The Red Arrows North American Tour has officially begun as jets have left their RAF base for a 2,658 nautical-mile journey across the Atlantic.
The Red Arrows North American tour will see the jets performing aerobatic displays in Canada and the US to promote Britain. The jets took off from RAF Scampton on 05 August and will make refuelling stops at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, Keflavik Airport in Reykjavik, Narsarsuaq in Greenland, Goose Bay Canada and eventually land in Halifax, Canada.
During the 11-week tour, the Red Arrows will visit 25 cities and perform a series of flypasts, displays, and ground events. The team will aim to support UK interests across business, education, trade, and defence, among other sectors.
Wing Commander Andrew Keith, Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team said: “The aim of this North American tour is to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds through a world-class display of the best of British.”
“Everyone in the Red Arrows team, whether air or ground crew, together with those joining us from other parts of the RAF in support of the tour, are very excited and privileged to be representing the UK in front of millions of people across Canada and the United States.”
“The visit builds on the success of other, recent overseas tours by the team, which have demonstrated the convening power of the Red Arrows and helped showcase the UK.”
The BAE Systems Hawk Jets departed from RAF Scampton and elsewhere RAF A400M Atlas from LXX Squadron and Voyager transport aircraft, from 10 Squadron and 101 Squadron, departed RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, and RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, respectively, carrying the personnel and cargo. The Arrows will fly at a number of aircraft events, with the first being a flypast over the waterfront at Halifax in Canada.
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