Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore
Job role: Pilot

Joined the RAF: 1998

Overseas travel: USA, Canada, Iraq, Cyprus

Career highlights:

• Finding out that I’d been chosen to join the Red Arrows. It was quite possibly one of the best things I’ve ever been told!
• My fast jet training. It was challenging but really good fun. I used to love doing the low level stuff flying.

‘I was thrilled to find out that I’d been chosen to join the Red Arrows. I walked into the office where my Squadron boss and Station Commander were waiting and saluted, then the Station Commander said: ‘You’re going to have to tighten up that salute when you join the Red Arrows, Kirsty.’ I couldn’t believe it, I was really excited.

‘I’ll be training with the team over the next few months and will start display flying in 2010. The formation flying that the Reds do is based on a skill that you get taught early on in flying training. It’s is often used to get a group of aircraft from A to B, especially fast jets. The difference here is that we build in some pretty daring aerobatics! Also, you’d usually only have four aircraft in formation on operations whereas here we have nine.

‘In my previous role I flew the Tornado GR4 which was brilliant. I did quite a bit of travelling in the first couple of years, the squadron did several exercises in America and Canada and I did two operational tours in Iraq. It can be a little bit daunting at first, but once you get in the air and you’re talking to the guys on the ground, you realise you’re helping them to feel safer. It’s great to be able to offer our troops that level of support.’

Web Chat session with Flight Lieutenant Kirsty Moore - Wednesday 25 November 2009

Scott Walker: Hi Kirsty, first of all congratulations on your acheivment, on tuesday december 1st I have my AFCO Interview and my branch choice is Pilot, can you give me any advice or tips you thought were useful in your interviews?

Kirsty Moore: Biggest tip is just to be yourself. And to not blag an answer. If you don't know the answer be honest. A little bit of prep about current affairs and the RAF in general will give you some confidence to go in and be yourself again. GOOD LUCK!

DanC: How long did it take you to finish IOT?

Kirsty Moore: IOT was 6 months when I did it. I graduated in 2000.

tparker: Did you go to university? If so what did you study?

Kirsty Moore: Yes I did go to uni. I went to Imperial college and studied aeronautical engineering. So that I had a back up if I didn't make the grade as a pilot. I wanted a backup Degree to give me options really. And also I got to study in Munich for four months which I wouldn't change for the world!

MrP: Good Evening Ma'am,

I myself am a Cadet within the Air Training Corps and wondered if you were ever a part of it yourself? If so, would you deem it a good thing when you are going foward for your NCO Training or OASC whichever maybe the course for the person?

Kirsty Moore: Unfortunately I went to a boarding school which made it impossible to be in the ATC (Air training corps). However, many of my friends including some who are now in the Red Arrows in the air force started off as a cadets.

Katy: Evening Kirsty, hope you're well. As a civvy commercial pilot, I considered joining the RAF but ended up unable to fly as pilot due eyesight. Was commercial aviation something you ever considered or, indeed, is it something that you'd be interested in upon leaving the RAF?

Kirsty Moore: I've never been interested in commercial airlines. I enjoy the flying that the air force gives me when I finally finish with the air force I think it will be time for a change of scene. I've been in the Air force since 1998 so it's quite a while. For me the royal air force is my career!

I.S.BASSAN: what inspired you to become a pilot in the RAF?

Kirsty Moore: My father was a GR1 Navigator (on a Tornado) - and I used to hang out on his squadron in the summer holidays. I really enjoyed being part of the squadron extended family. And as soon as they let women fly military air craft I knew I had found something that I wanted to do.

Stewart: Whats your most memorable situation as a pilot in the RAF?

Kirsty Moore: Obviously the day I found I got in the Red Arrows! Has to be up there. But also some of the training we did in America whilst I was on the tornado was a great experience and we also based in Vegas which was great on the weekends!!!

Ali Wilkins: Will getting a PPL (private pilot license) before joining the RAF as a pilot give you an advantage at all??

Kirsty Moore: I didn't have a PPL but I had been awarded an RAF flying scholarship before I applied to the air force. I did this through the AFCO (careers office) This allowed me to see if I was actually good enough to be able to fly and gave me a bit of experience of the RAF application process which gave me confidence in the interviews.

I.S.BASSAN: What 'Red' number are you, like Red 7, or Red5, etc?

Kirsty Moore: I'm 3!

Cpl-Mowatt: What was the most challenging part of your training?

Kirsty Moore: In terms of flying it's definitely the formation aerobatic training I'm doing now. However, as part of pilot training all pilots have to do survival training and the final survival, escape and evasion exercise was particularly demanding. I like my food! And being denied it and still having to evade capture was tough!

tom1986: Hello Kirsty firstly congratulations. can i ask how much say - if any - have you had in your choice of travel with your work both domestically and abroad and what have been the highs and lows?

