A WORCESTERSHIRE fighter pilot will be joining the ranks of Britain’s elite air force display team.

Flight Lieutenant Ben Plank, of Kidderminster, is now a member of the lucky few privileged to fly as a member of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, better known as the Red Arrows.

Flt Lt Plank – call sign Red 2 – said he had always dreamed of joining the ranks when he watched them as a youngster.

He described being picked for the job as “the pinnacle” of his career.

The 30-year-old joins the 2010 pilot line-up based at RAF Scampton in Lincoln and will travel around the world performing at airshows.

About 30 pilots apply for the prestigious places on the team each year, with only two being chosen.

Flt Lt Plank will join Kirsty Moore, aged 31, who hit the headlines by becoming the first female Red Arrows pilot. To join, pilots must meet strict criteria and prove they are the best of the best.

“I can remember being taken to an airshow when I was little and just being so in awe of the Red Arrows,” he said.

“For me, being selected for the team is the pinnacle of my career so far, and I hope that I will help to inspire future generations of fast-jet pilots.”