Red Arrows announce major change to air shows after full summer display schedule confirmed

The Red Arrows have announced a major change to their air shows for the summer as dates for the upcoming displays have confirmed.

The daredevil team are changing their aircraft formation this summer due to ageing fleet maintenance.

The aircraft team, formerly the RAF Aerobatic team, will reduce the number of their aircraft from nine to seven while they transition ‘to a future aircraft type’.

All nine Hawk T1 jets will still take to the skies for their annual flypast for the King’s Birthday in June, and a full formation is also expected when the Red Arrows cross the pond for the July 4 250th anniversary celebrations in the US.

The ageing fleet has performed nearly 4,000 displays across the globe.

Substantial maintenance is now required to keep the famous aerobatic aircraft flying, with critical components such as engines becoming harder to come by.

They are now set to be replaced by 2030 after the Conservative government extended their out-of-service date in 2021.

It’s not the first time the fleet has flown in a formation of seven, having previously done so during the 1960s and again in 2012 and 2022.

The news comes as the Red Arrows has confirmed its full schedule for its summer displays, starting on Friday in Torbay for the English Riviera Airshow before heading north for the Midlands Air Festival over the weekend.

A spokesperson for the RAF said: ‘The Red Arrows are the pride of the nation, known globally for their world-class precision, speed, and teamwork.

‘The Red Arrows will fly in a nine-aircraft formation for HM The King’s Birthday Flypast and the 4th of July 250th Commemorations in the USA this year.

‘For other displays, they will operate with seven aircraft, continuing to deliver high-quality, engaging displays at air shows and events across the UK, mainland Europe and further afield.

‘This will support the sustainable management of the Hawk T1 fleet and prepare the team for a transition to a future aircraft type.’

Royal International Air Tattoo cancelled

The news comes as the air force was forced to cancel this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo, originally set to take place between July 16 and 18, due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

The RAF Air Cadets HQ said it would not be ‘safe’ or ‘possible’ to perform the annual airshow with increased missions operating from RAF Fairford and the force needing to be on standby around the clock.

It said: ‘We understand that this news will cause a great deal of concern, disappointment, and frustration for many of you.

RIAT is the absolute highlight of the year for so many of our cadets and adult volunteers, and we know just how much passion, time, and meticulous planning our community had already poured into preparing for this summer’s event.

It added: ‘To see that hard work halted so close to the event is deeply upsetting for all of us.’

The website for the event confirmed that those who purchased a ticket will be offered a choice to roll their tickets over to the 2027 event, receive a full refund or donate the cost of their ticket to the RAF Charitable Trust.

Gavin Gager, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises, said: ‘We know how much RIAT means to everyone, and recognise how disappointing this news will be. It is a disappointment we feel just as strongly.

‘We would like to thank everyone for their support, loyalty, and understanding. Looking ahead, we look forward to welcoming everyone back in 2027, and to making sure RIAT comes back stronger than ever.’

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