Mike Ling
@MikeLingPilot
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✈︎ Display pilot ✈︎ RAF Red Arrows 2008-2018 ✈︎ Blade 3 - The Blades 2019-2023 ✈︎ Spitfire obsessed ✈︎ Instagram/Threads/TikTok: @mikelingpilot
Joined February 2013
As it’s #SelfieDay, it could only be this one. Taken by the brilliant Katsu Tokunaga from the back seat of my jet as Red 10 in 2014 at RAF Akrotiri. Best #selfie ever in my opinion! #NationalSelfieDay #TBT
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More awful news. RIP Mary Ellis. A legend of the Air Transport Auxiliary. Over 1000 aircraft; 76 different types and over 400 Spitfires alone. I hope you’re enjoying a well-earned sherry up there with Joy Lofthouse again. Blue skies Ma’am #LestWeForget
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Wow! Air France Concorde with the Patrouille de France at La Ferté-Alais in 1988. (not sure who to credit with this vid I’m afraid)
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*Sentimental tweet alert*. Tonight my time in the @RoyalAirForce officially comes to an end after 21 incredible years. It’s been a true honour serving Her Majesty & this country, working with the most amazing people. Thanks to all who made it so brilliant. Per Ardua Ad Astra.
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10 years ago today. A day that changed my life. Forever grateful to Martin Baker’s ejection seat that meant I got out of this cockpit. Thank you @MB_EjectEject #10yearchallenge #OTD #OnThisDay
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It felt all a bit naughty over the top of @HeathrowAirport this afternoon - normally we have to avoid it like the plague!!
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The engine winds down on my 2585th and final flight in a red Hawk (yes ACTUAL FINAL this time!). 29 of these different red beauties flown over 1765 flying hours in 10 years. What an incredible privilege it has been to fly them #smokeoffgo
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Campaign to get ‘Er Indoors to allow this to be put up in the new abode. 1000 likes before Christmas Day and I reckon it’s a go.
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Sometimes the camera doesn’t do the view justice. A stunning transit from Newcastle to Dublin this evening with @jordanthorburn1 in the boot. Here’s Red 1 over Morecambe Bay
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“It’s not about medals, it’s not about thank yous but it’s nice to be remembered. Because being remembered covers everybody who served, flew & fought in the Battle of Britain, and being remembered is all that we want” RIP Sqn Ldr Geoffrey ‘Boy’ Wellum. The Few get fewer still 😢
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“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”.#BattleofBritainDay #LestWeForget
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Pinch. Me.
A massive congratulations to former @redarrows and current @thebladesteam pilot @MikeLingPilot for completing his first solo in The Grace Spitfire yesterday. We think the huge grin says it all!. We are excited to welcome Mike to the team. #spitfire #warbird #experience #avgeek
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Whoops. We went over the Second Severn Crossing again without paying. Tut tut! A lovely trip back to Lincolnshire from Cardiff @WalesOnline
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RT if you love this green and pleasant land. I certainly do! Stunning scenery flying home past the Yorkshire Dales this evening
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I might try this in the Hindhead Tunnel on the way home from Bournemouth this evening…. Incredible footage. Bravo all!
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It's Battle of Britain Day. A day to remember all those who played their part in saving this nation 77 years ago, in the air & on the ground
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This happened #OnThisDay three years ago - the last Vulcan formation at Southport. Looking at photos of it is one thing but mental images of buzzing over and around the formation with @stevebuckley79 in the boot to get the shots will stay with me forever #OTD #avgeek
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BEST. DAY. AT. WORK. EVER. This happened 6 years ago today and I still can’t stop going on about it! #OnThisDay #F1 #AvGeek #LewisHamilton
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If you’ve just finished your A-levels & have some spare time before university starts, you really should read this book. The hero who wrote it sadly died yesterday aged 96. When he was your age he was strapped into a Spitfire cockpit defending our country in the Battle of Britain
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I bloody love being British!. Bravo for all involved from the @RoyalAirForce and the magnificent parade beforehand. #TroopingtheColour
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Not a bad effort for a Line Abreast 9-ship at 30,000 feet over the Adriatic in September! A bit of #Friday nostalgia
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Woken up to dozens of messages of congratulations. Thank you all & to those who have supported me over the last 9 years. Red Ten MBE!.
