Local Photographer’s Dream Takes Flight with the Red Arrows

A young man from Llanelli has fulfilled a lifelong dream by soaring through the skies with the Red Arrows, the renowned Royal Air Force aerobatic team.

On Thursday June 5th, Iwan did what most of us can only dream of. He flew with the Red Arrows straight over his parent’s home near Llannerch in Llanelli with the jets releasing smoke as a tribute to Iwan’s parents.

Red Arrows flying over Llanelli (courtesy of Iwan Lewis)

Iwan, originally from Llanelli, has maintained strong ties with his roots, regularly sharing photos and videos from his travels with Llanelli Online. Just last week, he informed the community that the Red Arrows would be flying over Llanelli and Carmarthenshire on their way to RAF Valley.

Little did we know, that the iconic jets would also fly past our offices, a delightful surprise for everyone. Whether it was Iwan’s influence or just a happy coincidence is uncertain, nonetheless, the moment was unforgettable.

Iwan Lewis, who once worked as a reporter and photographer for Llanelli Online, covered numerous major news stories. His keen eye for capturing moments led him to a pivotal encounter at the Royal Welsh in Builth Wells, where he met the RAF photography team.

Shortly after, Iwan faced a life-changing decision: join one of Wales’ major newspapers, Wales Online, or the RAF. He chose the latter, embarking on an extraordinary journey across the globe as the official photographer for the Red Arrows. He trained at RAF Coningsby where he became part of one of the world’s most renowned Air Forces.

Iwan’s work has showcased stunning imagery of the aerobatic team. His photograph of a Eurofighter Typhoon jet flying over the White Cliffs of Dover was even named the RAF People’s Choice Photograph of the Year. On achieving this, Lewis said:

“Having such a unique vantage point looking down as the Typhoon flew the Union Flag colours over one of the country’s most iconic locations was a photographer’s dream.”

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Iwan Lewis Collection: Facebook

Iwan has covered national events such as the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II, aerial tributes to Captain Tom and incredible displays by the Red Arrows like the ones featured in our gallery, flying over the Niagara Falls in Canada.

All at Llanelli Online and Carmarthenshire News Online wish Iwan continued success in his role as the official photographer for the RAF Red Arrows Display Team.