Red Arrows pull out of UK air shows after Canada delay

Weather grounds Red Arrows

The team had been touring the United States with Operation Eagle Hawk, a run of displays marking 250 years of the Declaration of Independence.

A “prolonged period of forecasted poor weather” disrupted their multi-national route home, necessary because their single-engined Hawk aircraft cannot refuel mid-air.

Grounded after the first leg, the pilots have called off appearances at Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week, all of which will otherwise go ahead as planned. It is a rare grounding for a fleet more used to headlines about RAF jets scrambling at short notice.

Red Arrows ‘sorry’ as return is delayed

"We are very sorry the Red Arrows cannot participate at these events and we are grateful to organisers and communities for their understanding."

- Wing Commander Sasha Nash, Officer Commanding RAF Aerobatic Team

Wing Commander Sasha Nash, officer commanding the Red Arrows, added that “safety is the only factor that will determine the timing of the team’s return from Canada”.

The team said scheduled engineering on the Hawks had been rearranged to take place in Canada rather than the UK, so the return to the 2026 display programme would be as “expedient and efficient” as possible, according to Metro.