This Grimsby lad is a true high-flier. Six years after he first applied, RAF engineer Dave Armstrong has been given his dream job with the Red Arrows. He talked to reporter James Dunn about being part of what many regard as the best aerobatic team in the world.
DAVE Armstrong grew up in Laceby and Wybers Wood and went to Healing Comprehensive School.
Like many young people, he did his A-levels at Franklin College, but never fancied taking the route that might land him a comfortable office job.
After working as a barman at the Oaklands Hotel, a shop assistant at TK Maxx and a factory worker at Young's, Dave signed up for an engineering course at Grimsby Institute and finally realised that the direction he wanted to go was up – so he joined the Royal Air Force.
Dave, 26, said: "I knew I didn't want a normal nine to five job and I'd been thinking about joining the RAF for some time. In the end, I think it was nightshifts working in a factory that made me take that leap of faith. I decided I would just do it and I'm glad I did."
When he joined in 2004, his grandparents gave him a gift – a framed photo of the Red Arrows flying over Grimsby Dock Tower. It gave Dave something to aim for and in 2005, he applied to join. Seven years later, his wish was finally granted and he joined the team in March 2012, working on the ground from RAF Scampton near Lincoln. However, this display season – which runs from February to October – he will be an even more integral part of the team and will even ride with the pilots.
Senior Aircraftman Dave Armstrong will become Circus 3, the engineer who is in charge of maintaining Flight Lieutenant Mike Lawson's Hawk T1 plane which will include everything from re-fuelling to fixing the aircraft if anything malfunctions. SAC Armstrong will travel with the Circus all over Europe and will ride with Mike Lawson – whose mother is also from Grimsby – in transit, but not during the displays.
He said: "We don't go with them for displays because what they're doing is so precise that they don't need any distractions at all. However, there are some long transits which could be quite boring and I think they are glad to have someone to talk to."
SAC Armstrong admits to being a little star struck when he first met the pilots.
"They are so good at what they do that I felt under pressure to meet their high standards. It was tough at first but I feel really confident at what I do now. There is still a lot of pressure because the Red Arrows are one of the best aerobatic teams in the world. If I don't do my job properly, the plane could potentially go down – but that is not going to happen.
He said: "Being in the Circus is definitely a step up. We have to do more training with the pilots because we are flying with them and some of that is a bit nerve-wracking. We train falling off diving boards and getting rid of our parachutes and into life rafts in the sea so that we know what do if we have to eject."
Despite the prestige surrounding the Red Arrow pilots, SAC Armstrong said that the atmosphere in the Circus is better than any he has known in the RAF before.
He said: "I was working in Afghanistan with Tornados beforehand. Ground staff and pilots stayed in separate buildings and only saw each other when they got into the planes. The planes weren't as reliable and it felt like as soon as we fixed something, another thing went wrong. With recent cuts to military personnel, we just didn't have the manpower to deal with all the repairs.
"The Red Arrows are a lot more reliable and the atmosphere here is much better. The pilots are actually really chatty and always ask how your weekend was and even come out for a beer with us occasionally. The team is really friendly and you spend a lot of time with the pilots so get to know each other quite well."
SAC Armstrong's season starts in February when the team flies over to Greece. They will then travel to Cyprus for training before beginning a hectic season of events every weekend until October – including the Cleethorpes Festival Of Flight if organisers manage to book the headline act again this year.
As reported, the first ever Festival Of Flight brought £7,000 and £3 million into the resort in June this year when the Red Arrows stole the show. Organisers have already announced next year's event – but SAC Armstrong will be on the ground at RAF Scampton.
He added: "I remember the Cleethorpes event this year and I was working on the ground when lots of my mates from home were out on the lash for the show and it will be the same this year. Cleethorpes is so close to RAF Scampton that we don't need to move the Circus so I will have to stay here."
However, his career in the RAF has already taken him to Arizona, the Czech Republic, Cyprus and Afghanistan, and this year, he will travel all around Europe with the Red Arrows.
"I'm so proud to be travelling with the reds. I remember a time when I felt like I was going nowhere and now I am part of one of the best aerobatic teams in the world," he added.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help or businesses looking to be a part of the Festival Of Flight can find out more by e-mailing info@cleethorpesairshow.co.uk
