At exactly 8.12pm British Summer Time - 2012 on the 24-hour clock, the aerobatics team thrilled 62,000 spectators as nine Red Arrows Hawk jets travelled across the London 2012 Stratford site - leaving behind a trail of red, white and blue – Team GB's colours.

The spectacular 600 miles per hour display brought the streets of Stratford to a standstill as onlookers gazed up to catch a glimpse of the jets on their way past.

Speaking to the Daily Record, Martin said: “The Olympic flypast could easily be the absolute pinnacle of my career as we go over the stadium and all of the Olympic live sites across the United Kingdom on the same day.

“There is a feeling of immense pride to be part of events like this and it was an amazing day.”

Martin, who completed his A-Levels in mathematics, further mathematics and physics, now studies in his spare time for an Open University mathematics degree.

The 31-year-old joined the Royal Air Force in February 2000 as a non-graduate Direct Entrant Officer Cadet, and after progressing through the Force, more recently (in 2010), he became the 1(F) Sqn Qualified Flying Instructor and conducted the last sortie to honour the Harrier GR9 bow out of service.

After serving in Afghanistan, in February 2011, Martin was posted to 100 Sqn, RAF Leeming. He joined the Red Arrows squadron later that year for the start of his three-year rotation with the unit.

Martin said: “I had always wanted to go into the Red Arrows. There’s six months of training, which is pretty intense, and a lot of hard work, but when you arrive to do to the displays you really see the fruits of your labour because the crowds absolutely love it.”