On Thursday 18th June 2020, the Red Arrows & Patrouille de France performed flypasts over Paris and London, to commemorate 80 years since an historic speech by Charles De Gaulle to the people of occupied France, from London.
The Patrouille de France, in nine of their Alpha Jets, led the nine-ship Red Arrows in a flypast over Paris on Thursday morning before both teams moved to RAF Brize Norton. Despite the poor weather in the UK, they later performed a flypast over London, with the Red Arrows taking the lead.
This was not the first time that these two teams have flown together as they flew a special formation at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2019 to celebrate 50 years since the first flight of Concorde.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson welcomed the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, to London for a brief visit to commemorate the 80th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle's famous Second World War address. The French leader gave a speech thanking London for giving his Second World War countrymen and women a voice and platform to fight Nazi tyranny and Boris Johnson reflected on the enduring strength of the UK-France relationship.
The official route can be seen below but last minute changes to the route and timings can occur due to the weather.
1641 - departure from RAF Brize Norton
1656 - Flypast Bagshot
1658 - Flypast Richmond Park
1700 - Flypast Buckingham Palace
1702 - Formation Separation NE Brentwood/ Stapleford area after which the Red Arrows will return to RAF Scampton and the Patrouille de France back to Salon-de-Provence Air.
NOTAMS (Red Arrows & Patrouille de France) - Thursday 18th June 2020 4.40pm to 5.27pm BST)
1. 514500N 0013459W BRIZE NORTON AD - 4.40pm
2. 513823N 0013146W SE OF FARINGDON - 4.42pm
3. 513322N 0012921W SW OF WANTAGE - 4.43pm
4. 512847N 0015213W S OF WOOTON BASSETT - 4.45pm
5. 512020N 0014856W W OF PEWSEY - 4.47pm
6. 512440N 0012246W NW OF NEWBURY - 4.50pm
7. 511645N 0011743W SW OF KINGSCLERE - 4.51pm
8. 512302N 0005529W W OF ARBORFIELD GARRISON - 4.54pm
9. 512309N 0002725W VCY OF WEYBRIDGE - 4.57pm
10. 512648N 0001722W RICHMOND PARK - 4.58pm
11. 513017N 0000742W FP HORSE GUARDS PARADE - 5.00pm
12. 515112N 0005052E SW OF COLCHESTER - 5.07pm
13. 521115N 0011253E FRAMSDEN - 5.11pm
14. 522609N 0005828E E OF EAST HARLING - 5.13pm
15. 524601N 0004751E W OF WHISSONSETT - 5.17pm
16. 530920N 0002143E E OF SKEGNESS - 5.22pm
17. 531828N 0003303W SCAMPTON AD - 5.27pm
Timings and route may change due to weather or other requirements.