The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, will perform a public display over the Doha Corniche on September 30 from 4pm, followed by a high-profile flypast.
This year, a Qatar Airways Airbus A350 will fly in formation with the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) iconic Red Arrows, the British embassy in Qatar has said in a statement.
The Red Arrows team’s last visit to Qatar was in 2013 and featured a spectacular display in Doha and also a mixed-formation flypast with a Royal Air Force Typhoon multi-role combat aircraft. A large crowd had watched this aerobatic performance by the Red Arrows from the Corniche. The 20-minute Red Arrows aerobatic display uses nine fast-jets, sometimes flying as close as 6ft apart at more than 400 miles per hour. The Red Arrows are known for flying their signature Diamond Nine shape formation.
The embassy has said Qatar residents and visitors are invited to come along and watch the display. This Red Arrows’ visit to Doha is part of a five-week overseas tour -- known as Exercise Eastern Hawk -- supporting UK interests and promoting the best of British. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team will be carrying out a display and ground events across Qatar on September 30 and October 1.
“Overseas tours such as this are one of the key roles of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team. One of the Red Arrows’ key roles is as national ambassadors, supporting UK trade, business, education and industry – most recently in conjunction with the GREAT Britain campaign. The deployment will provide opportunities for deepening commercial partnerships, strengthening defence engagement and promoting science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem) through events with students and educational institutes,” the statement noted.
The team has been displaying since 1965 – entertaining and enthralling hundreds of millions of people around the world. The Red Arrows have completed more than 4,800 displays in 57 countries. 2017 is the team’s 53rd consecutive season.
Did you know?
* The Red Arrows have performed in Doha five times before: September 1995, November 1999, October 2003, November 2007 and November 2013
* The Red Arrows planes are nearly 12m in length and have a wingspan of 9.4m
* The Red Arrows team has performed in some 57 countries since 1965 and there are more than 120 people in the RAF Aerobatic Team, which includes the Red Arrows support team, known as the ‘Blues’
* The smoke used during the display has a safety purpose, allowing the team to judge wind speed and direction, to locate the other aircraft.
* The Rolls-Royce engine in the aircrafts produces 5,200lbs
* Reds 1-5 complete the front end of the team’s formation during a display, known as Enid
* Reds 6-9 make up the rear part of a display, known as Gypo. The two teams split up during the second half of the display
