RAF

No Red Arrows Stunts At Farnborough After Shoreham Disaster

The Red Arrows will not perform stunts at the Farnborough Air Show for the first time in more than 50 years because of safety fears.

A decision was made to scrap the aerobatic displays following the Shoreham disaster last year, when 11 people were killed after a vintage aircraft crashed.

The famous military planes will still carry out flypasts at the three-day show next month, but fans hoping to see loop-the-loops and barrel rolls at Britain's biggest air show will be disappointed after RAF bosses decided high-speed manoeuvres in such a built-up area were "no longer appropriate".

Air Vice-Marshal Andrew Turner, head of safety for the Red Arrows, said that malfunction, a bird strike or collision could cause multiple casualties and following the Shoreham crash the risk was no longer "tolerable". He told the Telegraph:

"The position we find ourselves in is either we seek to clear the area of civilians, or we tolerate the risk and frankly right now, we the RAF have decided that that is not a risk worth bearing given the Shoreham public reaction."

Based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire, the Red Arrows usual display covers an area over six miles, with BAE Systems Hawk T1 jets flying as close as 15ft apart at more than 400 miles an hour, sometimes flying just 100ft above the ground.

An RAF spokesman said: "The high speed and dynamic nature of the traditional Red Arrows' display is no longer appropriate due to the large amounts of local housing, business areas and major transport links underneath the planned display area."

The decision comes in the light of strict new safety regulations imposed by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) immediately after the crash at the Shoreham Air Show.

11 men died when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet exploded after ploughing into the A27 in Hampshire during a display.

The aftermath of the Shoreham crash. Picture: Daniel Russell

CAA regulations do not apply to the Red Arrows because they are a military display team, following regulations set down by the Ministry of Defence, but because Farnborough is a civilian show it must meet its requirements over organisation and how the event is staged. The CAA said:

"Earlier this year a series of measures aimed at making UK civil air displays even safer were introduced. These measures include enhanced risk assessments for displays and new requirements for civil display pilots to prove their experience, skill and fitness. The CAA is committed to the safety and success of the air show industry and these events continue to be enjoyed by millions of people across the UK."

The Red Arrows put out the following statement on their Twitter feed:

"The Red Arrows will be flying at the Farnborough International Airshow and engaging with both adults and young people on all three days that are open to the general public.

"However, the high speed and dynamic nature of the traditional Red Arrows' display is no longer appropriate due to the large amounts of local housing, business areas and major transport links underneath the planned display area."

"In addition to the Red Arrows flypast with the new F-35 Lightning II aircraft on 11 July, further Red Arrows flypasts in different formations are now planned for 15, 16 and 17 July.

"These additional flypasts, together with more exciting opportunities for the public to engage with the Red Arrows team on the ground, and other RAF air and ground displays, will ensure the Airshow remains a truly exciting, inspirational and entertaining family event."

"For the remainder of the display season the Red Arrows are looking forward to displaying as usual at multiple events all over the UK and abroad."

Members of the public have already taken to social media to express their disappointment, however:

To recap the red arrows will only carry out flypasts in formation at Farnborough 2016. Going to disappoint a lot of people.
— Farnborough spotters (@Farnboroughspot) June 15, 2016

So it takes the Red Arrows not doing a full display at #Farnborough for people to realise that post #Shoreham regs are ridiculous?
— Tony Osborne (@Rotorfocus) June 14, 2016

Red Arrows banned from displaying at Farnborough as not safe. OMG it been safe enough for the past 30odd years. RIP Farnborough grrr
— Martin Hodges (@mart707) June 14, 2016

@stockotrader it’s a real shame! The Red Arrows at Farnborough a few years back was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen.
— Dan Steele (@dan_of_steele) June 14, 2016