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When Red Arrows will be in Kent at Folkestone Airshow as Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and RAF Typhoon set to display

09:57, 20 August 2023

updated: 16:29, 20 August 2023

The Red Arrows will be gracing the skies above Kent today when they head to perform at a town’s annual airshow. The performance was at 2.20pm – watch some of the highlights here!

The RAF’s display team are due to soar over Folkestone and show off their latest aerobatic prowess this afternoon.

The RAF display team at the Duxford Summer Air Show, near Cambridge earlier this year. Picture: Keith Heppell
The RAF display team at the Duxford Summer Air Show, near Cambridge earlier this year. Picture: Keith Heppell

The appearance of the crack pilots in their Hawk jets was put into doubt earlier this week forcing the team to cancel appearances at Cromer and Wednesday and their first scheduled day at the Eastbourne Airshow on Thursday.

Engineering issues with the aircraft saw the cancellations but it was confirmed on Friday these had been resolved and they returned to the air.

A host of aviation displays are scheduled to take place in Folkestone throughout the afternoon with thousands of spectators expected to descend on the town.

The busiest viewing spots are set to be The Leas, the harbour and the town's beaches with flypasts by multiple aircraft and display teams taking place over the seafront.

The show, organised by Folkestone and Hythe District Council, will kick off with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at 1.25pm.

The Flight operates six Spitfires, two Hurricanes, a Lancaster, a C47 Dakota, and two Chipmunk aircraft.

Bosses confirmed the Red Arrows would return to the skies in time for Folkestone Airshow after engineering issues earlier this week. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Bosses confirmed the Red Arrows would return to the skies in time for Folkestone Airshow after engineering issues earlier this week. Picture: Barry Goodwin

A newcomer this year is the RAF Typhoon, which will round off the afternoon with a spectacle of speed, power and agility.

The flight path for the Red Arrows is expected to see the aircraft fly across Kent before heading into Folkestone over land from the north.

According to the military-airshows.co.uk website, the formation is expected over Birchington-on-Sea and Minster in Thanet at 2.16pm before turning towards Canterbury and flying close by the city at 2.17pm, the carrying on south over Elham at 2.19pm over Hawkinge and arriving at Folkestone for 2.20pm.

The display is due to last about 20 minutes with the aircraft then heading away along the Channel towards St Margaret’s near Dover at 2.45pm, Betteshanger at 2.47pm, Sandwich at 2.47pm and then turning north west and flying over Sheerness at 2.51pm and the Isle of Grain at 2.52pm before heading across the Thames towards Southend.

Then the aricraft are due to head back to the Eastbourne Airshow later this afternoon.

The flight path for the Red Arrows over Kent today. Picture: military-airshows.co.uk
The flight path for the Red Arrows over Kent today. Picture: military-airshows.co.uk

The timetable, which is subject to change, is as follows:

1.25pm: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

2.20pm: RAF Red Arrows

3.15pm: Stampe display team

4.10pm: Pitts Special

5pm: RAF Typhoon

The RAF’s Red Arrows team has been performing since 1965, often in their trademark diamond nine shape - although now performing as a formation of eight aircraft.

They have flown almost 5,000 displays in 57 countries.

Folkestone Festivals is organising food, arts and craft stalls, dance displays, live music and a classic car show along The Leas on both Saturday and Sunday.

Additional temporary toilets will also be installed in the area.

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