Red Arrows flypast route for today's D-Day 80 anniversary - Full schedule and map
The Ministry of Defence will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings with a series of commemorative events, including a series of Red Arrows flypasts.
The United Kingdom is hosting a major commemorative event to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Public members will be joining Normandy landings veterans, members of the Armed Forces, and the King for a special gathering in France today.
The event will feature special guests delivering moving tributes to those who lost their lives fighting in World War 2 and veterans who have travelled in from all over the country to attend.
The celebrations will be topped by two Royal Air Force Red Arrows flypasts in Normandy but some lucky viewers will get to catch a glimpse of the jets from the UK as well.
The King, Queen Camilla and Prince William travelled across the Channel and were joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to mark the momentous occasion.
In his address, the King told the crowd that the world was fortunate that a generation “did not flinch" when they were called upon.
Express brings you a full guide to today's flypast, from flight routes to timings.
G7: The Red Arrows perform a flypast at summit in Cornwall
What is an RAF flypast?
The D-Day 80 Commemoration will be marked by a ceremonial flight of the Red Arrows over the Normandy beaches where Allied forces landed on the night of June 6, 1944.
The RAF pilots will fly their distinctive Hawk jets to showcase their precision skills with a combination of close formations such as the Red Arrows's trademark diamond nine formation.
The Red Arrows have been performing for for 60 years and 2024 marks their diamond season.
The Royal Air Force's acrobatic team is based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, from where they will take off for their two flypasts over Normandy on Thursday.
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RAF flight route map
The Red Arrows left from Bournemouth for their first flypast over Normandy at approximately 10:08 am.
The acrobatic team then headed towards French airspace where they remained for over 40 minutes as they showed off their skills over the Ver-sur-Mer memorial where the commemorations were being held.
The jets then headed back to Bournemouth, where they will remain until taking off for their second flypast of the day at 2:53 pm.
The pilots are expected to reach France's Flight Information Region from 3:03 pm until 3:55 pm before once against returning back to Bournemouth.
Timings of Red Arrows sightings
- Bournemouth – 2.53 pm
- South of Bournemouth – 2.55 pm
- Fir Boundary – 3.03 pm
- Fir Boundary – 3.55 pm
- Bournemouth – 4.00 pm
