30 January 2018
Mike Ling MBE, better known as ‘Lingy’, is the record-breaking, longest-serving Red Arrows pilot, having completed nine years in a red suit. Now he’s about to join The Blades aerobatic formation team for its 13th display season.
Lingy joined the RAF as a direct entrant straight after his A-levels. By the age of 22, Lingy had achieved Qualified Instructor status on the Tucano, before then flying the Tornado F3 as an air defence pilot at RAF Leuchars.
In 2008 he earned the privilege of wearing a red flying suit, where he started his Red Arrows career as Red 3, before flying in the synchro pair. In total, Lingy has been involved in 640 public displays, in 46 countries.
“It was quite emotional hanging up the red suit at the end of the 2017 season,” said Lingy. “However I’m very excited to continue my love for display flying by joining The Blades Aerobatic Team.
“To fly alongside Ben and Kirsty again, and learn from Andy, one of the most experienced Extra 300 pilots in the world, 2018 is certainly going to be challenging but I’m sure I’ll have a great time learning new manoeuvres in such an agile aerobatic aircraft.”
When he is not flying for the Blades Aerobatic Team, he is still wearing an RAF flying suit based at Central Flying School at RAF Cranwell, working as the Air Safety Manager and test flying the Hawk.
