Flying as a nine-aircraft unit utilizing BAE Systems Hawk trainer jets, the RAF's Red Arrows are among the world's most notable aerobatic display teams. They frequently make appearances at UK airshows and even at events located further afield in foreign countries, but the famous Farnborough Airshow is a notable exception from their spectacular flying displays. Let's examine why this is the case.
Rules changed after a crash in Shoreham
While the Red Arrows have been involved in a handful of fatal accidents over the course of their 59-year history, the reason for their limited activities at the Farnborough Airshow, in fact, boils down to a crash that didn't directly concern the team. Likewise, the disaster in question didn't occur in Farnborough.
Instead, a single-aircraft accident at the 2015 Shoreham Airshow involving a Hawker Hunter T7 caused the RAF to have a rethink. According to the Aviation Safety Network, the crash occurred when the Hunter, a 1955-built RAF fighter jet, failed to pull out of a loop maneuver while performing a display at the airshow.
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This occurred because the pilot entered it too low (200 feet rather than the recommended 500) and too slowly (310 knots / 570 km/h rather than 350 knots / 650 km/h). The jet's nose was pitched up at the time of the crash, and the aircraft's pilot, Andy Hill, survived the accident, albeit with serious injuries.
However, the fact that the Hunter came down on a busy dual carriageway had devastating consequences. Indeed, the crash and subsequent explosion destroyed eight vehicles, which sadly led to the deaths of 11 people on the ground. Furthermore, another 16 individuals were injured as a result.
Time for a rethink
In the aftermath of the disaster, the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) clamped down on regulations surrounding vintage jet airshow displays that take place over land. This restricted most of these aircraft to only performing high-level flypasts rather than full-scale aerobatic displays. The RAF also subsequently reconsidered the kinds of flying that the Red Arrows would perform at certain events.
This ultimately caused a restriction of the team's presence at Farnborough to only include a series of flypasts. According to Surrey Live, the extensive presence of civilian infrastructure in the vicinity of the display area was a critical factor in this. After all, the Shoreham crash showed that innocent bystanders could be caught in the wrong place at the wrong time in airshow accidents. The RAF stated at the time that:
"The high speed and dynamic nature of the traditional Red Arrows display is no longer appropriate for Farnborough, due to the large amounts of local housing, business areas and major transport links underneath the display area. The Red Arrows will continue to complete flypasts in different formations, together with more exciting opportunities for the public to engage with the Red Arrows team on the ground."
Farnborough has since transitioned as an event
The restrictions concerning the type of display that the Red Arrows could perform at the airshow may have played a role in how Farnborough has transitioned as an event in recent years. While the five-day trade show would typically be followed up by two days of public flying displays, these were scrapped for the 2020 show (which was ultimately canceled due to coronavirus).
According to FlightGlobal, members of the public would still be able to attend the show on the Friday of the week in question but would not be treated to any such aerial action. This drew criticism from previous attendees but has allowed the event to refocus on its trade-based operations. The next iteration of the Farnborough Airshow will take place later this year, running from July 22nd to 26th, 2024.
Safety is paramount at any airshow
Of course, Farnborough is far from the only airshow with strict safety protocols in place regarding flying displays. Indeed, accidents such as those seen in Rammstein in 1988 and Skynliv in 2002 have led to the implementation of measures to keep both aircrew and the public safe. You can read more about airshow safety here.
What do you make of the restrictions on the Red Arrows' activities at the Farnborough Airshow? Have you ever seen the team perform? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!