UK Airshows reporting that the Red Arrows will fly as a 7 ship this year.
Also, pics from their Exercise Springhawk training in Greece from this week do show them rehearsing as a 7 ship.
I don't think they're down for any NI appearances this year, though sometimes there is the odd flypast arranged.
Bit disappointing though, you can't beat the 9 ship display.
Very disappointing. Their 7 ship and later 8 ship in 2022/23 was very disjointed and seemed very out of place. Last years 9 ship was probably their best in a good long time. (Won't knock them, but compared to other teams they are very tame)
No schedules announced, but they are going out to America for most of July and missing RIAT. Quite strange no schedule is even out yet as its usually late March or early April we get it. As Jimi says, doesn't look like any NI displays this year.
From memory Portrush was going to combine with Armed forces day but that was scrapped because the Reds were unavailable. Partly why Portrush isn't going ahead at all this year.
Armed Forces Day is in Coleraine this year, Sat 20th June, BBMF Flypast using the Dakota and RAF Falcons Parachute Team are listed to be involved mid-afternoon - no Reds their either.
The Red Arrows website does not mention them flying as a 7 Ship this season,but then their site is rarely updated.
I would have thought there would be an offical announcement made. :-\
Sp
Quote from: angry turnip on May 07, 2026, 18:09Armed Forces Day is in Coleraine this year, Sat 20th June, BBMF Flypast using the Dakota and RAF Falcons Parachute Team are listed to be involved mid-afternoon - no Reds their either.
The Red Arrows website does not mention them flying as a 7 Ship this season,but then their site is rarely updated.
I would have thought there would be an offical announcement made. :-\
Spotters in Greece have seen them practising as 7 for display and 9 for flypast only. I wonder with the ongoing conflicts etc, they can't spare the pilots/or RAF don't want to spare them?
I came across a Red Arrows Spotters Facebook page which features posts from Greece.
As you mentioned, they seem to be doing 7-ship displays and nine ship flypast practice. Speculation is two pilots have to return to frontline duties.
No offical conformation yet.
Quote from: angry turnip on May 08, 2026, 12:15I came across a Red Arrows Spotters Facebook page which features posts from Greece.
As you mentioned, they seem to be doing 7-ship displays and nine ship flypast practice. Speculation is two pilots have to return to frontline duties.
No offical conformation yet.
Just waiting for the Daily Mail to pickup on this and sensationalise it, certainly if it is down to them being needed for operational reasons. To be fair though, it's probably the first time they've had to do the 7 ship display for that reason - more recently it was due to incidents with the team etc, not because the world's going mad.
Just wondering though, the last time they did display as a 7, did they not also fly past as a 7/8, with Red 10 being the 8th? So who will fly 8/9 this season during flypasts?
Good question-I`m available lol. Likely RED 10 and the Officer Commanding, Wing Comander Sasha Nash will fill in for the 9-ship flypasts.
When the team formed in 1965 they flew as a seven ship, but our generation are used to the nine-ship.
It works so much better than the seven.
Red 10 and Red 11 I think it was (Red 11 being the Operating Commander, not sure if Red 11 is an official title or I imagined it lol)
They did a 9 ship flypast yesterday in Greece.
Edit - Officer Commanding, Wing Commander Sasha Nash as said by AT, not Operating Commander
Bit of Red Arrows news. The company that had been looking to design the next Red Arrows Aircraft, Aeralis, who had proposed a modular design has collapsed.
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/aeralis-collapses-amid-uk-defence-investment-plan-delays/
This was the only UK firm in the running as far as I know to produce the next generation of Red Arrow aircraft.
I used to fly pretty tight formations on the ZX Spectrum Red Arrows sim! If they can interface a rubber keyboard into a T.1 I'm totally up for it.
Much as I'd like to have seen Aeralis succeed, they were offering a paper aeroplane in competition with actual flying and in-service aircraft. They were, at the very least, a bit of a risk.
Yeah, they still had no prototype despite the first flight target date being a few years ago. It did look nice, but I think Boeing T7 Red Hawk is the lead contender now with a licence build via BAE
Personally I'd rather have the T-50 Golden Eagle. They are like mini F16s!
I think its a bit of a worry that the RAF is buying almost all US aircraft.IMHO opinion I think it would be better to have more joint European aircraft. The M-346 range is a well proven design, BAE Systems is a partner in the digital flight control system.
Re the T-50 South Korea are in the advanced testing stage of their own stealthy fighter,the KF-21 Boramae,which has more than a casual nod to the F-22 Raptor.
Quote from: angry turnip on May 16, 2026, 19:03I think its a bit of a worry that the RAF is buying almost all US aircraft.IMHO opinion I think it would be better to have more joint European aircraft. The M-346 range is a well proven design, BAE Systems is a partner in the digital flight control system.
Re the T-50 South Korea are in the advanced testing stage of their own stealthy fighter,the KF-21 Boramae,which has more than a casual nod to the F-22 Raptor.
