Red Arrows dazzle 50,000 fans at Cosford Air Show

Video caption, Pilot's eye view of an aerobatics display
  • Author, John Bray
  • Role, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ News, West Midlands

The red, white and blue superstars of the sky delighted 50,000 aviation fans as the RAF Cosford Air Show returned for the first time in three years.

The RAF Red Arrows performed over the Shropshire air base on Sunday at the first post-Covid event.

From their temporary weekend base at nearby RAF Shawbury, the seven jets emerged shortly after 15:30 BST to form the centrepiece of the afternoon's flying action that also saw fighter jet performances by pilots from France and Belgium.

Red Arrows Squadron Leader Graeme Muscat said: "It's fast, it's dynamic, it's exciting. We do what we do best, which is put on a great show for the crowd."

Image caption, The Red Arrows are booked to appear at 65 shows across the UK in 2022
Image caption, The 20-minute display is created by Squadron Leader Tom Bould, who is Red 1
Image caption, In 2022, the Red Arrows are flying in a seven-aircraft formation, although they use nine for major national flypasts
Image caption, The Red Arrows are BAE Systems Hawk T1 aircraft and have been flying since 1965
Image caption, The Arrows' 110-strong support team is known as the Blues, because of their display overalls
Image caption, Each of the Red Arrows pilots has experience of flying the RAF Tornado or Typhoon
Image caption, The display team is closing in on 5,000 performances since being formed
Image caption, Reds 6 and 7 are known as the Synchro Pair, performing the opposition manoeuvres
Image caption, The show's finale sees the jets reach speeds of 360 knots, pulling a G-force of 6G
Image caption, The display is split into two halves - large shape aerobatics before the team splits into smaller sections

Follow ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ West Midlands on , and . Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk