Red Arrows Help Celebrate RCAF 100

USPA NEWS - Every air show season, thousands of Red Arrow fans are thrilled and amazed by the heart pounding, jaw dropping and adrenaline pumping aerobatical displays of skill and precision.
The 2024 air show season marked the 60th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force aerobatical team and what better way to celebrate than a trip across the Atlantic Ocean to do a Canadian tour to help celebrate the Royal Canadian Air Force 100th Anniversary.
As the 2025 Air Show Season will soon be upon us, air show fans in Atlantic Canada are preparing to gather in Summerside, Prince Edward Island for 2025 Air Show Atlantic.
As we await, lets take a look back on the 2024 Air Show Atlantic production which eagerly participated in the RCAF 100 celebrations with some help from the visiting Red Arrows.

The Red Arrows are the aerobatic Squadron of the Royal Air Force. Nicknamed the "Reds", the team consists of 9 pilots, and 91 support staff. Until 2023, the Red Arrows had been based at RAF Scampton Air Base, but have since relocated to Royal Air Force Waddington Air Base after the closure of Scampton.

On August 24th and 25th,the Red Arrows took to the sky over 14-Wing Greenwood for Air Show Atlantic 2024. Thousands of enthusiastic fans flooded the Air Show grounds to be thrilled and amazed by the Red Arrows. Fans were not left disappointed!! The Red Arrows made Air Show Atlantic 2024 the first stop on their much anticipated Canadian tour which was called ,Maple Hawk. The Reds were here celebrating both the RCAF100 and the 60th season of the Red Arrows.

Lieutenant-General E.J. Kenny, Commander, of the Royal Canadian Air Force, said: “I am thrilled the Royal Air Force Red Arrows have joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as we celebrate the RCAF Centennial and we were amazed by the Red Arrows impressive performances. The Red Arrows participation in select air shows in Canada not only underscores the strength of our enduring relationship with the Royal Air Force, but provided Canadians with an incredible showcase of precision and flying skill."

I was privileged to have a chance to speak with Brigadier Edward Sandry, Defense Attaché of the the British High Commission based in Ottawa. When I asked him about the relationship between the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force, he said, "To answer your question, there is a tight bond between the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Both have a rich shared history to the Royal Commonwealth." He went on to say, "The Royal Air Force Red Arrows share a strong bond with the Canadian Forces Snowbirds. They have a mutual respect for the precision and skill that goes into each performance. They recognize the professionalism and the hundreds of hours that go into training the pilots. The Royal Air Force considers it an honour to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force as they themselves celebrate their 60th Anniversary."

Later in the afternoon, I also had the privilege of speaking to the Red Arrows, Supervisor Squadron Leader ,Graeme Muscat. He mentioned how much of an honour and a pleasure for the full squadron of the Red Arrows to be at 14 Wing CFB Greeneood, to help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the RCAF with their Canadian "brethren". He did also mention that the Royal Air Force celebrated their 100th Anniversary in 2018 and 2024 season marks the 50th Anniversary of the Red Arrows Squadron.