Red Arrows News for 2026:
Red Arrows to display with 7 rather than 9 Hawk T1 jets
It was officially announced on Saturday 23rd May 2026 that the Red Arrows will display with seven, rather than nine Hawk T1 jets.
This is so that they can manage the final few years of service by the Hawk T1 aircraft based on the available spares and other components.
However, the Red Arrows formation size will be nine aircraft for significant flypasts and state occasions.
All Hawk T1 aircraft remaining in the RAF's fleet will be retired in 2030.
04 February 2026 - The Synchro-pair are at RAF Valley training over RAF Mona for a few days.
16 March 2026 - Flying display rehearsal at Royal Air Force Coningsby.
15 April 2026 - Red Arrows depart RAF Waddington for Pre-season training overseas.
Exercise Springhawk (Pre-season training) 2026 NOTAMs
17 May 2026 -
The Red Arrows announced their USA Tour and Display Dates for the 2026 season.
22 May 2026 - Red Arrows announce that they have been granted Public Display Authority.
23 May 2026 - Red Arrows announce that they will display with seven rather than nine Hawk T1s.
25 May 2026 - Red Arrows return home to RAF Waddington.
Red Arrows Flying Displays, Flypasts & Transit Maps 2026:
16 March 2026 -
Red Arrows flying display rehearsal at Royal Air Force Coningsby - between 1230 and 1330 hours GMT.
17 March 2026 - Red Arrows Transit & Warmsworth Flypast.
May 2026
• 24 May -
85th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, Old Harbour of Chania, Crete, Greece
• 29 May - RAF Brize Norton Flypast - 2.10pm
• 29 May -
English Riviera Airshow, Torbay Display - 6.45pm
• 30 May -
English Riviera Airshow Display - 12pm
• 30 May - Upper Wardington Flypast - 2.54pm
• 30 May -
Midlands Air Festival Display - 6pm
• 31 May -
Midlands Air Festival Display - 6.30pm
June 2026
• 04 June -
Isle of Man TT Races, Douglas Display - 7.30pm
• 06 June -
Gassed on Track, Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire Display - 3.30pm
• 06 June - Cranwell flypast - 4.02pm
• 11 June - RAF Waddington Freedom of the City Parade, Lincoln flypast - between 11.35 & 12.15pm cancelled due to weather.
• 13 June - King's Official Birthday Flypast - 1.06pm
NOTAMS (Times in BST):
• Red Arrows - King's Birthday Flypast, Buckingham Palace - Sat 13 June 2026:
1. 530958N 0003126W RAF WADDINGTON (EGXW) - 12.27pm
2. 530802N 0002344W VCY METHERINGHAM - 12.29pm
3. 525758N 0001702W VCY GREAT HALE - 12.31pm
4. 530117N 0011638E OVERSEA - 12.41pm
5. 524021N 0014500E NE CAISTER ON SEA - 12.46pm
6. 522901N 0014606E VCY LOWERSOFT - 12.48pm
7. 521242N 0014600E OVERSEA - 12.51pm
8. 520512N 0012312E VCY WOODBRIDGE AIRFIELD - 12.54pm
9. 515524N 0005336E VCY COLCHESTER - 12.58pm
10. 513859N 0001321E VCY LOFT HALL - 1.03pm
11. 513558N 0000555E VCY FAIRLOP - 1.04pm
12. 513307N 0000058W VCY TEMPLE MILLS - 1.05pm
13. 513005N 0000830W BUCKINGHAM PALACE FP - 1.06pm
14. 512947N 0000918W VCY BELGRAVIA - 1.07pm
15. 512848N 0001912W VCY BRENTFORD END - 1.08pm
16. 512818N 0002724W VCY LONDON HEATHROW - 1.10pm
17. 513621N 0004054W VCY BEACONSFIELD - 1.11pm
18. 512951N 0004633W VCY NAPHILL - 1.12pm
19. 514144N 0004938W VCY LOOSELY ROW - 1.13pm
20. 514626N 0004343W VCY WENDOVER - 1.14pm
21. 515027N 0004142W N LONG MARSTON - 1.15pm
22. 515432N 0004254W VCY BURCOTT HALL - 1.16pm
23. 515948N 0004434W VCY BLETCHLEY - 1.17pm
24. 520237N 0004527W VCY MILTON KEYNES - 1.18pm
25. 523843N 0003954W VCY RUTLAND WATER - 1.24pm
26. 524345N 0003902W VCY KENDREW BARRACKS - 1.25pm
27. 525055N 0003742W N STOKE ROCHFORD - 1.27pm
28. 525322N 0004158W VCY HARLAXTON - 1.28pm
29. 524551N 0011839W VCY SHEPSHED - 1.32pm
30. 524952N 0011940W EAST MIDLANDS (EGNX) - 1.33pm
Timings and route may change due to weather or other requirements.
