Will Red Arrows perform at Great North Run? Is the display cancelled and are RAF in mourning?

Red Arrows were due to perform in Newcastle this weekend
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Red Arrows display at the Great North Run has been cancelled.

The famous RAF jets were due to fly over Newcastle on Sunday.

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However after the death of the Queen it has been cancelled.

The Great North Run will go ahead but with a number of changes.

The RAF is in mourning after the death of the Queen.

Displays have been cancelled for the time being.

The period of mourning will last until aftet the Queen’s funeral.

The Red Arrows have a long history of performing in front of the Queen and the Royal Family including participating in the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

Here’s all you need to know:

When and where are the next Red Arrows displays?

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The Red Arrows were due to perform at the Great North Run on Sunday, 11 September.

However this has been cancelled due to the death of the Queen.

The RAF jets will not perform until after Elizabeth II’s funeral.

What is the flightpath and what time can you see them?

The Red Arrows will not perform for the forseeable future.

Timings and route can change due to weather.

What has the Great North Run said?

The Great Run Company explained: “Unfortunately, the Red Arrows flypast and display has been cancelled, as has all RAF display flying during the official mourning period.”

Where are the Red Arrows based?

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The Red Arrows are currently based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

They first moved to the base in 1983, but in 1995 due to the mothballing of RAF Scampton the jets moved to RAF Cranwell, around 20 miles away.

The Red Arrows returned to RAF Scampton in 2000 when the base was reopened.

However RAF Scampton is set to be closed - it was announced in 2018 by the Ministry of Defence that the base would be closing, with a closure date of 2022 set.

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When the base does shut, the Red Arrows will move to RAF Waddington - remaining in Lincolnshire.

How many Red Arrows are there

The Red Arrows have been performing as a seven plane strong team at displays in 2022, however there was a full team of nine for the Jubilee.

Watch part of a recent display

The spectacular display at the Making Waves Festival in Irvine certainly impressed the attendees on 23 July.

And it looked fantastic as well!

Watch part of the display here:

What are the Red Arrows?

The Red Arrows are set as the grand finale for both nights of the Southport AirshowThe Red Arrows are set as the grand finale for both nights of the Southport Airshow
The Red Arrows are set as the grand finale for both nights of the Southport Airshow

The Red Arrows are officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.

It is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force.

The Red Arrows are based at RAF Scrampton in Lincolnshire.

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The team was founded in late 1964 and replaced the unofficial display teams operating at that time.

Fast forward nearly 60 years and the Red Arrows are one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams.

What planes are the Red Arrows?

The Red Arrows themselves are distinctive Hawk fast-jets - the BAE Systems Hawk T1.

It is the same jets used for for advanced pilot training and they have two seats.

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The jets are modified to enable the aircraft to produce the distinctive red, white and blue smoke that is associated with the Red Arrows.

Originally the Folland Gnat was used for the display team but were replaced with the Hawk jets in 1978.

Who flies the Red Arrows?

Since 1996, the Red Arrows team has been made up of nine display pilots, all of which are volunteers.

The pilots complete a three-year tour with the Red Arrows and then return to other roles in the RAF.

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The team is made up of three first-year pilots, three second-year pilots and three third-year pilots.

In order to be eligible to volunteer for the Red Arrows, pilots must have completed one or more operational tour, flying fast-jets like the Tornado, Harrier, or Typhoon.

Who are the ‘Blues’?

The Red Arrows are supported by a team of 85 engineers, who are known as the “Blues”.

It consists of members drawn from various technical and support trades in the RAF.

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