Red Arrows

[gettysburgerrn]

Do the British Red Arrows or other demonstration teams from other countries (other than Canada) make many (if any) appearances at airshows in the US?

Ken

[cancidas]

they did last year, even had a mini show centered on staten island.

[josciak]

Caught them twice in 2008 at Langley and Quonset Point. Great flying and hope they come back across soon. Joe O

[Derf]

Good Times!!!

[jerslice]

Caught them ... in 2008 at ... and Quonset Point

Me too - good show!

[Fighting_falcon_51]

The Red Arrows were very awesome when the they came to KFRG almost two years ago.

[Steven Holzinger]

When they came stateside in 2008, they did a total of four shows - the airshow in Quebec (which also had the Thunderbirds, Blue Angels, and Snowbirds performing!), down to Langley AFB, the show in Staten Island, and up to Rhode Island. I was lucky enough to be at ALL of those shows...

[gettysburgerrn]

Any word on them returning anytime in the foreseeable future?

Ken

[Fighting_falcon_51]

Any word on them returning anytime in the foreseeable future?

Ken

Not this year :(

[Matt Molnar]

Never know. If I'm not mistaken, the Staten Island show was sort of a surprise, announced only a couple of weeks in advance.

[moose135]

Never know. If I'm not mistaken, the Staten Island show was sort of a surprise, announced only a couple of weeks in advance.

Yes, but the fact that they were going to be in "The Colonies" was well known at the start of the year. Remember, that was their first visit to the US in some 20 years. I wouldn't expect them back again this year, especially if there has been no news about such a trip by now.

[gettysburgerrn]

Wow I didnt realize that they hadnt been here in 20 years....Do any other teams from any other countries ever visit? As an aside is there such a thing as a helicopter demonstration team- oddly enough the topic came up in conversation last evening...

Ken

[gettysburgerrn]

2nd dumb question this hour- does the German airforce have a flight demonstration squadron?

Ken

[moose135]

Wow I didnt realize that they hadnt been here in 20 years....Do any other teams from any other countries ever visit? As an aside is there such a thing as a helicopter demonstration team- oddly enough the topic came up in conversation last evening...

The Snowbirds appear in the US with some frequency, since they are just across the border in Canada. In the past, we have had the Italian Air Force "Frecce Tricolori" as well as the French "Patrouille de France" team visit the US (I think both performed at McGuire AFB shows in the 1980s).

There are several helicopter demonstration teams operated by various military forces. The British Army had the "Blue Eagles", however they are not flying in 2010, but hope to return in 2011. In addition, it looks like the Spanish, Portuguese and Indian Air Forces have helicopter demonstration teams. Also, the private Army Aviation Heritage Foundation has a 4-ship Cobra Demonstration Team. I haven't found a 2010 schedule for them, but their web site does include 2009 show dates.

I don't remember ever hearing anything about a German team, and a quick Google search didn't turn up anything.

[moose135]

Since Fred posted all those nice photos of airplanes parked on the ramp how about a few of the real action? The best part of the show on Staten Island? A beach show with the sun at your back!







They started out with a bunch of passes with the big formation, nice graceful maneuvers, and I thought "if this is all they do, I wasted a trip to SI". After about 10 minutes, it was like they said "enough of this stuff, let's have some fun."







I'm an old Air Force guy (and no wisecracks from Midnight Mike necessary...) so the Thunderbirds will always be my favorites, but when the Red Arrows had finished, I realized they had performed the best demonstration I had ever seen!