Boys & Girls Club Blog

July 24, 2026

OSHKOSH, Wis. — For a group of kids in the Quest program at the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh, Thursday started like any other summer day. But soon they were peppering members of the elite Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows with questions about supersonic flight, the colored smoke that the aerobatic team’s jets stream during airshows, and whether it’s scary to fly in tight formation at hundreds of miles an hour.

The visit came during the Red Arrows’ historic first appearance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026, where the nine-jet aerobatic team is flying afternoon air shows July 24–26 as part of an extended U.S. tour. Between their arrival and airshows, members of the team carved out time to stop by the Club for a conversation with kids who had plenty on their minds.

“How do you create smoke that comes out of the planes?” one Club member asked, prompting an explanation of how the jets’ exhaust produce the team’s signature red, white, and blue trails. “Can you go faster than the speed of sound?” asked another — a fair question for a team known for flying in some of the tightest formations in the world. One Club member wanted to know what the pilots did before they became pilots, curious whether flying jets was always the plan. And, inevitably, someone asked the question every kid wants to ask a fighter pilot: “Is it scary?”

“Not scary. Just fun,” said “Red 5” Flight Lieutenant Dustin Wales, drawing laughs.

Wales was joined by Squadron Leader Doug Smith during the morning visit to the Club.

The Red Arrows, formally known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, have been dazzling crowds since 1965 and are now in their 62nd season. The team has flown nearly 5,000 displays across 57 countries, using the British-built Hawk T1 jet to execute tight formations and precision aerobatics that have made them one of the most recognizable military display teams in the world.

Beyond their air show performances, the Red Arrows serve as ambassadors for the United Kingdom at home and abroad and play a role in recruiting for the Royal Air Force, promoting the best of British military aviation. Their stop at AirVenture 2026 marks the first time the team has performed at the show.

Tracy Ogden, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh, said the visit was about more than a fun morning.

“Having the Red Arrows spend time with our Quest kids is exactly the kind of moment we hope for,” Ogden said. “These are some of the most accomplished pilots in the world, and our kids got to sit with them, ask real questions, and see that these are people who worked hard and followed a path. We’re so grateful to the Red Arrows and to EAA for making this happen. It’s one more opportunity for our Club kids to meet high-achievers up close, dream big and, maybe, start to picture themselves as future pilots or shaping a career in aviation someday.”