FOR the first time since the event began, the mighty Red Arrows will take to the sky on every day of this year's Bournemouth Air Festival.

And it's a special year for the team, as it celebrates 50 years of displaying around the world.

The Reds have strong connections with Bournemouth, particularly following the death of Flt Lt Jon Egging following a display in Bournemouth in 2011.

See our Red Arrows gallery here

Its pilots are fast jet pilots from front line Royal Air Force squadrons and they will return to their duties once their three-year stint with the team is over.

To be considered, candidates have to have at least 1,500 hours of flying experience, have done a front line tour and be ranked as 'above average' in their flying skills.

Each summer sees the Reds perform as many as 100 displays.

The idea behind their role is to promote the RAF, help in its recruitment campaigns and promote the UK and its industry.

Millions of people in the UK and overseas witness their dare-devil flying every year.

The nine pilots are backed up by nine engineering technicians known as the Circus. They fly in the Hawk jets' passengers seats between displays.

This year's team - Reds 1-10 - is Sqn Ldr Jim Turner, Flt Lt Stewart Campbell, Flt Lt Joe Houston, Flt Lt Oliver Parr, Flt Lt Steve Morris, Flt Lt James McMillan, Flt Lt Mark Lawson, Flt Lt Martin Pert and Flt Lt Mike Child.

Red 10, who is team supervisor, is Sqn Ldr Mike Ling.

On the ground the team is backed by a team manager, a road manager, public relations officers, two engineering officers, an adjutant and around 85 engineering technicians and other support staff.

The Reds' jet of choice is the dual-control BAE Systems Hawk T1, which is the Royal Air Force's advanced trainer and has been used by the Red Arrows since 1979, when it replaced the Folland Gnat.

The Hawk's Rolls Royce Adour engine produces 5,200lbs of thrust and can power the aircraft to a top speed of Mach 1.2.

The aircraft has a maximum altitude of 48,000 ft and fuel capacity gives a range of 1,000nm, making most of the world accessible - apart from New Zealand.

The aircraft are essentially the same as those flown by Advanced Flying Training students at Royal Air Force Valley, with the exception of smoke generation modifications and a slightly uprated engine, which gives a faster response time.