The Red Arrows will reduce the number of aircraft in most of their displays from nine to seven to manage aging engines that are no longer in production. The Chief of the Air Staff made the decision to decrease the fleet size until 2030, aiming to optimize the use of the aircraft's ageing engines and available engineering resources.
Special Occasions Retain Diamond Nine
Despite the reduction, the Royal Air Force aerobatic team will still perform in the iconic 'diamond nine' formation on special occasions, including King Charles' birthday and the 250th Independence Day commemorations in the United States. The team's first show of the season in Crete, Greece, on May 24 will feature seven aircraft.
Aging Hawk T1 Jets
In 2021, the government extended the use of the Red Arrows' Hawk T1 aircraft, which have performed nearly 4,000 displays worldwide, until their planned retirement in 2030. The Hawk T1 jet, in service since 1980, requires significant maintenance and spare parts that have become increasingly difficult to replace. Until the Ministry of Defence procures a new fleet, a reduced formation of seven aircraft will be used for most displays.
Further delays have been caused by the defence investment plan, which should have been published last autumn. Aircraft manufacturer Aerialis Ltd, which was in line to build the next generation of Red Arrows, went into administration on May 15 due to delays in the plan's release and financial issues. This situation risks freezing out British manufacturers, potentially forcing the Red Arrows to fly foreign-built jets from major US and European firms.
RAF Statement
An RAF spokesperson stated: '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.'
Past Incidents
The Red Arrows have faced other challenges, including a bird strike at Rhyl Air Show that shattered a cockpit, ending the display abruptly. In 2018, a Hawk T1 jet crashed at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, killing an engineer and injuring the pilot. The team previously flew with seven aircraft in the 1960s, 2012, and 2021.
