RALPH WENGE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Britain's elite flying team, the Red Arrows does not fly Boeing planes, which are made in the United States. Instead, their planes come from the British company BAe. The elite squadron of the British air force has been displaying British technology and flying skills for 35 years. Romanian TV takes us to a performance.</s>TANIA SIPERCO, ROMANIAN TV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The team's first contact with Romania provided the occasion for an on-the- spot display of the performances of the Hope (ph) jets. The general staff of the Romanian air force, the British ambassador, and the representative of BAe systems, the builder of the aircraft attended the event. The aerobatic sequences consisted of simple but spectacular student, such as the "Diamond" and the "Vertical Split." The squadron is composed of nine demonstration jets and two spares. At 34, Andy Offer (ph) is the youngest officer ever to command the Red Arrows. The team was created in 1965, two years before its present commander was born. The training took place at the military base in Cyprus. The nine crews were selected at the end of training period. Up to the last minute, no one knew who would make the team. An ordinary show lasts 20 minutes and includes 20 different stunts. The shows are scheduled one year in advance. Between now and the end of the summer, the Red Arrows will tour several countries of Northern Europe, including Great Britain, where their fans are counted by the millions. Tania Siperco, Romanian Television, for CNN WORLD REPORT.
The Red Arrows: Showing Off Britain's Aircraft for 35 Years