Red Star Racing Team

I seem to remember them in a very pleasant “smaller” show at Thurrock at which Black Six also appeared.

They definitely appeared at White Waltham, in 1996. I’ve got a rather crap photo to prove it! 😮

Is Dave Gilmour still involved with aviation. He is still knocking out the albums.

The instructor who did my conversion-to-type on the Yak had also helped train the Red Star Racers.

Most were rich, self-made men.

By all accounts they were not the easiest group of pilots to deal with. 😮

They were quite fun to watch for a few moments, and the hyper-commentary was mildly amusing.

Moggy

Red Stars Racing Team were active for two seasons – 1995 and 1996.

They were based at North Weald and run by Intrepid Aviation (the company run by Pink Floyd guitarist Dave Gilmour, which also operated several warbirds and classic jets for several years before being sold off earlier this decade).

The Red Stars concept grew out of the Warbird Formation School run by Anthony Hutton. Various Yak owners at North Weald were involved.

What happened to them? Well the idea of Reno-style air racing didn’t quite catch on I don’t think – can’t remember them appearing at many venues. Biggin and Old Warden they did I think.

They were replaced for the 1997 season by the Aerostars aerobatic team, who are still operating very successfully out of North Weald. http://www.aerostars.co.uk/. Many of the same pilots are aircraft were used – indeed, several of the current Aerostars pilots like Mark Levy and Andy Hammond flew with the Red Stars.

The Yakovlevs who you mention are a separate 4-aircraft operation based at Compton Abbas.