Dismay as stranded Red Arrows pull out of air shows

The Red Arrows have pulled out of a number of key summer events due to the team being stranded in Canada.

The RAF's aerobatics team were due to return to RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire last week following its tour of the US, but were grounded due to poor weather predicted for north-eastern regions of Canada.

In an update, the team said it now anticipated continuing its multi-leg journey back to the UK next week.

The team had been due to appear at Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week. The mayor of Lyme Regis, Philip Evans, said he was "distraught" the appearance could not go ahead.

Wing Cdr Sasha Nash, officer commanding the RAF aerobatic team, said: "We are very sorry the Red Arrows cannot participate at these events and we are grateful to organisers and communities for their understanding.

"Every effort is being made to ensure the Red Arrows can recommence the busy display season as soon as possible.

"However, safety is the only factor that will determine the timing of the team's return from Canada."

Other RAF aircraft, including the Typhoon display team and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), remain part of an extensive line-up at Eastbourne.

The BBMF is also carrying out flypasts at Lyme Regis during Lifeboat Week on August 21 and 22.

Reacting to the news, the town's mayor said: "This is a particular disappointment for the RNLI as the Red Arrows display would have got this year's Lifeboat Week off to a flying start.

"Lyme Regis Town Council had agreed to contribute £10,000 towards the overall cost of securing a visit by the Arrows," Evans added.

"Thanks to the generosity of the people [of] Lyme and district, the full amount had been raised following the reforming of the Lyme Regis Red Arrows 100 Club.

"We will, of course, refund all the donations received."

Evans said the council would "be going all out" to try to secure a visit from the team next year.

Meanwhile, Jenny Williams, of Eastbourne Borough Council, said the town had been looking forward to welcoming the team.

However, she said: "We understand that the safety of the team must always come first.

"I wish them all a safe journey home."

In response, she said the team in Eastbourne had "been working around the clock" to secure some additional displays.

This included the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B, the last remaining airworthy example in Europe.

The Red Arrows are expected to resume their summer schedule later in the month, with a display at Cromer Carnival on the Norfolk coast on 19 August.

The team had been in the US to mark 250 years of American independence.

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