Kirsty Moore: No. When you're on a squadron, you deploy either on exercise or on operations together. It's important that we both train and operate together as a team. Highlights - again the highlight has to be getting the Red Arrows job. The lows - there's definitely no lows about my job right now!!!!

Jonathan: Hi Kirsty - a couple of questions, firstly, if you had to sum up why you wanted to join the Air Force what would you say? Also, are you at all apprehensive about trainig with the Reds? Hopefully you'll be at the Cosford Air Show next summer, as I'm on the University of Birmingham Air Squadron and would love to meet you guys!

Kirsty Moore: With your first bit of question - if you scroll up had a similar question above! Rest of your question.... I'd be lieing if I said that I wasn't apprehensive (good word) about starting training with the Reds. They have such a great reputation and you never really know whether you're going to be good at something until you try it. It's definitely not easy but we're getting there!

MrP: Do you have any positions (rank, job) that you like to finish your career on?

Kirsty Moore: I'd like to run the place!........... Actually I've realised that you never quite know where the air force is going to take you. Who knows what will happen when I finish my reds tour. But whatever it is - it's going to be interesting.

PTI Hopeful!: What aircraft have you enjoyed flying the most?

Kirsty Moore: That's a good question! I LOVE flying the hawk because it's so responsive almost like a sports car! (From a pure flying perspective the hawk wins hands down). However, the tornado was really satisfying from a tactical point of view.

FSLawrence: Hiya Kirsty, what would you say would be the highlight of your career so far except for being in the reds?

Kirsty Moore: On the tornado there's a qualification called Fours Lead. I was awarded mine during an exercise in Scotland. It was a really tough week and the flying was really tactically demanding. So I had a great sense of satisfaction when I was told I got it. Fours Lead - means that I can be in the lead air craft of a formation of four aircraft. We were flying practice missions which means at times we were all in different places. But all trying to hit a target on time. And we were being "hunted" by other air craft - so I had to coordinate the whole sortee (mission).

Cpl-Mowatt: How often do you get to fly in a week?

Kirsty Moore: At the minute we fly three training sortees a day, 5 days a week. Which is EXHAUSTING! The sortees are actually only 30 minutes long. But it's the level of focus that's required that makes it so challenging.

jackk648: how long did it take for you to get to grips with the high speed of the tornado but also the hawk

Kirsty Moore: Weirdly, the high speed at low level doesn't change how you operate an aircraft compared to a slower one. We use something called a 'work cycle' which means for example; every ten minutes I'll check the fuel. It's just that in the tornado I've travelled further in that time than I would have in a tutor aircraft. Because we're airborne, high speed doesn't feel the same as it does in a car because things aren't flashing past the window. And we get used to looking much further ahead for example - at low level I'll be looking about seven miles ahead which is actually a minute away. I would be travelling at say 420 knots (about 450 miles per hour!!!!!)

MrP: When you began your careers as an Officer in the RAF, did you ever see yourself where you are now as a Red Arrows pilot?

Kirsty Moore: My main focus when I first got in the air force, was just to complete flying training (fast jet if I could). Having done that, I started looking at where I could take it. To be honest, it was only about 2 years ago - that I realised that I had a chance at certainly applying for the Red Arrows. It was exciting realising that I had a bit of a chance.

Lewis Scott: Do you get to choose the type of aircraft you fly when you start your training?

Kirsty Moore: There are times when you can put preferences in, but it's important that we have enough crews for all our aircraft types. And sometimes you don't always get your first choice. However, I know several people who didn't make fast jet pilots, but are now flying Chinooks and I know they wouldn't change it for the world.

Charlie: What is your favourite manouver to fly in the red arrows?

Kirsty Moore: At the minute I haven't really managed a completely perfect manouver!!!! But I really enjoy the initial fly over the crowd and following loop that the red arrows are famous for starting their show with. We have also just started practising some of the breaks from the second half of the display. It's a good chance for me to pull some G!!!! And to look out the front of the air craft for a change!

Henry_Mc: What does a pilot in the RAF do on a typical day when they are not flying?

Kirsty Moore: Unfortunately the weather can stop us doing what all pilots like to do. But it does give us a chance to catch up on all of the ground admin and secondary duties that we all have. Such as I'm in charge of rations on the squadrons and keeping 8 other pilots happy is sometimes tricky!

PTI Hopeful!: Hi Kirsty. If you don't mind me asking, I wanted to know whether you have ever experienced any low points during your career, or any phase of training that you have found less enjoyable compared to other stages of it?

Kirsty Moore: As with any training, you always have good days and bad days. But it's how you deal with it which is important. For example: this week has been particularly tough for me. Especially with all the wind we've had! But you have to keep focussed and remind yourself of your end goal.

davey kuhl: how does it fell to be upside down

Kirsty Moore: That's a good one! I used to make a point of going upside down on EVERY SINGLE INSTRUCTIONAL SORTIE when I was an instructor at RAF Valley. It would remind the student of why they joined the air force in the first place. Nowadays, I'm always looking at the boss (Red1) when I'm upside down. And trying to hold the same references. So, sometimes, I don't even notice!!!!

