Red Arrows News

Red Arrows salute Royal visit to Greece

A flypast by the Red Arrows helped to mark an historic Royal visit to Greece.

The aerial salute by the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team was watched by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Flisvos Marina, Athens.

The colourful flypast highlighted the longstanding military links between the United Kingdom and Greece.

Nine BAE Systems Hawk jets followed a Mirage aircraft of the Hellenic Air Force over the marina, in front of assembled spectators and media.

Moments before, His Royal Highness had arrived on HMC Valiant, a UK Border Force vessel, and he observed the flypast from a Greek trireme moored alongside.

Today’s flight was also in memory of the late Captain Giorgos Baltadoros, a pilot of the Hellenic Air Force, and Red Arrows engineer Corporal Jonathon Bayliss – both of whom tragically died in recent, separate incidents.

The Red Arrows are in Greece as part of an annual pre-season training exercise, where the team receives grateful support of the host nation.

During Exercise Springhawk, the Red Arrows operate from Tanagra airbase and fly up to three times a day to prepare for the forthcoming UK display season.

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