The Red Arrows put the "Cor!" into the Big Apple

Blackleaf

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Oct 9, 2004
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The British military were back on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States this week..... not, unfortunately, to try and reclaim the area for Britain, but as a symbol of goodwill.

The RAF's Red Arrows acrobatic team performed over New York City as a symbol of the friendship between Britain and the US.....

Red Arrows dazzle in New York debut (but soaring fuel costs rule out full displays back home)


By Daily Mail Reporter
28th June 2008
Daily Mail



Like dazzling birds against the dull browns and greys of midtown Manhattan, the Red Arrows yesterday made a historic first appearance in the skies over New York.

The RAF's aerobatic team performed daring manoeuvres over the city, streaking past the Empire State Building in perfect formation. The nine Hawk jets, in their distinctive red, white and blue livery, also carried out a flypast of the Statue of Liberty.

The Red Arrows' debut over the Big Apple is part of a North American tour.



Thrilling: British Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, performs its first-ever aerial display over the New York Harbour

Their team leader, Wing Commander Jas Hawker, said the appearance helped foster 'continued goodwill between the U.S. and United Kingdom', adding: 'We've always wanted to perform in New York City.'

The Windermere Air Show in Cumbria has enjoyed the Red Arrows for the last five years.

The team have put on their display over the Lake District town cut price as a 'thank you gesture' for the area having to put up with over 3,000 hours of low flying over it by the RAF each year.

Now next month's show will only have a flypast by the Arrows.

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Formation flying: The team jet up the East River in New York City


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Water show: Children take in the spectacle and then head for a paddle


Show organiser Rob McGraw said: ' We cannot afford the £20,000 the Red Arrows team wants for a full display.

I understand 40 shows across the country have been priced out because of this increased cost, most of which is due to fuel.

'The flypast alone will cost us several thousand pounds and we have asked the local council for a donation of £5,000 towards the costs involved.'

A RAF spokesman confirmed that the number of displays by the Arrows had been scaled back.

'The programme this years is very tight due to a number of reasons,' he said.

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Sky scrapers: The Red Arrows speed past New York's Empire State Building

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quandary121

Time Out
Apr 20, 2008
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I used to see the red arrows practicing for there displays over Norfolk, for the Norfolk show, amazing stuff, recently the RAF sold the air ground where they were housed causing much upset to the public, i think they have relocated now, it would be a shame to lose these incredibly skilled pilots because of cuts.:-|