Trident update/replacement leaves the UK tied to the USA in a way that no other nation on Earth is. It's either a twenty year gap (at least) in credible, deliverable deterrence or do what Washington wants defence wise. See also the fact that the Q.E. Carriers can effectively only operate F-35B and let's not get into Five Eyes.
We've seen recently that we need more options, but we don't currently have them.
US tour now confirmed https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/red-arrows/news/red-arrows-to-tour-us-to-mark-250-years-of-american-independence/
Full 2026 programme .... https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/red-arrows/displays/
Looks like I will still see them 5 times this year despite them missing RIAT.
7 Ship will continue until 2030
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/red-arrows-fly-just-seven-170600220.html
Old Engines ???
The BAE Hawk T1 has a slightly modifed RR Adour engine which gave better performance for aerobatic manoeuvres over the standard engine, or at least I think I read that somewhere,yonks ago.
The more modern versions use the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk. 951 turbofan, I would have thought the remaining Reds aircraft could be upgraded.
Sky News maybe talking out of their Daily Mail, if you get my drift. ;)
It appears to be a bit more than engine spares, it's a shortage of airframes which makes a bit more sense.
I believe there are some Hawk T1's in storage at or near RAF Shawbury in the midlands.
More here from BBC News website... https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj9p8rvl0d0o
Reds have set off on their US tour today according to FB.
I question why, if they have dropped to 7 to preserve airframes and old engines, why would they instantly go on a US tour, covering many thousands of miles there and back as well as transits to US airshows.
I saw them twice at the weekend, Kings flypast was good with 4x F35s in formation with them. Cosford was my first chance to see their display this year, pretty much the same as every year but the "Cascade" to close the show was actually pretty good along with the double Goose this year.
I agree,seems rather contradictory to go all that way,the transits etc and back again.
To be honest I don`t think it`s to do with conserving the airframes and engines at all, I think it`s simply a cost cutting excercise and the MOD want the teams costs reduced.
The Hawk is still in production in several different versions,powered by various types of the Adour engine.
I think the RAF would be wise to retire the Reds T1/T1A`s at the end of this season,and re-equip with one of the more modern variants.
The team exist to promte the RAF and also the British Aerospace Industry, so it makes little sense to keep using the older model.Supposedly the T2 isn`t suitable for the Reds role,something about the different wing on the T2.Not sure if that is entirely accurate,but I recall reading something about it a while back.
Surely something could be worked out for the Reds to use a modern variant?
We don`t need to be buying any more US built aircraft for our military in my view.
Red 10 did give an indication as to how the team will move forward.
This years 2 pilots that have been dropped from displays, will move onto the main team displays next season, and 2 new ones will come in for 2027 for 9 ship flypasts, then move to the team in 2028 etc.
At least that is how I understood it.
According to the team, the T.2 isn't as manoeuvrable as the T.1 for acrobatics, from what I heard, and it was because of the engine, not the airframe that was the issue. As to the dropped pilots, it's well known that the RAF is short of experienced frontline pilots and they seem to be stretch covering deployments etc. I think it's foolish for the reds to be away from home for an extended time during what is the airshow season within the UK. Also while in the US their schedule is jam packed back to back as it was the last time they went over in 2019. But I agree we shouldn't be relying on buying American aircraft.
Actually the biggest problem with the Hawk T2 is that the MOD only purchased 28 aircraft,so even if they were suitable for the Reds,taking at least ten or more likely 11 for the team,would only leave 17 for the Advanced Training Role. Production of the Hawk T2 ended in 2020, and it was really only a stop gap design for the RAF/RN.
The T2 variant features different weight distribution (being nose-heavy) which alters its handling characteristics, making it less than ideal for the precise, demanding manoeuvres flown in Red Arrows displays.
Its Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 951 engine has been plagued with problems including fan failures, the T2 was never in contention to replace the Reds T1/T1A`s, I only mentioned it in passing,as some might think it was an obvious choice for a new aircraft for the team.The MOD want to replace the T2`s due to their poor reliablity.
I strongly suspect the MOD will go for the Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk,to replace the Hawk T2`s.Possibly with BAE building them under license,and likely making expensive changes,as they often do.
I think the Reds will be wound up,sooner rather than later.
I think they will go for the Boeing-SAAB T7 too. Though I personally would prefer the Kai T-50 Golden Eagle. Already proven as both a trainer and as a multi-ship display team aircraft. The Korean's fly it and they put on an amazing display.
M346 is another option, Freece Tricolori is moving to them and they are already proven in service with Italian Air Force as well as display capable.
Red Hawk still isn't that well proven compared to the other options.
Well, this shows the T7 in an interesting light
https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/t7-red-hawk-air-force-trainer-secret-struggles-investigation/
They are considered a "serious" airworthiness risk
Boeing failed to hand over data
It can't fly in the rain
sustainment of the aircraft classed as "high risk."