The Red Arrows squadron leader has said a TV series documenting the team’s overseas tour across North America was made to be “as real as possible”.

Currently viewers are being treated to a four-part Channel 5 documentary that follows the world famous aerobatic display team on their 22,000 mile journey across Canada and the United States from 2019.

In the episodes that have aired so far, viewers have been given a behind the scenes look of the challenges the red jets have faced as they performed air shows and flew with the US Thunderbirds and F-22 Raptor Demo Team in New York across the Hudson River.

Martin Pert, who grew up in Abbots Langley and led the Red Arrows during the tour, said the team wanted to hide nothing as camera crews followed them during their first tour in North America in a decade.

He said: “We tried to make things as real as possible for viewers during our three-and-a-half-month tour last year.

“Having the cameras travel with us really added to the spotlight and gives a good insight into what we do.”

So far in the documentary series weather has been the main challenge facing the red jets, forcing the team re-schedule shows due to dangerous flying conditions.

Watford Observer:

Red Arrows flying over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (photo MOD Crown Copyright)

Mr Pert said: “Flight safety is vital for us and with there being thunderstorms being three to four times bigger than what we see here in the UK, it makes it unsafe to fly.

“We saw the worst weather around Chicago and the West Coast, it was usually quite wet and damp in those areas.”

But Mr Pert said that overall the team’s first tour in America in a decade was “relentless but amazing”.

And in the next few episodes Mr Pert said viewers can expect to see more flying around the North American continent and displays with other teams.

He added: “To fly with another team is a huge privilege and it is great fun for us.

“For example flying with the Thunderbirds over the Hudson for the first time was just an iconic moment for the whole team.

"We love to see how other teams do their business and how they fly.”

Mr Pert added that even though the red jets can not fly as close as some teams such as the Blue Angels, they aim to put on a "more complex show".

And speaking about the crowds in the US, Mr Pert added: "The crowds were also amazing in the US. They travel far and wide to watch us and they are as warm as ever.

"They also clap like mad when we fly past, it is great to see."