Red Arrows New Leader 2020?

[Vulcan74]

Afternoon All

Saw on Look North today Red 1 Martin Pert will be leaving at some point. Wonder who will replace him, apparently the rest of the team are staying if I heard right.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

Yes, he must be in his third, if not fourth year.

The rest of the team staying makes sense given C19.

[reaper493]

He's on his third as leader, 6th in total. Shame he's not staying on really!
The new leader will already be attached to the Reds, just not officially announced.

[missme]

I reckon Bondy

[Starbuck]

I reckon Bondy

It's not usually a current Red, they normally do their tour and then can be asked back to be Red 1.

[missme]

OK understood, just thought this year with the dreaded CV19, they might keep it in the the current team.

[reaper493]

With Monty being Red 11, and the rest of the team supposably staying, with people like Bondy and Steve Morris it's probably the most experienced team they've ever had.

Maybe it will be one of the current team, with just one fresh pilot joining in the Red 2/3 position?

Time will tell.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

OK understood, just thought this year with the dreaded CV19, they might keep it in the the current team.

Arguably if you are trying to reduce turnover of numbers, Red 1 is the one to replace, as there will be no “selection” to take place as per the new recruits.

As it is Red 1’s 3rd year, his replacement was probably “boarded” (identified and selected; for Red 1 this is an administrative process rather than flying/social process) some time ago - probably last year.

[Starbuck]

OK understood, just thought this year with the dreaded CV19, they might keep it in the the current team.

You would think as they haven't really had a display season they'd let Red 1 fly as boss for 2021, it would certainly be the easiest option.

[Phoon]

I reckon Bondy

It won't be - he's only a Flight Lieutenant and the team leader is either a squadron leader or wing commander.

[Vulcan74]

Could be Steve Morris as new leader!

[pb643]

Confirmed in the UKAR podcast with Martin Pert, that he will be replaced. All other team members staying on to next year. If I recall correctly, the justification being that the new guys this year may be up to speed on the flying, but haven't had the opportunity to experience airshows and the logistics around them. The new leader will be a previous team member and will therefore have sufficient experience to step striaght in. I think he also said that he had plans for the future that he needed to get on with?

[ColintheCaterpillar]

OK understood, just thought this year with the dreaded CV19, they might keep it in the the current team.

You would think as they haven't really had a display season they'd let Red 1 fly as boss for 2021, it would certainly be the easiest option.

It’s not just picking the “easy” option though; lots of career management factors to consider; for example IF Red 1 was being promoted (next post, be Staff College a staff job or a Sqn Command), or if he was leaving the service etc.

[reaper493]

Reds are up now, not sure how many, but whoever is leading the formation is not Perty or Bondy, sounds like the new Red 1 is having a go at leading some aircraft.
Sounds very nervous who ever he is!

Using callsign of Scampton 01.

Same pilot/callsign was up again around 11.45, looked like 3 jets from a distance.

[gaviscon]

I have a feeling it could be Tom Bould. Synchro leader from a few years ago.

[page_verify]

Montenegro staying? He's a strong chap.

[reaper493]

Monty is Red 11, officer commanding.

Scampton 01 has been up twice this morning.

[reaper493]

New leader is up again now, sounding a lot more confident today than he was last week.

[CGM]

Looks to be Tom Bould according to RAF Scampton Heritage Centre on Facebook.

[reaper493]

Just reading that, wonder if they have had permission to publish his name? Nothing official has come out yet.