Royal Air Forces Association
media release 29 September 2014
In a collaboration between the RAF Association and the Red Arrows RAF Aerobatic Team a painting was commissioned to mark the Reds’ fiftieth display season. Five hundred prints of the resulting painting are now available for sale, each signed by all 10 of the 2014 Red Arrows team.
It is hoped that sales of the print will raise £50,000 for the Association – a fitting amount for the Reds this year. The painting itself will be presented to the RAF Club in October. Facsimile copies will also be presented to the Chief of the Air Staff Sir Andrew Pulford, the Red Arrows, the Secretary General of the RAF Association and ICAP, which is sponsoring the painting.
Nick Bunting, Secretary General, said: “The Association is thrilled to be working with the Red Arrows, especially in this special anniversary season. They are an iconic team, one of several representing the excellence of the Royal Air Force in the UK and around the world. We are grateful that the Reds have chosen the Association as the beneficiary for this fundraising endeavour. They are part of the RAF family, helping to look after those who need us.”
Sqn Ldr Ruth Shackleton, Red Arrows Team Manager, said: “Mike Rondot’s magnificent painting not only captures the excitement of the Red Arrows brilliantly and celebrates the team’s 50th display season, but it also provides a wonderful opportunity to raise vital funds for the Royal Air Forces Association. We hope the public will wish to purchase this unique limited edition print as a splendid reminder of the world’s most famous display team.”
The picture was painted by well-known aviation artist, Michael Rondot. He said: “Sqn Ldr Jim Turner, the team leader, knows my style of painting from the days we flew Jaguars together. When he suggested a painting of the Reds we were both keen to show what the team does, rather than a ‘pretty’ scene with a lovely blue sky with nine aircraft in perfect formation. I have painted an imagined situation showing the synchro pair in front of the other seven Hawks on a blustery, difficult flying day. The Reds turn out and display in all weathers and I wanted to capture that.”
The prints are 700 x 500mm overall, cost £100 plus postage and packaging (£4.40 within UK/£6.05 for Europe) and can be ordered directly from the RAF Association.
Framed prints are also available for £200 (cost includes postage and packaging).
Please contact Nicola Heath via or on 0116 2688790 for further product information or for payments contact Rishi Sheth on 0116 268 8785.
IMAGE CREDIT : RAF ASSOCIATION
