| Firebirds' Bird of Fire   In a welcome change back to
flamboyant display colours, 56(R) Squadron (nicknamed the 'Firebirds') have applied a
striking new paint scheme to this year's display aircraft, ZE339. Comprising of a red
spine with yellow flames enveloping an enlarged phoenix on the tail, it should prove to be
popular with spectators more used to seeing drab grey aeroplanes from the RAF in recent
years.
 This is the second time ZE339 has been used for
display flying, as in 1992 it wore a special
scheme in the colours of 25 Squadron from Leeming who were providing that year's team.
This year, as last, 56(R) is again represented by Flt Lt Anthony 'Parky' Parkinson and Flt
Lt David Hake.
UPDATE: It is rumoured that the AOC of
Strike Command has not approved of the dramatic colour scheme and is refusing it to appear
on the display circuit. We hope this not the case, as rarely has the RAF had such a
potential crowd-puller on the show circuit.
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