Red Arrows will jet over Shropshire and Midlands in June - but there's a major change to this year's display
The RAF display team have announced a big change to their displays.
Red Arrows are set to jet into Shropshire in June but there will a major change to their display this year.
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The Red Arrows display team have announced their 2026 schedule, which includes 23 displays and flybys in the UK - and the aerobatic team will be jetting to RAF Cosford later this summer.
The Royal Air Force aerobatic team is beginning its schedule this weekend in Greece, before its first display in the UK on May 29.
The Red Arrows are then due to fly to Warwickshire for the Midlands Air Festival on May 30 and 31.
Then, on Sunday, June 14, the Red Arrows will be joining dozens of other pilots performing at the RAF Cosford Air Show.
The hugely popular aerobatics team visits the Shropshire air show every year, but this year, there will be a major change to their display.
While the Red Arrows will still fly in their usual nine aircraft formation for The King’s Birthday Flypast and the 4th of July 250-year anniversary commemorations in the US this year - for all other events they will be using just seven planes for their displays.
This is because the fleet is transitioning “to a future aircraft type”, and reports suggest they have few spare parts for their ageing Red Arrows Hawk T1 aircraft, which have performed nearly 4,000 displays worldwide, to 2030.
Hawk T1 aircraft require substantial maintenance, with spare parts and critical components, particularly engines, becoming less readily available over time.
An RAF spokesperson said: “The Red Arrows are the pride of the nation, known globally for their world-class precision, speed, and teamwork.
“The Red Arrows will fly in a nine-aircraft formation for HM The King’s Birthday Flypast and the 4th of July 250 Commemorations in the USA this year.
“For other displays, they will operate with seven aircraft, continuing to deliver high-quality, engaging displays at air shows and events across the UK, mainland Europe and further afield.
“This will support the sustainable management of the Hawk T1 fleet and prepare the team for a transition to a future aircraft type.”