Summary

  • Red Arrows are esteemed RAF pilots with frontline fighter experience, representing speed, agility, and precision.
  • With nearly 5,000 displays in 57 countries, Red Arrows are key ambassadors for the UK and the RAF.
  • Celebrating their 60th diamond season in 2024 with memorable displays worldwide and a focus on UK, Europe, and Canada.

The Red Arrows are one of the most famous aerobatics display teams in the world. They are the display team of the Royal Air Force (RAF) and were first formed in 1964. They are seen at many important events (such as important Royal-related events) and have become a prominent part of British pop culture (they even helped British Airways celebrate 100 years in 2019). As 2024 is the Diamond (60th) anniversary of the Red Arrows, they have a packed schedule and will fly in the UK (inc. Isle of Man and Guernsey), Greece, France, Norway, and Canada.

1

Representing the RAF

The Red Arrow pilots are frontline (often fighter) pilots with operational experience.

Number of pilots:

11

Support team:

Approx. 100

Jets flown:

Hawk T1A

The Red Arrows are more than just streaks of pretty colors in the air; they represent the speed, agility, and precision of the RAF. They are the public or PR face of the British Royal Air Force and help recruit for the British Armed Forces. They are used as ambassadors for the United Kingdom, both domestically and overseas.

The RAF Red Arrows performing during an air show.

Photo: sam-whitfield1 | Shutterstock

The Red Arrows team comprises pilots, engineers, and essential support staff with frontline operational experience. All the Red Arrow display pilots have also flown operationally (including with Britain’s advanced Typhoon fighter jet). This means that the RAF selects only some of the best RAF pilots to be Red Arrow pilots.

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2

Thousands of displays worldwide

The Red Arrows have flown thousands of displays in over a quarter of the nations on Earth.

Number of displays:

almost 5,000

Countries performed:

57 countries

Session:

60th session

By the beginning of 2024, Royal Air Force Red Arrows have now flown almost 5,000 displays in 57 countries around the world. One of the great tour examples of the Red Arrows was the 2016 Asia-Pacific and Middle East Tour. During nine weeks, the team visited 17 countries and drew an audience of a billion people (including being seen in China for the first time).

Five Red Arrows BAE Hawks With Tricolor Smoke Trails Flying in the sky.

Photo: DroneArt Video & Images | Shutterstock

Another great tour came in 2019, when the team toured North America for 11 weeks and was seen by hundreds of millions of people who watched the team live at events, through media, online, or otherwise.

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3

60th Diamond season

The 2024 has a crammed itinerary focusing on the D-Day Landings and shows across the UK, mainland Europe, and Canada.

2024 Season:

Late May to early October

Where:

UK, mainland Europe, Canada

First:

May 21 in Crete (commemorating the Battle of Crete at Souda Bay)

The Red Arrows are preparing for their diamond season to celebrate 60 years of operations. The first public appearance for the demand campaign is scheduled for late May. After that, the Red Arrows will make their appearance on dozens of days throughout the year. Two notable dates in the UK include the HM The King’s Birthday Flypast in London on June 15 and the Duxford End of Season Finale on October 5.

Red Arrows

Photo: ATGImages | Shutterstock

Notable planned displays for the Red Arrows include the Blackpool Airshow, the Eastbourne International Air Show, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and Armed Forces Day. As 2024 is also the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the Red Arrows are expected to focus mostly along the English Channel. June 2-5 will feature shows on both sides of the English Channel related to the D-Day invasion The season will run until early-October.

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4

Red Arrows in Canada

The Red Arrows will be ambassadors of the long and deep relationship between Canada and the UK during the RCAF’s centennial celebrations.

Dates in Canada:

August 24 to September 20

Canadian Events:

Air Show Atlantic (Nova Scotia), Canadian International Air Show (Toronto), Airshow London (Ontario), Aero Gatineau-Ottawa (Quebec)

Canadian flypasts:

Niagara Falls, Ottawa, Montreal, St. John’s

The Red Arrows will also fly to Canada, where they have been invited to perform at four airshows in late summer and participate in the Royal Canadian Air Force’s centennial celebrations. They are scheduled to perform across Canada from August 24 to September 20.

The Red arrows and an airbus A400M in formation with colored smoke trails in the sky at Farnborough airshow.

Photo: Triple H Images/Shutterstock

The published schedule has the Red Arrows at the Air Show Atlantic (August 24 and 25), the Canadian International Air Show in Toronto (August 31-September 2), the Aero Gatineau-Ottawa (September 6-8), and the Airshow London in Ontario (September 13-15). Additionally, they are scheduled for flypast-only displays at Niagara Falls on August 28, Ottawa on September 4, Montreal on September 18, and St John’s in Newfoundland on September 20.

Related

Red Arrows Help British Airways Celebrate 100 Years

5

Vintage Folland Gnats fly again

The Red Arrows will start the 2024 season by flying the original Folland Gnat trainers.

Folland Gnat:

flown 1964 to 1979 (by Red Arrows)

BAE Hawk trainer:

current Red Arrow aircraft since 1979

Owner:

Heritage Aircraft Trust (Red Arrows never technically owned the Gnats)

The Red Arrows have announced they are celebrating their 60th anniversary by flying their vintage Folland Gnat trainers. These were the original jets used by the Red Arrows until they were replaced by the larger BAE Hawk trainer in 1979. Flying the Folland Gnat trainers will help bring the pilots and engineers from yesteryear with the team today and the Air Cadets that represent the RAF of tomorrow.

Folland Gnat T.1 5D4_1070

Gnat fighters/trainers were operated by the United Kingdom, Finland, and India, and a couple were sent to Yugoslavia. India used them in combat against Pakistan, and they shot down several Pakistani aircraft. Over a thousand BAE Hawks have been produced and are extensively used around the world. In addition to being an advanced trainer, the BAE Hawk can be used as a low-cost combat aircraft.

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