The Red Arrows have released some of their preferred training images prior to the start of their display season.
The RAF’s aerial demonstration squadron states that their summer performance lineup includes an entirely new routine showcasing increasingly complex formations, loops, and rolls.
They have received official approval to entertain the public in 2025, after finishing their pre-season preparation and annual evaluation.
The bustling period features over sixty exhibitions and major flyovers scheduled throughout the United Kingdom and continental Europe between May and October.
The training for the new season began in November at RAF Waddington, which serves as their main base. In April, preparations shifted abroad with Exercise Springhawk, initially held in Zadar, Croatia, followed by exercises at the Hellenic Air Force base located in Tanagra, Greece.
This rollout enables the Red Arrows to take full advantage of improved weather conditions, with pilots potentially flying as often as 15 days each week to refine and enhance their latest performance routine.
Squadron Leader Jon Bond, who leads the team as Red 1, stated: “The Red Arrows are all set for 2025. Reaching this stage has been achieved through six months of diligent effort from every member of our entire squad, meticulously organizing and getting ready to present a thrilling new performance to audiences both within the country and abroad.”
We’re excited to get started and eager to see all the photographs and video clips that numerous airshow aficionados and aviation lovers upload for us online. Additionally, we’re looking forward to greeting folks in person at these gatherings.
In 2025, the Red Arrows will embark on their 61st seasonal tour, following an extensive evaluation referred to as the Public Display Authority (PDA). This review encompasses all facets of their activities.
Each year, the Red Arrows alter their performance routine, offering audiences fresh excitement in their nine-plane demonstration.
Sqnlndr Bond, a previous front-line RAF Typhoon pilot now entering his second year at the helm of the Red Arrows, stated: “Keep an eye out in 2025 for intricate formations such as the Big Battle approach, the Swan Loop, and the Typhoon Roll.”
The initial segment of this 23-minute performance showcases the most extensive and broadest formations in the Red Arrows’ fleet, such as Big Vixen—which is flown this year with extended airbrakes and nearly max throttle to inject extra thrill and vibrancy.
Returning after an absence of twenty years during last season, the recognizable 5/4 Split at midfield will remain, though it now features accents of red, white, and blue.
Viewers will have the opportunity to witness fresh stunts in the latter part of the performance, particularly from the back end of the squad—which goes by the name Hanna. During the innovative Chainsaw maneuver, one set of jets performs inverted, facing each other at speeds up to 380 mph, whereas another duo within Hanna passes within just 100 feet of each other.
One element I was keen on incorporating into the 2025 exhibition is concluding the event with all nine planes in front of the audience. Therefore, during our complete performance, we will execute the Palm Split.
In this maneuver, the five jets from the leading formation known as Enid are augmented by Jets 8 and 9 to form a palm tree configuration. At the base of this design, the synchronized pair comprising Jets 6 and 7 execute opposing barrel rolls, delivering an impressively large and crowd-filling conclusion that has not been witnessed in decades.
