With their planned new headquarters a short distance away
from their current home, the aerobatic team will still take
to the skies above Scampton to practise their world-famous
displays.
The Ministry of Defence will look at options for preserving
the rich history of RAF Scampton after its closure. During
the Second World War, the base was home to 617 Squadron
which famously took part in the Dambusters raids in 1943.
A safety assessment deemed RAF Waddington to be the best
possible home for The Red Arrows, and the relocation, which
was first announced in 2018, will now move into the
assessment and planning stage.
The move forms part of Ministry of Defence (MOD) plans to
invest £4-billion in its estate over the next ten years, to
meet military requirements with modern and efficient
facilities and infrastructure.
Defence Minister said:
As we saw during the recent VE Day celebrations, the Red
Arrows have a proud and prominent place in British
culture and have long demonstrated the best of what the
UK Armed Forces offer with their world-renowned skills,
discipline and teamwork.
It is good news that we have an excellent base for them
at RAF Waddington, and I am delighted that they will be
able to continue to practice their extraordinary
aerobatic talents above RAF Scampton in their home county
of Lincolnshire.
Air Vice-Marshal Warren James said:
I am delighted that we now have confirmation that the
Royal Air Force Aerobatics Team - The Red Arrows - will
remain in the heart of Lincolnshire. The Royal Air Force
remains committed to the strong links it has with the
county and a considerable amount of work has been carried
out to secure a suitable future home location.
The Red Arrows are a highly skilled and professional team
showcasing the very best of the British precision and
leadership for industry on a global scale, and inspiring
next generation interest in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics through an air and space
power lens. The announcement of this move will provide
much needed stability for their future endeavours.
The Red Arrows were formed in 1964 and have flown almost
5,000 displays in 57 countries. The team consists of 9
pilots who fly in their trademark diamond display in BAE
Systems’ Hawk Jets, reaching maximum speeds of 645 mph.