Dr.Loush: When did you actually find out you had been accepted into the arrows?

Kirsty Moore: That's a funny story, well not funny story but mildly amusing! I knew I was going to find out on the Friday and the station commander had come in to my boss's office to speak to him. They called me in so I put my hat on, and threw up a salute when I entered the office. Unfortunately, I was so nervous my hat was not exactly placed perfectly on my head. The station commander looked at me and said "you're really gonna have to sort out your head dress now that you're in the Red Arrows!" I was speechless. And kept asking my boss if it really had happened.

MrP: In your "spare" time that you have do you have any other hoobies that you like to venture on or do you prefer to stay on base?

Kirsty Moore: My husband and I both love being in the mountains. We love to mountain bike, walk, and climb. I've moved about with the air force quite a bit. And it's given me a great chance to check out lots of different areas of the UK.

FSLawrence: Would you ever like to try Rotary Flying?

Kirsty Moore: I've never flown a hellicopter, although I've flown in them. I have to admitt, they seem incredibly difficult to fly. And I'm not sure I'd be up to the job! Give me something with solid wings and an ejection seat any day!

finch: Are there older RAF aircraft that you would have like to fly more than the tornado, lightening etc?

Kirsty Moore: Obviously pretty much every pilot I know would love to fly a spitfire or a hurricane. Some of the lightning /phantom era aircraft would be great to have a go at!

Adam Swann: You said in a pervious question that you get to look out the front of the plane durring breaks with the reds, if you don't mind me asking where are you looking the rest of the time?

Kirsty Moore: I just fly with my eyes shut......it's very scary being that close to the boss......(Kidding!) Actually I'm flying entirely off the boss (Red1) when we're in formation. Wherever he goes I go (or thereabouts).

Charlie: Is the job of a pilot as good as it looks ( absolutely amazing)? Do you ever get bored?

Kirsty Moore: I've never been bored as a pilot. And the best thing about being a pilot in the air force is that every three years or so your job will change and bring new and very different challenges. Whether that's a new air craft or instruction, or a new skill (like the Red Arrows for me at the minute).

Bridget xXx: Are you at Akrotiri at the moment or still Lincolnshire ?

Kirsty Moore: The Red Arrows train in Lincolnshire from RAF Scampton during the winter season. In April we travel to Cyprus for four or five weeks to finalise the training. So at the minute, I'm enjoying all really strong wind and turbulence that we've got in the UK.

Nathan: If you had been unsuccessfull as a RAF Pilot, would you have considered any other Aircrew role or any other Officer Branch?

Kirsty Moore: I personally decided that I would apply as a pilot only. It's difficult to know if I had failed training whether I would have swapped in to another branch. I know many people who have and are enjoying a different job in the RAF.

Charlie: In Scotland I've seen lots of jets fly close past, and I like to imagine that the pilot is waving back. Do you ever notice people waving or looking at such speeds?

Kirsty Moore: One of my favourite places to fly used to be the Lake district. I've often stood on the top of a hill, waving at a jet in the hope it's one of my friends! Because of that - if I ever see anyone waving at me, I would always fly over the top and sometimes waggle my wings!

Neil: Hello Kirsty. I see you've been to Canada, Cyprus etc. Where is your favourite place to be posted (and to fly) and why?

Kirsty Moore: Most of my overseas time in the military has only been for a few weeks at a time. The exercises that we do in America and Canada, train us to work with the Army in the same way as we do when on operations. Which is invaluable. In terms of down time - I have to say that my first experience of Las Vegas is one that I will NEVER forget! Before the red arrows, I had also applied for an exchange posting in Sandiego with the US Marine Corps. I would have loved to live in America for a short time.

essexrow: How did you get to the standard of being a Red Arrow? Was it natural ability or did you train more than a regular pilot before applying?

Kirsty Moore: Without a doubt - you need a certain amount of natural ability to be a pilot. Before Red Arrows selection I hadn't flown the hawk for three years. So I was nervous about the flying test. But the test is designed such that they can see your potential rather than how good you are at flying specific air craft.

FSLawrence: Kirtsy have you ever tried gliding?

Kirsty Moore: Yes I felt REALLY SICK! All that going around in a circle to gain height!!!!! I prefer my air craft with engines!

Daniel Raw: What is the most exciting thing about being in the RAF and in the Red Arrows?

Kirsty Moore: It's got to be the flying! But also - I've never met so many people who are so behind the RAF and the Red Arrows as I have done in the last six months. It's really nice to know that we have so much public support!

Kirsty Moore: Thank you all so much for all the questions I'm sorry I didn't get to answer all of them. Good luck for those of you applying to join the RAF and hopefully I'll meet some of you in the next three years at an airshow near you (cheezy grin!)

Views expressed during the web chats are those of individuals and do not necessarily reflect RAF policy.