Where to see the Red Arrows display in 2023
These are locations and dates for where you can see displays by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team in the United Kingdom in 2023.
Exact times of each aerobatic display will be confirmed by event organisers when available.
Dates, locations and times are subject to change up until the event itself.
Additional shows in the UK and overseas are pending confirmation and will be added when available.
The list refers to official, public aerobatic displays, rather than flypasts.
The RAF Events Team – rather than the Red Arrows – collate bids from airshow organisers and task the Service’s display assets.
Also on this page, you will find information and a link on how to request a display or flypast for a public event.
Full display sequence
The Red Arrows’ aerobatic display changes each year. On this page, you can see the individual manoeuvres which feature in the 2023 season’s full show.
The first half of the Red Arrows’ display consists of synchronised, formation aerobatics, followed by a more dynamic second half.
Reds 1 to 5 form the front section of the team’s formation, known as Enid – named after the famous British children’s writer Enid Blyton, author of the Famous Five. The rear section of the formation comprises Reds 6 to 8 and is called Hanna, in honour of one of the team’s founding pilots and early leaders. This section includes the Synchro Pair, Reds 6 and 7, who perform the highly-popular opposition manoeuvres during this latter section of the show. During a display, Red 10 acts as the team’s Supervisor who maintains two-way radio contact with the Team Leader. Red 10 also provides the commentary.
Types of display
There are three types of display the Team Leader can elect to fly – full, rolling or flat. To carry out a full, looping, display the base of the cloud must be above 5,500ft to avoid the aircraft entering the cloud at the top of the loop. If the cloud base is less than 5,500ft, but more than 2,500ft, the team will perform the rolling display – substituting wing-overs and rolls for the loops. When the cloud base is below 2,500ft, the team will fly the flat display, consisting of a series of flypasts and steep turns.
Busy all year
The Red Arrows begin training for the forthcoming season almost as soon as the previous year has ended.
Typically, winter training starts in October, with small groups of three or four aircraft formations. Each pilot flies three sorties a day, five days a week, and the formations grow in aircraft number as training progresses.
These flights involve a thorough brief, debrief and discussion to ensure safety is paramount and the formations are precise. One complete cycle consisting of these elements lasts about two hours, usually with a 30-minute flight.
Winter training lasts until mid-March or early-April, when the team usually moves overseas to a location with more predictable, settled weather to maximise flying hours and perfect the display. This is known as Exercise Springhawk.
During Springhawk the team is assessed by senior Royal Air Force officers, with the aim of gaining Public Display Authority. If this is awarded, the team’s pilots change from green coveralls into their famous red flying suits and the ground crew are allowed to wear their royal blue display coveralls.
The season then officially begins and public performances by the Red Arrows are permitted.
Transits and times
During the display season, the Red Arrows often carry out two shows and several flypasts in one day - using various locations across the UK and overseas as operating bases.
When the season is underway, you can often find times of arrival and departure from airfields, as well as information on show times and flypasts by visiting our official social media channels - on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
However, the times and details are subject to change - without the opportunity to provide live updates - and the schedule should not be used by aviators or for route planning. Way points and navigation details are also not to be confused with official flypasts and public events or displays - the Red Arrows do not always transit at low level heights and people may be disappointed if they go to these locations expecting to see the aircraft.
Request a display or flypast 2024
If you have an event and wish to be considered for a display or flypast of any RAF asset then please complete the appropriate application form below.
Flypast Application Form
The RAF will not routinely conduct flypasts at corporate events or at private events such as weddings, birthdays or funerals etc.
Display Application Form
Applications for displays in 2024 should be received by the end of September 2023. Aerobatic displays can only be conducted at recognised display venues under the supervision of a CAA-accredited flying display director.
Completed application forms should be sent electronically to the RAF Air Events Team at:
The AET can be contacted on the email above or on 020 8833 8063 or 020 8833 8769