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I was reminded of this classic yesterday - Horrible Histories from 2012. Hopefully it’ll raise a smile. #BattleOfBritain80 #BoB80
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Dear @BBC, . Please put this on again very soon (ideally tomorrow night!) in honour of Geoffrey Wellum and all of his colleagues who fought for us nearly 8 decades ago #LestWeForget . Retweet if you agree
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A change of plan for the summer. I’m honoured to be flying with the Red Arrows again in the Royal Air Force’s centenary year. Mixed emotions at a difficult time for the Team. My thoughts are with Flt Lt Stark as he recovers from his injuries and with Jon Bayliss’ family & friends
Details about the Red Arrows’ forthcoming season, including where the team is displaying in 2018, have been released. Read more information here:
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The most bizarre view for landing - in the Lancaster’s Rear Gunner’s turret. I heard of a quote today from a former Rear Gunner or ‘Tail End Charlie’; “First to take off and last to land”. Love it
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#OTD in 1943 at 2128, the first of 19 Lancasters took off from our home base of RAF Scampton to embark on one of the most famous missions in history. 8 of the aircraft failed to return and, of the 133 men who launched, 56 did not come back #Dambusters75 #LestWeForget
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Lunchtime low level in Wales. My backseater @caddy_mark captured this between Capel Curig and Bethesda this afternoon
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On 31 May 1998 I walked through the gates at RAF Cranwell to start my @RoyalAirForce career. I’m very sad to say that I’ve just arrived at Cranwell again to be dined out of the Service, ready to start a new chapter in 2019. What an adventure it’s been!!
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Flown multimillion pound jets, can’t put daughter’s hair in a ponytail.
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With the weather due to be nice this weekend, more people are likely to be heading out again. I couldn’t resist posting this (no idea who to credit I’m afraid) #StayHomeSaveLives
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Geek time. This little lady has done me proud. 175 flights in her since April and EVERY public display with her which is rather unprecedented. Cheers XX310 #AVGeek
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I sure am going to miss this view of coming home to Blighty. The White Cliffs of Dover looking splendid once again
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Cracking video of yesterday's @qatarairways Airbus A350 mixed formation. A great way to celebrate British aviation @RollsRoyce @Airbus
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RIP Richard Cooke, the incredibly talented photographer who snapped the @rafredarrows in this corking shot (and many more) in 1985
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Not sure this will work on here but this is the print I’m leaving for the Team, a mosaic made up of 500 happy memories. The real print is bigger, clearly!
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This happened a year ago today! Time flies, sadly the Vulcan doesn't anymore 😢. Pic by Cpl Steve Buckley
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We timed our @SunAirshow display tonight just right! I just snapped this from our hotel in Gateshead! #thunderstorm
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Remembering Eggman 5 years on. Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, Red 4, tragically lost his life in Bournemouth 20/8/11
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Signing off as Red 10 & passing the handle to Squadron Leader Adam Collins. Please follow him! In the words of Tony the Tiger, it's been.
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I’m sad to say that today is my last day with The Blades. I’ve been incredibly lucky to have had this opportunity and so many ace memories. The 141 displays were great fun but the real joy came from the 259 passengers I was fortunate to fly. On to the next adventure!. #smokeoffgo
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Dear Summer,. Do feel free to join us. Yours sincerely, .Britain.
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So proud to have this little lady as the new addition to the family, born on Wednesday morning. A huge thank you to everyone at @nottmhospitals and @NUHNeonatal for taking such good care of us this week
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Perhaps if #England reach the final, we should try this?. (Still not sure if this is a real pic) #ComeOnEngland #ENGvCOL #ENGCOL #WorldCup #ThreeLions
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I thought I’d post my award-winning photograph from 2016 as today is #WorldPhotoDay. (it’s the only competition I’ve ever won so please let me go on about it 😆). #WorldPhotographyDay
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Lovely sunshine meant great shadows on our transit home this evening! My backseater today (@jordanthorburn1) captured this during a flypast at Castle Bytham #smokeon
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A one-off blue heart tonight in Sunderland for wee Bradley 😢 #FlyHigh
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Wishing all the very best to the boys & girls who embark on the mammoth #RedArrowsTour of Canada & the US tomorrow. The transit across the Atlantic is something else. The views of Greenland are etched in my memory from the last tour in 2008. Absolutely beautiful!
