May 22, 2012 2.40 pm This story is over 142 months old

Green light for Red Arrows 2012 displays

Back in the sky: The Red Arrows received permission to display during the 2012 season following a training programme.

The Red Arrows aerobatic team, based near Lincoln, have received permission to display during the 2012 season following a training programme.

They’ve had 8 weeks of training in Cyprus after losing two colleagues last year in separate incidents, and have now returned to their home-base at RAF Scampton.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, gave final authority for the world-renowned display team to thrill the crowds over the coming months.

The display this year is being flown as a seven-aircraft formation instead of the usual nine.

However, the team will still be flying a number of high-profile flypasts in classic nine-aircraft Big Battle formation, including as part of the opening ceremony celebrations for the Olympic games.

The Red Arrows are now preparing for their first public display at Folkestone on June 2, after the flypast for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Muster and Parade at Windsor at the weekend.

Squadron Leader Jim Turner, Officer Commanding Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: “The team have all worked exceptionally hard to get to this stage and we are very excited at the prospect of demonstrating the speed, precision and agility of the Royal Air Force to the public.

“I am very pleased with the display we have created and I believe it more than lives up to the traditional Red Arrows’ standard.

“I sincerely hope that people will get the opportunity to see us at some point this year and I would like to extend my thanks and that of my team for all the support we have had over the past year.”