Day, the pilots of the Blades Air Display Team took the winner of the Flight To Remember competition out to experience some spectacular aerobatic manoeuvres.

The winner, Gareth Jones, 18 years old, from Leek in Staffordshire saw the competition advertised on the Red Arrows website and enlisted the help of 60 (Leek) Squadron cadets to perform his competition entry. You can see it here: www.youtube.com Gareth is the one in the beret.

Entrants where asked to perform a human interpretation of a Blades flight manoeuvre film it and upload it to the Flight To Remember competition website and You.Tube The public voted to shortlist ten entries, and then the Blades picked one lucky winner.

Gareth said, “It’s been a real honour to fly with the Blades and a truly unique experience, you just can’t imagine what it’s really like when you watch them from the ground”.

Gareth was a passenger in the Blades trademark two-seat Extra 300 LP’s aircraft and participated in manoeuvres that most pilots will never perform.

The Blades are made up of ex- Red Arrow pilots and veterans. Myles Garland said, “It’s been fantastic to support Armed Forces Day. As veterans ourselves we know how important it is to support our Armed Forces”.