RAF Red Arrows will take to the skies over Teignbridge at the Teignmouth Airshow for the first time ever – after Covid said the event had been canceled for two years in a row.
The eight volunteers who make up the Teignmouth Airshow team have confirmed the Red Arrows display for Saturday, July 2nd.
Volunteer President Dave Matthews says he is pleased that Teignmouth has been chosen as the display site for the iconic display aircraft.
“It was a dream of the committee to bring the Red Arrows to Teignmouth, they are a world renowned display team and have put together a fantastic show for the spectators.
“We really hope it brings visitors to our wonderful city,” he said.
The Red Arrows have never before shaped the sky during the relatively new Teignmouth airshow.
The first airshow over the Teignmouth coast took place in 2019, with Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, The Blades, Yak-3 and Pitts Special on the day.
The 2019 event brought 30,000 visitors to the city – but it was then postponed for the next two years because it was considered too dangerous to bring people into the city during the pandemic.
Despite the organizers celebrating the appearance of the Red Arrow, they have expressed concerns about funding.
The event is free so no funding is collected through ticket sales – and the volunteer organizers do not receive any financial assistance from the council.
It is collected through scholarships, donations, sponsorships, through events that have been difficult to run with Covid restrictions still in place in the last two years.
The whole event, from its infrastructure to the staff, costs thousands of pounds to set up. The Red Arrows’ performance alone costs around £ 15,000.
With this in mind, event director Amy Furlong urged the people of the city to “get behind the event and be a part of the story to help secure the Teignmouth Airshow as an annual event for the city”.
She added: “Having the Red Arrows display will bring a large number of visitors to the city. The event is just outside of the main season, so it’s a big boost for the local economy.”
The air show is set to take over three days this summer, with live music and a classic rally as additional entertainment between the flypasts.
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