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Look at these beauties basking in the Cardiff sunshine. I'm looking forward to strapping one to my back this afternoon for the flight home!
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A dark day. RIP Sqn Ldr George ‘Johnny’ Johnson MBE DFM, a legend & hero. Off to join Joe & the boys to fly ‘Chuck-Chuck’ higher than ever. Thank you for your unrelenting fight for your colleagues in Bomber Command to receive the honour they deserved. Blue skies Sir #LestWeForget
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I am so immensely proud of this team, especially this year. My tenth year awarded a red suit and still just as special #proud #teamwork #pda @rafredarrows
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It was difficult not to have a huge grin on my face. What a proud day & an INCREDIBLE experience! Thank you to everyone at Buckingham Palace
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2 years ago today - that’s crazy. This is definitely in my top 5 highlights of Red Arrows events. A very proud moment celebrating the centenary of the @RoyalAirForce
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#TBT Almost ten years to the day since the brilliant EJ van Koningsveld snapped this of me in my first year as Red 3. It was great to fly the complete 2018 display today for the first time, back as Red 3. We’re getting there. #practicemakesperfect
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“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”.
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I have to admit, that was rather emotional watching all that 😢. Well done @channel5_tv and @rafredarrows - looking forward to next week’s episode #redarrows.
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Who else gets goosebumps every time they hear the Last Post?. #ArmisticeDay #LestWeForget.
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What a truly amazing weekend. I can't thank everyone enough for the very kind comments. Even better to have Mini 10 there on her 2nd bday ☺️
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Another year, another May the 4th. Star Wars quotes & geekery allowed all day! Happy #StarWarsDay #MayThe4thBeWithYou (Pic by @megasam999)
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Happy 100th Birthday to the legend that is Johnny Johnson, the last surviving member of the Dambusters raid. One of my heroes.
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From this to this! From Red 3 to Blade 3. I’m incredibly excited that my next adventure is joining @thebladesteam full time for 2019. It’ll soon be #smokeongo all over again!! #avgeek
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14 years ago today I took this from the back seat of Red 8 over Langkawi, Malaysia #redarrows #OTD #OnThisDay
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Mint 👌🏻. Top work lads!!.
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Feeling quite emotional watching @BBCBreakfast. What an incredible chap Tony is. Legend. #TonyGotAFlypast.
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The gates to College Hall Officers' Mess at Royal Air Force College Cranwell this week #LestWeForget #wearyourpoppy #Remembrance
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Goodnight girls. A busy but cracking day in the southeast
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"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened". Sorry love, this pic's going on the wall! http://t.co/tzF0Rm0VK4.
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Brilliant capture by @llanbabo of Reds 1-5 (known as Enid - the famous five) on Saturday, flying along the A5 in North Wales
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🔊ON! A year ago today I was given the opportunity to fulfil a lifelong dream - to fly in the Lancaster. We performed a number of flypasts to celebrate #BattleOfBritainDay. Here’s my view on takeoff from the mid-upper turret. What an experience. Thank you again @RAFBBMF @Twigs95
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When I just explained to Isla about it being my last day in a red suit, she asked to put hers on and grabbed her ‘Daddy and Isla’ knitted dolls. Bless her! Thanks again @KnitsOnStix 😊
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I’m going to go to sleep tonight in the hope that when I wake up tomorrow it’s the 26th of June #TopGun.
Good morning, aviators. Watch the NEW trailer for #TopGun: Maverick starring @TomCruise - In theatres June 26, 2020.
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This happened a fortnight ago! A great formation with the USAF Thunderbirds for a flypast to open RIAT #partnerships (📸 SAC Hannah Smoker)
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Inbound for the flypast to open #FarnboroughAirshow yesterday with #F35. Fab overhead shot by Cpl Steve Buckley
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Back at RAF Scampton from Finland having been via a fuel stop in Denmark. Here's Reds 6-9 in Line Abreast at 28,000ft over the Netherlands
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If there’s one thing I wish I could have done as a Red Arrows pilot, it’s to have flown on this beauty’s wing. Find out which ex Red Arrows have this as their highlight of being in the Team - watch @Aerobility’s #ArmchairAirshow ‘Unseen’ on Sunday 1400 BST
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Nipper’s first flying lesson just before her third birthday 😍
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