Wing Cdr Sasha Nash said the Red Arrows cannot take part in three UK summer events after the team was stranded in Canada on the way back from the United States. The pullout affects Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week.
Wing Cdr Sasha Nash on the delay
Nash, the officer commanding the RAF aerobatic team, said: "We are very sorry the Red Arrows cannot participate at these events and we are grateful to organisers and communities for their understanding." She added: "Every effort is being made to ensure the Red Arrows can recommence the busy display season as soon as possible."
She also said: "However, safety is the only factor that will determine the timing of the team's return from Canada." The team had been due back at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire last week after its tour of the US, but poor weather in north-eastern regions of Canada prevented the return on schedule.
Eastbourne, Edinburgh and Lyme Regis
The Red Arrows will not complete performances at Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week. That removes three displays from the summer programme in one disruption, with the team still in Canada while the events move ahead without it.
Other RAF aircraft remain on the Eastbourne line-up, including the Typhoon display team and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. At Lyme Regis, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is carrying out flypasts on August 21 and August 22 during Lifeboat Week.
Canada and the UK
The team anticipated continuing its multi-leg journey back to the UK next week. That journey depends on weather and safety across the route, and the Red Arrows' withdrawal leaves the affected events to proceed with other aircraft already listed.
Whether the Red Arrows will make up any of the missed displays later was not addressed in the update. For organisers and spectators, the immediate change is simpler: the Red Arrows are out, and the rest of the summer programme carries on around them.
