Red Arrows - Hardcover

Richard Baker

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1854432176 ISBN 13: 9781854432179

Publisher: Dalton Watson Fine Books, 2009

Synopsis

An invitation to make a photographic record of a landmark time in the life of the Red Arrows is an opportunity that falls to few photographers. Award-winning reportage photographer Richard Baker is one of the few. In 2004, Britain's official aerobatic team flew its 40th display season, in 2005 it celebrated its 40th birthday and in 2006 the team will fly its 4000th display. Through this period of the Red Arrows' long and distinguished history, Richard has flown with them, photographed them and talked to them. This book is his account in words and pictures of that time, a lateral look at the team and how it works, from briefing and take off through aerobatic display to post-flight analysis; and from arduous winter training through the summer air show calendar. In a succession of visually revealing photo-essays he takes us behind the scenes to see the pilots during their arduous training schedules and to meet the 'Blues' - the RAF's crack maintenance and technical team who keep the Arrows' BAE Hawk trainers in peak flying fitness; In more than 150 stunning photographs, Richard Baker documents an emotional year for the team. He sheds new light on the Red Arrows, revealing, on the one hand, the extraordinary learning curve each member of the team must go through in order to achieve the unique standards required by this legendary group, and on the other hand, the team's ambassadorial role, meeting and greeting everyone from royalty and politicians to their adoring public. No book on the Reds would be complete without the 'pilot's-eye' view and this book brings us a spectacular array of air-to-air images. To complement his exceptional photography, Richard recounts with insight, wit and humour his months of adventure with the Red Arrows, including gripping inside accounts of display flying complete with unnerving experiences of the effects of g-forces during aerobatic manoeuvres.

About this title

About the Author

A photographer of 20 years' standing, Richard Baker has received acclaim for his award-winning photo-essays published widely in Life, Geo, Stern and other international magazines and publications. His major project, 'Plane Pictures', celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight and was the prelude to his photographic study of the Red Arrows.

From the Back Cover

When I entered the inner sanctum of the Red Arrows, I had to pinch myself.
As a dream in the Boy s Own tradition, this one was the ultimate

An invitation to make a photographic record of a landmark time in the life
of the Red Arrows is an opportunity that falls to few photographers. Award-winning reportage photographer Richard Baker is one of the few. In 2004,
Britain s official aerobatic team flew its 40th display season, in 2005 it
celebrated its 40th birthday and in 2006 the team will fly its 4000th display.
Through this epoch in the Red Arrows long and distinguished history, Richard has flown with them, photographed them and talked to them.
This book is his account in words and pictures of that time, a lateral look
at the team and how it works, from briefing and take off through aerobatic
display to post-flight analysis; and from arduous winter training through the
summer air show calendar. In a succession of visually revealing photo-essays
he takes us behind the scenes to see the pilots during their arduous training
schedules and to meet the Blues the RAF s crack maintenance and technical team who keep the Arrows BAE Hawk trainers in peak flying fitness;
In more than 150 stunning photographs, Richard Baker documents an
emotional year for the team. He sheds new light on the Red Arrows, revealing,
on the one hand, the extraordinary learning curve each member of the team
must go through in order to achieve the unique standards required by this
legendary group, and on the other hand, the team s ambassadorial role,
meeting and greeting everyone from royalty and politicians to their adoring
public. No book on the Reds would be complete without the pilot s-eye view
and this book brings us a spectacular array of air-to-air images.

To complement his exceptional photography, Richard recounts with insight,
wit and humour his months of adventure with the Red Arrows, including
gripping inside accounts of display flying complete with unnerving
experiences of the effects of g-forces during aerobatic manoeuvres.
These photographs bring a new perspective to an intriguing aspect of aviation.

The Red Arrows are recognized internationally as the world s best aerobatic
team. Richard Baker s images of them in public and behind closed doors are
refreshing and engaging in their observational style.

From the Inside Flap

With this book, award-winning reportage photographer Richard Baker returns to the world of aviation where he once worked. A photographer of 20 years standing, he has received acclaim for his award-winning photo-essays published widely in Life, Geo, Stern and other international magazines and publications. He s no planespotter, but he does have a consuming interest in the aesthetics and ironies of air travel. His major project, Plane Pictures , celebrated the 100th anniversary of the first powered flight and was the prelude to his photographic study of the Red Arrows.

He lives in London. This book is his first and, he suspects, may be the answer to a dilemma with which he wrestled during his adolescent years: whether to study photography or fly aeroplanes.

Edition details

• Publisher: Dalton Watson Fine Books
• Publication date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1854432176
• ISBN 13: 9781854432179
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 260