Update on the return of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team from Operation Eagle Hawk:
Following a highly-successful tour of the United States, the Red Arrows began a multi-stop journey back to the United Kingdom this week.
However, due to a prolonged period of forecasted poor weather in the north-eastern regions of Canada, the team is postponing its return Atlantic crossing until further notice.
The intention remains to fly the Red Arrows’ Hawk aircraft back to RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, and recommence the summer season as soon as the jets are recovered to the UK.
To make a resumption of displays more expedient, a period of planned post-tour engineering on the aircraft will now take place at CFB Goose Bay – where the jets are currently positioned – rather than at the team’s UK home.
Concurrently, a number of personnel that deployed on Operation Eagle Hawk, which began in June, will also take mandated mid-season leave with their families in the UK, to ensure they are sufficiently rested in time for the return journey and the remainder of the summer.
Crossing the North Atlantic with the single-engined Hawk – which cannot air-to-air refuel – requires extremely careful planning and the right conditions. At present, the weather is outside of operational limits and has already forced the team to turn back to Goose Bay on one sortie.
A buffer zone or grace period, after completing the final airshow in the US and returning to the UK via Canada, Greenland and Iceland, was always factored into the overall operation timeline to help mitigate potential weather delays as much as reasonably possible.
Safety is paramount to all decisions and will remain the only driver as to when the team continues the Atlantic trail.
The RAF is in contact with airshow organisers as part of its normal season dialogue and planning.
The entire Red Arrows team thanks enthusiasts and aviation fans on both sides of the Atlantic – and especially at home in the UK – for their continued support, enthusiasm and understanding.
