The Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows will headline the afternoon airshow from July 24-26 at EAA AirVenture this year, marking their first appearance at Oshkosh. The team is doing an extended tour of the U.S. this summer to commemorate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence and they’ll be ticking a box for many of the attendees. “The Red Arrows have long been on the list of teams that aviation enthusiasts have wanted to see at Oshkosh,” said Rick Larsen, EAA’s vice president of communities and member programs, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. “We welcome them to our event and eagerly anticipate their extraordinary aerial performances.”
The Red Arrows fly nine Hawk T1 fast jets in precise formations with plenty of solo aerobatics and subset formation maneuvers. The team was formed in 1965 and has given more than 5,000 shows in 57 countries. They were in the U.S. in 2019 for an 11-week tour that ended in California after 25 shows. They also toured Canada in 2024 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force. “The whole Red Arrows team are greatly looking forward to visiting the United States—the tour is a fantastic opportunity to display the best of British, at significant events and occasions marking the 250th anniversary, alongside friends, allies and international counterparts. The tour will celebrate and underline the enduring relationship between the United Kingdom and our closest security partner,” said Wing Commander Sasha Nash, Officer Commanding of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team.
I’m reminded of the 2019 tour and their appearance at Stewart in NY. I could hear some grumbling about “Limeys at our show” and the like from hard-bitten New Yorkers. With the clouds marginal for their full “High Show” they went out and flew it. As they flew across the line with planes rolling around the formation leaving spirals of smoke around a line of smoke I heard one of the most hard bitten grumblers ….. “Wow – These guys can ferkin’ fly”.
They may not be the “smash and grab” of the Blues or the Thunderbirds. But they sure do bring a whole new meaning to a jet display. If you’ve never seen them and you have the chance – don’t miss them.