Armed Forces Day 2023: Air display time with Red Arrows Falmouth

No wonder this is the backdrop for flying displays every year. And this year the organisers are pulling out all the stops for Armed Forces Day on June 24 with an entire afternoon of displays by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Red Arrows, the RAF Falcons military parachute display team, and other masters of the skies, taking place between 2.20pm and 5pm. 

Then, as night falls, look upwards again with an exciting firework display centred on Pendennis Castle at 10.40am, scheduled to last around ten minutes, and viewable right across the town.

Lancasters, Spitfires and Hurricanes from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF)

This commemorates all those who have lost their lives serving in the RAF, or its predecessor the Royal Flying Corps, in all conflicts from 1914 up to the present day. The BBMF fleet of WW2 aircraft is preserved in flying condition as a living tribute to them.

The BBMF’s home is at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. During the winter from October to March each year the majority of the Flight’s aircraft are kept on the ground for extensive winter maintenance to prepare them for the next display season and to ensure their long-term preservation.

The BBMF is typically tasked to fly over 100 displays and around 700 flypasts at events each display season – here in Falmouth will be just one of around a thousand aircraft appearances each year.

It is hoped a Spitfire with a Perranporth connection will be able to return

With so many aircraft to choose from the BBMF can never promote its ‘cast list’ in advance. But it is hoped that, among its Spitfire flight, will be the Mk Vb AB910 with a strong Cornish connection. It flew 143 operational missions in a remarkable wartime history spanning almost three years on ‘ops’, then was re-allocated to 130 Sqn at Perranporth Airfield in Cornwall, flying convoy protection patrols and escorting daylight bombing raids.

In June 1942 it was delivered to Biggin Hill, taking part in 1942’s fierce battle in support of Operation ‘Jubilee’, the Dieppe Raid. AB910 is now painted in the colour scheme of a 64 Sqn Spitfire at the time of D-Day with full invasion stripes. It is hoped that this most distinctive of all heritage planes will be flying over Cornwall again.

There are 12 BBMF aircraft, and they have remarkable wartime histories of their own, most defying the odds to survive as flying examples of their kind.

An Avro Lancaster, made famous as the Dambusters

Crowds in Falmouth will hear the distinctive thrum of the Avro Lancaster PA474, made famous as the Dambusters. The BBMF has one of only two of these iconic four-engine heavy bombers still airworthy in the world. Originally developed as an evolution of the Manchester, the Lancaster was powered by four Rolls-Royce Merlins. It first saw service with RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and as the strategic bombing offensive over Europe gathered momentum, it was the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed

A C-47 Dakota represents the dogged work of the RAF’s military transport aircraft and crews. The Flight’s six Supermarine Spitfires include the only surviving flying Spitfire from the Battle of Britain. There are also two Hawker Hurricanes of 1944 vintage, including the last Hurricane ever built, PZ865, the ‘Last of the Many’.

Apart from their own history, each of the Flight’s ‘warbirds’ represents a specific aircraft of WW2 with meticulously-researched colour schemes which commemorate particular battles, campaigns or theatres of war, individual units or particular RAF aircrew.

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The Red Arrows will be on display

RAF Red Arrows

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, is one of the world's premier aerobatic display teams. Representing the speed, agility and precision of the Royal Air Force, the team is the public face of the service. They assist in recruiting to the Armed Forces, act as ambassadors for the United Kingdom at home and overseas and promote the best of British.

Flying distinctive Hawk fast-jets, the team is made up of pilots, engineers and essential support staff with frontline, operational experience. Together, they demonstrate the excellence and capabilities of the Royal Air Force and the Service’s skilled, talented people. Often with their trademark Diamond Nine shape, and combination of close formations and precision flying, the Red Arrows have been displaying since 1965.

Based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, the Red Arrows had flown almost 5,000 displays in 57 countries, by the beginning of this year – the team's 59th season.

The RAF Falcons display team will give a display

RAF Falcons jump from a Hercules

RAF Falcons

The Falcons are the UK’s premier military parachute display team, based at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, they display at venues all over Britain and Europe throughout the year. They have performed many times for the Royal Family and heads of state and set records and introduced many exciting innovations into formation skydiving.

The Royal Air Force is responsible for training and supporting all UK Airborne Forces. As well as providing a distinctive demonstration of freefall and canopy skills during the display season, each Falcons Team member undertakes continual advanced training as Parachute Jumping Instructors in preparation for future employment in support of the Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines and other specialist units.

The RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team is the only centrally funded, professional, military parachute display team in the UK. Their exciting free fall display, which includes advanced manoeuvres, falling at speeds up to 120mph, and their famous 'hybrid' display which includes the Heart and Crisscross Carousel, captivates all spectators.

Spitfire MK11a Vera Lynn