The team was informally formed in the summer of 1963 at No. 4 Flying Training School set up on RAF Base Valley by a group of flight instructors led by Flight Lieutenant Lee Jones. The two-seater Folland Gnat T.1 had only been in service on RAF Base Valley since February 1963. The first 20 student pilots had started their training on the Folland Gnat after they had received their "wings" from RAF College Cranwell. Instructors and student pilots loved this aircraft because of its small size, sensitive handling and high maneuverability.
The name of the team was derived from the callsign of the team leader. However, the chosen name was rejected by the superiors, who consistently recognized the concept of a Folland Gnat aerobatic team as attractive. Even the name "Daffodil Patrol" is said to have been suggested at one point. They also thought the aircraft's yellow color was inappropriate. So it was finally decided that such an unorthodox and independent team needed a name that was more prominent to the public and the media. As a result, the team was officially reformed and converted to the Red Arrows in 1965 . The Red Arrows used the Folland Gnat until 1979, when it was replaced by the British Aerospace Hawk for the 1980 season .
United Kingdom