Photo shows damage to helmet that saved Red 6 after bird strike

A picture has been posted on Twitter showing the helmet that saved a Red Arrows pilot following a bird strike during an air show.

The Red Arrows display was cut short at the Rhyl Air Show, in North Wales, after a bird smashed Red 6's cockpit canopy.

The RAF display team was forced to end the display early, but the damage to the helmet shows just how important the safety equipment is to the Red Arrows pilots.

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Squadron Leader Gregor Ogston, Red 6 for the 2022 season, replied "Thanks 🙏" to a tweet of the image, which shows large cracks on the right-hand side of the helmet.

The helmet not only protected Sqn Ldr Ogston from the initial strike, but also from any debris and wind blast that followed.

Earlier this week, the Red Arrows said on Twitter "this type of incident is not uncommon in aviation and is extremely well-trained for".