Behind The Scenes With The RAF Falcons

Forces News has gone behind the scenes of the RAF Falcons as they prepare to parachute into Armed Forces Day this weekend. 

The team can reach speeds of up to 120 miles per hour and their colourful aerial display is what makes their work so eye-catching.

Rigorous weather checks are made before every practice jump.

Sergeant Lee Connan from the RAF Falcons said: "Challenging windy conditions today, right on the limit to be honest so we were lucky to get out there.

"You get a lot less air from the canopy (when it is windy), the turns are a lot quicker...so less reaction time and when you come into land, your land is a little bit different.

"In nil winds you come in a bit quicker, when you got high winds you come in a little bit slower."

Despite, weather always being a potential problem for the Falcons, the team does in fact have three different routines depending on the weather.

But for those watching their routine, it is hard to image what it is like to be a part of the daring team. 

Sergeant Alastair Donald said: "When you're in the aircraft you're really focused on what you got to do and even when you jump out of the aircraft, you're really focusing, just looking at the canopies below.

"And then when you land, you kind of realise your heartbeat is racing and realise the crowd and then you get the feel for the atmosphere."

After completing their last practice session, the team packed up their equipment as they look forward to diving into Armed Forces Day 2018 on Saturday - one of their biggest events of the year.

Sergeant Connan said: "I'm looking forward to jumping into Llandudno.

"We'll get a good reception there, there's meant to be a few thousand people there so yeah, always looking forward to the event."