They’re Britain’s most famous aerobatics display team, with 11 highly trained pilots that take to the skies to perform sequences that the rest of us can only dream of; the Red Arrows really are something else! And this weekend they will be taking to the skies in south Wales.
The Red Arrows will be performing a display above Swansea Bay as part of the Wales Air Show on both Saturday, July 2, and Sunday, July 3. You can catch a glimpse of them on their way there and back as they are likely to fly over Horton, Pontyates, Tycroes, Pontlliw, Merthyr Tydfil, Cwmcerdinen, Pontarddulais and Pontypridd.
The Red Arrows share this route to alert other pilots of potential hazards however it can change last minute due to weather conditions, operational changes or if Air Traffic Control re-route the Red Arrows unexpectedly. The route has been plotted by military-airshows.co.uk. Scroll down for the potential route and places you can see the Red Arrows this weekend:
Read more:
- Why Red Arrows pilots clench their buttocks when they fly
- Swansea Airshow 2022 timings: When are the Red Arrows scheduled at the event?
Officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows have performed in almost 60 countries since they were founded in 1964 at the RAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire. They’re now based at the RAF Scampton base in Lincolnshire but continue to perform around the world.
Potential route for RAF Red Arrows
The following estimated times are from military-airshows.com, and locations in Wales are in bold. Please note, this potential route could change last-minute due to weather conditions or for operational reasons.
Saturday, July 2
1.34pm – Exeter
1.36pm – West of Collumpton
1.40pm – Southwest of Bratton Fleming
1.44pm – Northeast of Horton
1.46pm – Vicinity of Pontyates
1.48pm – Vicinity of Tycroes
1.49pm – East of Pontlliw
1.50pm – Wales Air Show, Swansea Bay (1.50pm to 2.12pm)
1.51pm – over sea (coordinates 513619N 0035730W)
2.19pm – over sea (coordinates 512007N 0035235W)
2.23pm – over sea (coordinates 511411N 0032049W)
2.24pm – Vicinity of Triscombe
2.25pm – Taunton
2.26pm – Southeast of Orchard Portman
2.28pm – West of Holmsleigh Green
2.34pm – Exeter
4.50pm – Exeter
4.52pm – West of Collumpton
4.54pm – Northwest of Wiutheridge
4.56pm – West of Throwleigh
4.59pm – Vicinity of Chudleigh Knighton
5pm – Teignmouth Air Show
5.01pm – over sea (coordinates 502936N 0032107W)
5.30pm – Exeter
7.30pm – Exeter
7.32pm – South of Bickleigh
7.35pm – South of Taunton
7.38pm – Northwest of Glastonbury
7.40pm – West of Trowbridge
7.44pm – Southwest of Swindon
7.46pm - Northwest of Cirencester
7.49pm – North of Burford
7.50pm – Brize Norton
Sunday, July 3
2.08pm - Brize Norton
2.10pm – Shipton under Wychwood
2.11pm – North of Whichford
2.14pm – North of Brackley
2.15pm – Silverstone Display
2.16pm – North of Cosgrove
2.44pm – North Hackleton
2.47pm – North of Priors Marston
2.49pm – South of South Newington
2.50pm – Southeast of Upper Heyford
2.52pm – Vicinity of Westbury
2.53pm – Silverstone Flypast
2.54pm – Vicinity of Courteenhall
2.56pm – Vicinity of Kempston
2.58pm – Vicinity of Brogborough
2.59pm – Bletchley Park Flypast
3.01pm – Southwest of Brill
3.04pm – Brize Norton
5.42pm – Brize Norton
5.43pm – East of Burford
5.49pm – Vicinity of Cinderford
5.54pm – Northwest of Merthyr Tydfil
5.58pm – Northwest of Cwmcerdinen
5.59pm – Southeast of Pontarddulais
6pm – Wales Air Show, Swansea (6pm to 6.22pm)
6.01pm – over sea (coordinates 513032N 0035548W)
6.30pm – West of Pontypridd
6.40pm – Vicinity of Swindon
6.42pm – Brize Norton
8.55pm – Brize Norton
8.57pm – Vicinity of Milton Underwychwood
9.02pm – Northwest of Flore
9.07pm – Northeast of Somerby
9.11pm – Vicinity of North Scarle
9.13pm - Scampton
What is the Wales Air Show?
Wales Air Show, previously known as the Wales National Air Show, comprises a series of aerobatic displays (aeroplanes essentially performing acrobatics) and became an annual event in 2016. Unfortunately, Wales Air Show was not able to take place in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic – so this year’s event is expected to pull quite the crowd in Swansea Bay. For more Swansea stories straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter.
As well as the Red Arrows, the free event features a range of aerobatic displays from a wide range of state-of-the-art military aircraft – including the RAF Chinook Display Team, Swansea’s very own Team Raven and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - and vintage planes from the past, along with several business and charity stalls and food and drink stands. You can read more about the Wales Air Show 2022 in our previous article here and for information on road closures due to the Airshow, go here.
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