Red Arrows announces its first-ever female leader

The famous airplane display team, the Red Arrows, will be led by a woman for the first time in its history.

Wing Commander Sasha Nash, a former tornado pilot, described it as the "opportunity of a lifetime".

She will manage the team's headquarters at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, and will be responsible for looking after all parts of the operation.

Nash said she was "incredibly proud", adding she hoped to "inspire future generations of aviators from all backgrounds".

Nash said that she first became interested in planes when she was a young child.

"I was a six-year-old little girl when I decided to join the Royal Air Force and to fly fast jets – inspired by air shows and seeing the speed and excitement of aircraft displaying at those events.

"That ambition stayed with me throughout school," she explained.

Nash added that she was surprised by the news.

"If someone had told me 20 years ago that, one day, I'd be Officer Commanding of the Red Arrows, I don't think I would have believed it."

Training for the new season is already under way, with the first public events usually staged around early June.

Nash said: "I can't wait to work alongside team members and have the opportunity to meet people at airshows and events this year."

The Red Arrows are the Royal Air Force's (RAF) aerobatic team.

The flying display team demonstrates to the public how skilled RAF pilots are, showing off the teams speed and agility.

During displays the Red Arrows fly in impressive shapes and formations, extremely close together, and are known for releasing colourful vapour as they fly in the sky.

There are currently nine aircraft that make up the Red Arrows team, with additional aircraft for support.

The nine pilots who fly the planes need at least 1,500 hours of experience in the RAF, and must be considered exceptional in their role.

It's not just pilots who make up the Red Arrows though, there is also a whole support team known as the "Blues".

The Blues are made up of 120 people, including engineers and support staff who ensure the planes keep working and the team is run successfully.

The Red Arrows first performed in 1965, and since then have taken part in thousands of displays in more than 50 countries.