For my weekly writing spot on this site, see the One-Minute Mystic, with a new meditation posted every Monday. Also see The Village, the story of Misty Longings, England's most beautiful village, posted episode by episode earlier this year.       Eclat     Their badge shows the trademark Diamond 9 formation, with the motto eclat – French for 'excellence' or 'brilliance'. But it's tragedy that has recently brought the Red Arrows into popular consciousness. So who are they? 33-year old Jon Egging, known as 'Eggman', had just completed the Red Arrows display at the Bournemouth Air Festival when his plane crashed. He'd been with the team for less than a year. The cause of the accident remains under investigation but evidence suggests birds may have been caught in the engine. All pilots who fly for the team must have completed at least one operational tour of duty. Jon had flown Harriers in Afghanistan before dying in Bournemouth, Red 4 in the Diamond 9. It had always been his ambition to fly for the Red Arrows, who were formed in 1965 and have since completed over 4000 displays in 53 different countries. But ambition is one thing; coming through the selection process is another. There are nine display pilots each year, all volunteers, with three pilots changed annually. Around 30 pilots apply for the three available places. These are whittled down to a short list of nine. After this, there are flying tests and of those who pass, three are chosen to join the team. The Red Arrows are a democracy. The new team members are selected by the existing team members in closed session, based on their personal qualities. In 2010, the first female pilot Flt. Lt. Kirsty Moore was chosen to fly for the Red Arrows. Others had previously applied, but none had been selected. Each team member is irreplaceable. There are no reserve pilots, as it would be impossible to learn all nine positions to the required standard. If a member of the team is unavailable, they fly an eight plane formation. If Team leader Red 1 is unable to fly, they don't fly at all. And if you're thinking about them for your summer fare next year, the latest price quoted is £9000, which manages to sound simultaneously expensive and rather cheap. Flying for the Red Arrows is not a holiday with both training and the displays. Their busiest year on record was 1995 when they gave 136 performances. And there's pressure in the cockpit in more ways than one. While flying, they experience forces up to five times that of gravity. When performing the acrobatic 'vixen break' it rises to 7 g – seven times that of gravity. The structure limit for the aircraft is 8 g. I once saw the Red Arrows and it happened quite by chance. I was contemplating the choppy sea from the cliffs above Eastbourne when suddenly their planes were shooting overhead, incredibly low, loud and brilliant. It was not an easy time in my life but my melancholy was shattered by this surprising visitation. Angels shock with their unexpectedness and so did the Red Arrows that day. It was all courage and skill in the pilots but all grace for me. More writings © Simon Parke