Red 2, Flight Lieutenant Antony Parkinson, 36, joined the RAF in 1983, having gained a flying scholarship through the CCF at the William Parker School in Hastings and completed his PPL (Private Pilot’s Licence) while he was still aged 17. After initial flying training in America aged 19, followed by Advanced Flying Training on the Hawk, Parky was posted to the Phantom F4 completing tours on 111 Squadron at RAF Leuchars and 92 Squadron at RAF Wildenrath. Conversion to the Tornado F3 followed in 1991 and a further tour on 25 Squadron at RAF Leeming, after which he was selected for the NATO exchange programme flying the dual role F16 Fighting Falcon with the Dutch Air Force in Leeuwarden, Holland. Flight Lieutenant Parkinson flew many peacekeeping missions over Bosnia both with the RAF and with the Royal Netherlands Air Force.

After 3 years he returned to the Tornado F3 Conversion Unit instructing on 56 Squadron and was the Tornado F3 display pilot for the 1999 and 2000 season winning the Steedman Sword for the best British display at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2000. This is Parky’s first year with the team and he has flown a total of 3,600 hours, including 1,100 on the Phantom, 1,300 on the Tornado and 600 on the F16.

Parky is married to Ann and has two children, Edward (August 1992) and James (October 1994).

‘I’m keen on classic cars,’ said Antony, ‘and I’m the very proud owner of an Aston Martin DB5.’

Flight Lieutenant Christian Gleave, 28, has joined the Red Arrows and has already started his training ready for taking up the position of Red 3 in the 2001 Team. Christian will be the youngest member of the 2001 Team and as Red 3 will fly immediately to the left of the Team leader in the Diamond Nine formation.

Although born in Cardiff, Christians family moved to the Channel Islands when he was very young. His early education was at De La Salle College in Jersey and subsequently in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Christian was awarded a Flying Scholarship with the RAF whilst at school and he learned to fly at Compton Abbas Airfield when he was 17 and serving as a member of 2322 (Dowty) Air Training Corps. He was commissioned into the RAF at Cranwell in 1990 at the age of 18 and progressed through flying training at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, RAF Valley, and in Devon at RAF Chivenor.

After holding at Chivenor for a year, Christian was posted to the Harrier GR7 and after completing the Operational Conversion Unit course, he was posted to IV(AC) Squadron at RAF Laarbruch in Germany. Whilst serving in Germany, he flew peacekeeping missions over Bosnia and took part in international exercises in the USA, Canada, Norway and Europe. The Harrier consistently proved to be a challenging aeroplane to fly, and was ultimately what I had always wanted to do. Although my time in Germany was hard work, I wouldnt have changed my time on the frontline for the world, and look forward to returning. It was the most exciting 3 years of my life. I remember watching the Red Arrows every year in the Channel Islands but I never imagined that one day I would be one!. My childhood ambition was to be a fighter pilot.

In 1997, Christian was posted back to RAF Valley to become a Qualified Tactics and Weapons Instructor on the Hawk where he was responsible for teaching new instructors and students alike. This was another very enjoyable and rewarding tour, said Christian.

Flight Lieutenant Gleave is single and enjoys most sports, but especially long-distance running, tennis and skiing. He also spends his spare time painting and motorcycling. In October 2000 he will be taking part in the New York Marathon with the rest of the 2001 Red Arrows Team, raising money for the Great Ormond Street Childrens Hospital.

Flight Lieutenant Myles Garland, 28, joins the world famous Red Arrows team for the 2001 display season. He grew up in Devon and was educated at St Boniface’s College, Plymouth, from where he was awarded an RAF Flying Scholarship. Myles flew 30 hours under the scholarship scheme at Lands End Aerodrome in Cornwall. He joined the RAF in 1990. His basic flying training was at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in North Yorkshire and his advanced and tactical weapons training at RAF Chivenor in Devon. Myles was posted to the Harrier GR7 and on completion of his Harrier conversion training he joined 1(F) Sqn based at RAF Wittering. He flew many peacekeeping sorties over Bosnia and Iraq from both land bases and from the decks of HMS Illustrious and HMS Invincible as well as numerous overseas exercises during this tour.

Having completed the Harrier Qualified Weapons Instructors Course, Myles was briefly posted back to 1(F) Sqn and took part in Exercise Red Flag in the USA. He was then posted to the Harrier Operational Conversion Unit 20(R) Sqn at RAF Wittering where he instructed both ab-initio and post-graduate students on weapons delivery and tactics before being selected for the Red Arrows.

Myles is married to Emily and they have one son, George (Mar 99). A keen sportsman, Myles enjoys most sports including golf, running and motorcycling.

‘I used to watch the Red Arrows’ displays at Sidmouth from about 7 or 8 years of age, said Myles, ‘and that convinced me that I wanted to be a pilot. There was no Air Training Corps squadron at my school so I joined the Army Cadet Force, but I did earn the Sixth Form Scholarship which enabled me to learn to fly.’

Flight Lieutenant Garland will be flying as Red 4 in the 2001 Team which means that he will be on the right wing of the trademark Diamond Nine formation.