Red Arrows to display seven aircraft instead of nine at Armed Forces weekend
THE RAF say there will be new displays when the Red Arrows visit Cleethorpes next month - but will be displaying seven aircraft instead of the usual nine.
Training is underway for the new season of displays with the RAF Aerobatic Team.
They will be over Cleethorpes just minutes after their show at The National Armed Forces Weekend in Scarborough on June 25.
The RAF said the team are excited to be preparing for a summer full of great events, including Cleethorpes. They started preparing for the summer season with practice training in Greece.
This year, the RAF Red Arrows will display with a seven-aircraft formation, rather than nine, as two of the formation pilots have moved to other roles within the RAF.
An RAF spokesperson said: “Performing as a seven-aircraft display is something the Red Arrows often prepare for and have carried out several times in the past when a situation dictates, such as illness or aircraft availability. For national flypast events, it is intended that the team will consist of all nine aircraft, with experienced Red Arrows pilots completing the formation.
“The 2022 display will feature all of the same breath-taking flying, dynamic teamwork and world-class precision the millions watching always expect – combining crowdfavourite manoeuvres with new shapes. All of the team are hard at work, perfecting and polishing this display ahead of the season beginning in late May.
“We look forward to displaying the best of British in what promises to be the team’s busiest campaign since 2018.”
It comes as a member of the Red Arrows RAF aerobatic team has been withdrawn from a training camp in Greece for “personal reasons.” The RAF has declined to comment further but added the remaining members were continuing with their display training.
The team is normally based at RAF Scampton and is due to relocate to RAF Waddington before the end of the year.