The Red Arrows have sold out RAF Cosford’s air show this Sunday, June 14. It’s their final UK home-soil performance before Operation Eagle Hawk 2026 — their historic tour of the United States, which kicks off two weeks later at Airshow Baltimore.
Held at the Royal Air Force base in Shropshire, England, RAF Cosford is the only remaining official RAF-organized air show. All advance tickets are gone, and organizers have been clear: the show is advance-only, with no gate sales available on the day. Anyone without a ticket won’t be getting in.
The Red Arrows will display between 2:55 pm and 3:35 pm as part of a packed flying schedule. The lineup includes the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (Dakota, Spitfire, and Hurricane), RAF F-35B Lightning, Army Air Corps Chinook, the French Air and Space Force Rafale Solo Display, and the Royal Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron’s de Havilland Vampire FB.6. This year’s theme — “Engineering the Future of the Royal Air Force” — highlights innovation and STEM roles in defence aviation.
Cosford’s flying schedule has shifted several times due to technical and operational challenges. The Flying Bulls F-86 Sabre was cancelled because of technical issues in Austria. The Ultimate Warbirds P-51 Mustang “Hurry Home Honey” didn’t make it in time either. A Harvard and P-47 Thunderbolt will fill those slots instead, keeping the display strong.
Spectators will see the Red Arrows’ seven-ship formation (Reds 1–7) on Sunday, not the full nine-jet lineup. The team operates nine aircraft in 2026 overall, but Reds 8 and 9 are reserved for national occasions and state events. Expect their signature moves: the Tornado, where two jets roll around the remaining seven as the formation bends in front of the crowd, plus the Synchro Pair’s opposition work in the second half.
This Cosford appearance comes before their first U.S. tour since 2019. Confirmed stops include Airshow Baltimore (June 27–28), the International Aerial Review in New York City (July 4), FourLeaf Air Show at Jones Beach, New York (July 5–6), Great State of Maine Airshow (July 11–12), Thunder Over Michigan at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti (July 17–19), and EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin (July 24–26).
Wing Commander Sasha Nash, Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: “The whole Red Arrows team are greatly looking forward to visiting the United States. The tour is a fantastic opportunity to display the best of British at significant events marking the 250th anniversary, alongside friends, allies and international counterparts.”
The Red Arrows fly Hawk T1 jets from RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire and have conducted nearly 5,000 displays across 57 countries since 1965. More than 100 engineers maintain and service the aircraft — they ship tools, spare parts, and coloured smoke dye in advance. The Hawks can’t refuel in flight and lack transatlantic range, so multiple stops are needed to reach North America. It’s a logistics puzzle the team refined during their 2019 tour and the Maple Hawk tour to Canada in 2024.
After Cosford, the Red Arrows’ next UK appearance is Airbourne Eastbourne later in the summer. Their full 2026 season spans the United Kingdom, Greece, Sweden, France, Czech Republic, and the United States.
Stay in the loop
Get the latest airshow spectacle updates delivered to your inbox.