Red Arrows - King's Birthday Flypast, Buckingham Palace - Sat 13 June 2026:
• 14 June -
RAF Cosford Airshow Display - 3pm
NOTAMS (Times in BST):
• Red Arrows - RAF Cosford Airshow Display - Sun 14 June 2026:
1. 524952N 0011940W EAST MIDLANDS (EGNX) - 2.48pm
2. 525452N 0011934W W RISLEY - 2.50pm
3. 525643N 0021428W SW OF STOKE ON TRENT - 2.56pm
4. 524448N 0022400W N LILLESHALL - 2.57pm
5. 524321N 0022343W VCY ABBEY WOOD - 2.58pm
6. 523818N 0021822W VCY COSFORD - 2.59pm
7. 523823N 0021809W RAF COSFORD DISPLAY - 3.00pm
8. 523320N 0021249W N WOMBOURNE - 3.21pm
9. 524238N 0015121W N LICHFIELD - 3.23pm
10. 524517N 0005156W VCY MELTON MOWBRAY - 3.29pm
11. 530313N 0004727W VCY NEWARK ON TRENT - 3.32pm
12. 531145N 0003914W VCY WHISBY - 3.34pm
13. 530958N 0003126W RAF WADDINGTON (EGXW) - 3.35pm
Timings and route may change due to weather or other requirements.
Red Arrows - RAF Cosford Airshow Display - Sun 14 June 2026:
• 27 June -
Sail 250 Maryland & Airshow Baltimore, Maryland, United States
• 28 June -
Sail 250 Maryland & Airshow Baltimore, Maryland, United States
July 2026
• 04 July - International Aerial Review New York City, United States - flypast
• 05 July -
FourLeaf Air Show, Jones Beach, New York, United States
• 06 July -
FourLeaf Air Show, Jones Beach, New York, United States
• 11 July -
Great State of Maine Airshow, Brunswick Executive Airport, Maine, United States
• 12 July -
Great State of Maine Airshow, Brunswick Executive Airport, Maine, United States
• 17 July -
Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States
• 18 July -
Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States
• 19 July -
Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States
• 24 July -
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States
• 25 July -
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States
• 26 July -
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States
August 2026
• 14 Aug -
Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow Display
• 15 Aug -
Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow Display
• 15 Aug - Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - flypast
• 16 Aug -
Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow Display
• 16 Aug -
Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week Display
• 19 Aug -
Cromer Carnival Display
• 22 Aug -
Swedish Air Force 100-Year Anniversary Show 2026, Linkoping, Sweden Display
• 23 Aug -
Swedish Air Force 100-Year Anniversary Show 2026, Linkoping, Sweden Display
• 27 Aug -
Clacton Airshow Display
• 28 Aug -
Clacton Airshow Display
• 28 Aug -
Sidmouth Regatta and Airshow Display
• 29 Aug -
Southport Airshow Display
• 30 Aug -
Southport Airshow Display
September 2026
• 04 Sep -
The International Ayr Show, Festival of Flight Display
• 05 Sep -
The International Ayr Show, Festival of Flight Display
• 09 Sep -
Guernsey Air Display
• 10 Sep -
Jersey International Air Display
• 12 Sep -
Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow Display
• 13 Sep -
Activity to be confirmed!
• 19 Sep -
NATO Days in Ostrava, Czech Republic Display
• 20 Sep -
NATO Days in Ostrava, Czech Republic Display
• 27 Sep -
Le Touquet Airshow, France Display
October 2026
• 03 Oct -
Duxford Flying Finale Display
* Note that Red Arrows displays at RAF Families Days will not be published on this page.
Red Arrows Flypasts are in italics.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows fly nine BAE SYSTEMS Hawk T.1 advanced trainer aircraft and are currently based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.
Red Arrows Training:
The Red Arrows begin training for the forthcoming season almost as soon as the previous year has ended.
Typically, winter training starts in October, with small groups of three or four aircraft formations.
Each pilot flies three sorties a day, five days a week, and the formations grow in aircraft number as training progresses.
These flights involve a thorough brief, debrief and discussion to ensure safety is paramount and the formations are precise.
One complete cycle consisting of these elements lasts about two hours, usually with a 30-minute flight.
Winter training lasts until mid-March, when the team usually moves overseas to a location with more predictable, settled weather to maximise flying hours and perfect the display. This is known as Exercise Springhawk.
During Springhawk the team is assessed by senior Royal Air Force officers, with the aim of gaining Public Display Authority.
If this is awarded, the Squadron's pilots change from green coveralls into their famous red flying suits and the ground crew are allowed to wear their royal blue display coveralls.
The season then officially begins and public performances by the Red Arrows are permitted.
Types of Display:
There are three types of display the Team Leader can elect to fly - full, rolling or flat. To carry out a full, looping, display the base of the cloud must be above 5,500ft to avoid the aircraft entering the cloud at the top of the loop. If the cloud base is less than 5,500ft, but more than 2,500ft, the team will perform the rolling display - substituting wing-overs and rolls for the loops. And when the cloud base is below 2,500ft, the Team will fly the flat display, consisting of a series of flypasts and steep turns.
Red Arrows Team Pilots for the 2026 season:
• Red 1 - Wing Commander Jon Bond (Team Leader)
• Red 2 - Flt Lt Matt Brighty
• Red 3 - Flt Lt Christopher Deen
• Red 4 - Flt Lt Rob Thomas
• Red 5 - Flt Lt Andrew McEwen
• Red 6 - Flt Lt George Hobday (Synchro Leader)
• Red 7 - Flt Lt Ollie Suckling (Synchro 2)
• Red 8 - Sqn Ldr Chris McCann
• Red 9 - Flt Lt Dustin Wales
• Red 10 - Sqn Ldr Stuart Roberts (Safety Supervisor & Commentator)
• Officer Commanding - Wing Commander Sasha Nash.
There is actually a 10th Red Arrow (Safety Supervisor) who provides commentary during the display as well as flying the Red Arrows photographers and spare jet.