The UK’s Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team is coming to Halifax

NEWS RELEASE
BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION
*************************
Final preparations are underway for the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team's biggest-ever tour to North America, which will begin with a visit to Nova Scotia's capital in less than two weeks.

Today, further details of the Red Arrows visit to Halifax are being released. They include a number of opportunities for the public to engage directly with the Red Arrows pilots and engineers culminating with a special flypast over Halifax harbour on Sunday, August 11.

The public programme will begin with a special screening of the UK documentary Red Arrows: King of the Skies followed by a Q&A with members of the team at The Discovery Centre on Thursday, August 8.

Over the following days (August 9 to 11), the public is also invited to discover the world of aviation and samples of British food and music during a weekend celebration of the UK and the Red Arrows visit along the Halifax waterfront at Summit Plaza (next to the Wave sculpture).

Finally, aircraft from both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force will take to the skies over Halifax on Sunday afternoon to perform a series of public flypasts along the historic Halifax waterfront. This unique celebration of the UK and Canada's longstanding defence partnership will finish with an enhanced flypast by the Red Arrows trailed by their signature blue, white and red smoke at approximately 2:30pm.

British High Commissioner to Canada Susan le Jeune d'Allegeershecque, said: “I am incredibly excited that we are able to bring the unique spectacle that is the Red Arrows to Halifax. With so many strong cultural, business, and ultimately, personal links between Nova Scotia and the UK, it is only natural that Halifax should serve as the starting point for this major tour.”

Wing Commander Andrew Keith, Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: “Tours by the Red Arrows have always been an important role of the team – aiming to demonstrate RAF expertise, helping to highlight UK excellence across a range of sectors and celebrating close connections with friends and allies.”

It is the first time the Red Arrows have visited Halifax in over a decade and this deployment will be the most ambitious tour of Canada and the United States ever undertaken by the team. In total, the team will visit more than 20 cities, including performance or flypasts over 6 Canadian cities.

Partners for the Halifax visit include the Government of Nova Scotia, the Halifax Regional Municipality, the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, The Discovery Centre and Air Show Atlantic.

While in Halifax, the Red Arrows will also meet with local students to promote careers in aviation, science, and technology.

Wing Commander Keith said: “A key aim of the tour is to inspire people through safe, dynamic and visually-exciting shows. However, we have also planned dozens of ground events, where we hope to meet countless individuals and showcase the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths – the STEM subjects – in our work.”
 
Moreover, the tour provides a chance to celebrate and enhance international trade between the UK and Canada, which was worth more than £17 billion in 2018.

The team's Hawk jets, which cannot refuel in the air and do not have the range to make the transatlantic crossing in one sortie, will be flown via several stops, including Scotland, Iceland and Greenland, to reach Halifax. While in Halifax, the Red Arrows will park at Gateway Facilities FBO at Halifax's Stanfield International Airport.

For more information on the Red Arrows, follow @rafredarrows on Twitter, like the team's Facebook page at RAF Red Arrows, view pictures on Instagram @rafredarrows or visit www.raf.mod.uk/reds.
 
Use #redarrowstour online to keep up-to-date with the Red Arrows' tour of North America.

LIST OF EVENTS FOR HALIFAX:

Below is the latest list of events and locations where the Red Arrows will visit during their time in Halifax. Follow @UKinCanada on Twitter and Instagram and British High Commission, Ottawa on Facebook for further updates. The public can also visit http://www.airshowatlantic.ca/red-arrows/ for more information. 

Thursday, August 8 at 6pm & 9pm

Red Arrows: King of the Skies

Get a unique view into the fast-paced world of the Red Arrows. This documentary, part of a six-episode series, provides exceptional access to what happens in the air and on ground as the team's pilots, ground crew, engineers and support personnel prepare for a high profile season. Each screening will be followed by a Q&A with Red Arrows pilots and engineers.

Location: Dome Theatre, The Discovery Centre

Tickets: $20 and available at https://thediscoverycentre.ca/red-arrows/

Friday, August 9 to Sunday, August 11

Great British Weekend: celebrate aviation with the Red Arrows

Join us for a series of events at the UK's pop-up pavilion on the waterfront as we celebrate the fantastic world of aviation. From past to present, get an up-close look at a large-scale model of the iconic Spitfire provided by the Air Show Atlantic and then put on a VR headset and take a ride in the cockpit during a Red Arrows flypast.

The Discovery Centre will also be on-location to explain the science behind flight with interactive demonstrations for all ages. And don't forget to grab a souvenir photo at the Red Arrows photo booth!

Of course, we also need to have some food and music! Our friends at Pete's Frootique and Fine Foods will be sampling fantastic British nibbles and we are happy to present a special musical performance by the Welsh Tornado Gareth Pearson.

Location: Summit Plaza (next to the Wave sculpture)

Cost: Free

Sunday, August 11 at 2pm

Red Arrows Over Halifax

The main event of the Red Arrows visit to Halifax. This unique celebration of the UK and Canada's longstanding defence partnership will include a special series of flypasts by aircraft from both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

RCAF aircraft scheduled to take part include, CH146 Griffon, CH148 Cyclone and CH149 Cormorant helicopters along with a CC130H Hercules and a CP140 Aurora. From the RAF, an A400M will pass along the waterfront followed by an enhanced flypast by the Red Arrows trailed by their signature red, white, and blue smoke.

Location: Halifax and Dartmouth Waterfronts

Cost: Free
*************************