Ipswich/UK: Former Ipswich schoolgirl flying high with the Red Arrows display team

Victoria White. Photo: SAC Craig Marshall (RAF)/SQN LDR LING (Image: MOD CROWN COPYRIGHT 2014)

But former Ipswich schoolgirl Victoria White was not in the bustling crowds – she was playing her part as one of the Red Arrows ‘Circus’ engineers.

Corporal White, 29, is responsible for servicing the Red 5 aircraft as soon as possible after transit and display landings.

She sits in the backseat of the Hawk when the pilots transit to locations, although does not take part in the displays.

The former Copleston High School pupil, who has also served in Afghanistan, always dreamed of being part of the aerobatic team but had to wait nine years before she got the call. She added: “There is no other job like it in the world, especially being with the Circus, which is probably the most prestigious engineering job you can do.

“I was extremely pleased and proud to be picked to be part of the Circus for this year.

“It is really good fun and I have got a very good pilot and we get on well. They have to concentrate so hard, we just get to enjoy a little bit of what is going on.”

Cpl White joined the RAF when she was 16 and completed her training as an aircraft technician (mechanical). She was previously based at RAF Marham in Norfolk and has served overseas.

She applied to be part of the Red Arrows near the start of her career and joined the team in 2011.

In 2012 she was part of the road team and rear support team and she was one of the aircraft documentation controllers in 2013.

She was asked to be part of the Red Arrows Circus engineers this year, the 50th display season.

Cpl White said she has had to learn a lot of new skills to prepare for travelling in the back of the Hawk aircraft.

She added: “I would describe my career as being very busy but I’ve been fortunate to have gone to lots of different places, and in war zones it has always gone well.

“Working with the Red Arrows is a completely different role but very rewarding.”