Red Arrows to fly over Clacton in celebration of 150th anniversary
They will be flying over the town on two days in August
The Red Arrows will be flying over Clacton this summer as the town celebrates its 150th anniversary.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) display team will grace the skies for the special flypast in August, along with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).
Alex Porter, Cabinet Member for Leisure and Tourism at Tendring District Council – which runs Clacton Airshow and is organising the Clacton 150 flypast – said the event would be a great boost to the town:
"It has been a tough 18 months for everybody, so in the Great British spirit we are putting on a fantastic celebration flypast for our residents and tourists.
"This is an important year for Clacton, as the town marks 150 years since it was founded, and what better way to celebrate it and the Clacton Airshow than with a two-day flypast of the iconic Red Arrows and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
"The Clacton 150 Flypast will be a really feel-good event that residents of the town will be able to enjoy; we know it will also attract visitors to the town, and hopefully give a financial boost to business owners and the whole tourism and hospitality sector as they get Back to Business post-COVID-19 as well."
Those watching the flights on 26 and 27 August will be able to spread right along Clacton’s long coastline, with miles of wide beaches, promenades and grassed areas.
The flypast is subject to the latest Government guidance on COVID-19 events.
The RAF Force Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows team is made up of nine fast jet pilots, engineers and support staff with frontline, operational experience.
As the public face of the RAF, the team assists with recruiting into the service, contribute to defence diplomacy and support wider national interests by representing the United Kingdom and its industry.
Meanwhile the BBMF has been a regular visitor to the skies above the town and will include the Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane.
The aircraft are regularly seen at events commemorating the Second World War and on British State occasions, and the team commemorates the past of the RAF’s Air Combat Power, Lest We Forget.
Cllr Porter added:
"The Red Arrows are flying at very few events this year – with hardly any air shows taking place in this country – so this really is a great opportunity for people to see them take to the skies.
"People can also take the opportunity to enjoy everything else Clacton has to offer this summer, such as the Octopus Ahoy sculpture trail, the Clacton 150 heritage trail, and much more.
"We hope everyone enjoys the Clacton 150 flypast."