Red Arrows at Norwich Airport 2016

We have always been fans of the Red Arrows but ever since my cousin started working with them  Charlie has become obsessed and now Harry has too. 

Once a year they stop off in Norwich before performing displays on both days at the Clacton air show. They also performed at Cromer carnival this year but I was working so we had to miss them.

My cousin got in contact with the times and said that he'd arrange for us to go into the airport to get closer to the jets on one of the days. We'd done the same last year but it didn't make it any less exciting.

We parked up early to get a decent viewing point and we watched my cousin & some colleagues unload everything from the truck ready for the arrival of the planes. A lad standing next to us was really jealous that Scott came over and spoke to us and not him. We couldn't resist boasting that we're related to someone who works with the Reds! 

We were busy chatting when all of a sudden we heard a roar overhead and it was Red 10 who had taken us all by surprise and arrived early. I was too late with my camera to get him in flight. Charlie was not happy! 

20 minutes or so later the rest of the planes were due in and they were earlier than expected too! 

The boys loved watching them 'park' and Harry thought it was rather funny that they were being directed with a guy hold table tennis bats.

Red 1- Squadron Leader David Montenegro

After a short while one of the pilots came out to speak to everyone and explain that some pilots would be out later to say hello. Charlie and Harry had brought their books and pictures along to be signed. 

S couldn't stay with us as he was being taken to the air show by helicopter. The children loved watching him fly off and were waving madly as they flew overhead.

By this time we'd been standing there for hours and our legs were beginning to ache a lot so, knowing that we would be heading back the next day, Charlie asked if we could leave. Just as we crossed the road towards the car he heard a commotion and noticed some pilots coming out to the fence so we ran back to get a signature. The boys were in their Red Arrows pilot suits so soon got the attention of Red 3- Flight Lieutenant Si Taylor. Charlie soon dropped into the conversation that we would be the other side of the fence tomorrow with cousin S. He loves name dropping! 

At home, around 5pm we heard some loud planes overhead and I ran into the garden with the boys and we saw the Red Arrows flying close to our house. I grabbed the camera for a few shots as the boys whooped and yelled at the top of their voices. The poor neighbours! They were certain that S had requested the flypast so I kept quiet as I didn't want to disappoint them by saying that we're so close to the airport that they were just looping over before landing. It's more magical for them to believe it was a personal show ;-)  

Back at the fence again bright and early. We weren't the only ones though and the boys got lots of comments about their suits.

We soon spotted S and then drove into the airport. We weren't able to speak to the pilots as they were in the middle of a briefing before their display in Clacton so we went outside and looked around the planes. One of the Blues talked the children through the smoke and answered questions before asking if they'd like to sit on the wing. Of course they did! I instantly knew that this would be the highlight of their summer, no matter what else we had done.

Red 7-Flight Lieutenant Tom Bould doing pre-flight checks. The children had a photo with Tom at RAF Scampton family day last year and loved seeing a familiar face. 

Ready to cover his ears! 

All bar one ready to go. Thankfully there was a spare 'plane'.

We stood just a few feet away waving the pilots on their way.

And they're off! No matter how many times I see them fly it's always such an amazing thing to witness.

Once they had all flown off S took us into the VIP waiting room for a drink and the boys got a few Blues to sign their books. Charlie was full of questions for S. It was hard to get him to stop talking but it was quite educational. Charlie says he wouldn't trust himself with flying a plane so he wouldn't want to be a pilot but would love to do S's job of driving and filling the planes with the dye for the smoke. Harry on the other hand would love to be a pilot. He's such a daredevil that it doesn't surprise me one little bit!

We were soon outside again awaiting the return of the Reds and had heard that they were planning a short display. We spotted them coming in from a distance and then they flew in the diamond formation and did a spaghetti break. As always, they were breathtaking.

All back, safe and sound. A huge round of applause was heard on the other side of the gates. 

We then left S to do his job while we went off for lunch and a short break at home before heading back   to wave them (and Scott) off.

I would love to be that Blue in the back seat….or would I?! My cousin went up earlier this year and what an experience! We were all jealous but I don't think I could actually cope with those speeds or flying upside down.

Charlie shouted "Good job lads!" at the Blues in the minibus, raising a smile from them and those around us and then we stood waving madly at S as he drove off in Optimus. 

The Red Arrows always raise a smile when we see them and they make me proud to be British. Charlie thinks the pilots are heroes but he idolises and adores S and thinks his job is awesome. It gives him something to aim for and I love to think he will follow in my cousin's footsteps one day but his obsessions can be over as quickly as they start. In the meantime though it's great for him to have something to focus on and thoroughly enjoy. As for Harry's ambition of being a pilot….well, let's hope he's not quite so much of a daredevil in the future!