The Royal Air Force's Red Arrows are poised to deliver a spectacular aerial display today as part of the Trooping the Colour celebrations honoring King Charles III. The flypast will complement a grand parade through central London, with other members of the royal family expected to participate in the festivities.
What Time and Where Will the Red Arrows Fly?
The flypast will cap off the Trooping the Colour parade at 1pm, when the King and the Royal Family will step onto the Buckingham Palace balcony to observe the display as it soars over the iconic landmark. Prior to reaching London, the Red Arrows will take off from RAF Waddington around 11am and traverse the Norfolk and Suffolk coasts. Around midday, the jets will pass over Colchester, Reading, and Chelmsford before heading into London for the main event at 1pm. After the display, the aircraft will turn toward Windsor and Slough, then continue to Northampton and Colsterworth.
How to Watch the Trooping the Colour Flypast
Trooping the Colour will be broadcast live on BBC in the UK, covering the parade from 10.30am to 12.25pm at Buckingham Palace, along with the flypast. The event can also be viewed from The Mall and surrounding areas. Those near the Red Arrows' route may catch a glimpse by stepping outside.
Aircraft Participating
The full list of aircraft for this year's flypast has yet to be released, but it is expected to mirror last year's lineup. In 2025, 29 aircraft took part, including four Chinooks, a BBMF Lancaster, two Texans, an A400M Atlas, six Typhoons, two Juno helicopters, a C-17 Globemaster, two F-35B Lightnings, and the Red Arrows.
Red Arrows 2026 Summer Schedule
The display coincides with the Red Arrows' summer schedule. After an appearance at the English Riviera Airshow in Torbay in late May, the team has confirmed additional displays. Notably, the number of aircraft has been reduced from nine Hawk T1 jets to seven due to maintenance on the aging fleet.
June 2026
- June 13 – HM The King's Official Birthday Flypast, London
- June 14 – RAF Cosford Airshow
- June 27 – Sail 250 Maryland & Airshow Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- June 28 – Sail 250 Maryland & Airshow Baltimore, Maryland, USA
July 2026
- July 4 – International Aerial Review New York City, USA
- July 5 – FourLeaf Air Show, Jones Beach, New York, USA
- July 6 – FourLeaf Air Show, Jones Beach, New York, USA
- July 11 – Great State of Maine Airshow, Maine, USA
- July 12 – Great State of Maine Airshow, Maine, USA
- July 17 – Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, Michigan, USA
- July 18 – Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, Michigan, USA
- July 19 – Thunder Over Michigan Air Show, Michigan, USA
- July 24 – EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
- July 25 – EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
- July 26 – EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
August 2026
- August 14 – Eastbourne International Airshow
- August 15 – Eastbourne International Airshow
- August 16 – Eastbourne International Airshow
- August 16 – Lyme Regis, RNLI Lifeboat Week
- August 19 – Cromer Carnival and Air Display, Norfolk
- August 22 – Swedish Air Force 100-Year Anniversary Show 2026, Linkoping, Sweden
- August 23 – Swedish Air Force 100-Year Anniversary Show 2026, Linkoping, Sweden
- August 27 – Clacton Air Show
- August 28 – Clacton Air Show
- August 29 – Sidmouth Regatta and Air Show
September 2026
- September 4 – International Ayr Show Festival of Flight, Ayr, Scotland
- September 5 – International Ayr Show Festival of Flight, Ayr, Scotland
- September 9 – Guernsey Air Display
- September 10 – Jersey International Air Display
- September 12 – IWM Duxford Battle of Britain Air Show, Cambridge
- September 13 – TBC
- September 19 – NATO Days in Ostrava, Czechia
- September 20 – NATO Days in Ostrava, Czechia
- September 29 – Le Touquet Airshow, France
October 2026
- October 4 – IWM Duxford Flying Finale
