AN EAST Lancashire football fan will herald in the new Wembley's first FA Cup Final in style - as part of a Red Arrows' fly-past.

Corporal Pete Targett, who is originally from Accrington, will fly at speeds of over 400 mph on the flight from RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire to London.

Pete, 34, was selected earlier this year to become one of just 10 Red Arrows engineers who fly as passengers as the aircraft travel around the country between air displays.

The fly-past before the final between Manchester United and Chelsea marks the start of the Red Arrows' 2007 display season.

He said: "The fly-past over the new Wembley will definitely be an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.

"It's great to be part of such a historic occasion.

"With any luck we should also be able to watch some of the match once we've landed back at our home base."

Pete, a former Mount Carmel High School, Accrington, pupil has spent more than 14 years with the Royal Air Force.

He is one of a 10-strong group of aircraft engineers which is known as the "circus".

Each of them is assigned to a specific aircraft and pilot throughout the summer display season.

He will travel as a passenger in one of the Red Arrows' two-seat Hawk aircraft in transit flights to more than 90 display venues through-out the Britain and Europe.

Once his aircraft arrives at the display's operating base, Pete will be responsible for servicing it before it can fly safely again.

Pete, a passionate Burnley FC supporter, joined the RAF as a propulsion technician in 1992.

He served on Tornado F3 and Jaguar aircraft before joining the Red Arrows. During his RAF career he has taken part in air operations in Bosnia and Iraq.

He now lives in Lincoln with his wife Michelle and 12-year-old son Thomas. He is also a keen sportsman who enjoys wakeboarding and cycling.

This year is the Red Arrows' 43rd display season. Since their creation in 1965, they have flown more than 4,000 displays in 52 countries.