The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, are set to soar over British Columbia as part of their biggest-ever tour to North America.

With one week to go, further details of the Red Arrows visit to Vancouver and a flypast over Victoria are being released. They include a number of opportunities for the public to engage directly with the Red Arrows pilots and engineers prior to a special back-to-back flypast over both the Victoria and Vancouver harbours on Thursday 26 September.

The public programme will begin with an exclusive screening of the UK documentary “Red Arrows: Kings of the Skies” followed by a Q&A with members of the team at Science World at TELUS World of Science on Tuesday 24 September.

The public is also invited to discover the world of aviation and learn more about the UK during a full-day of celebrations for the Red Arrows visit. This will take place at Jack Poole Plaza, along the Vancouver Harbour, on Thursday 26 September.

This full-day event will culminate in back-to-back non-aerobatic flypasts by the Red Arrows over the final two Canadian cities of the tour, Victoria and Vancouver. The Red Arrows will first take to the skies of Victoria, passing over the provincial capital’s historic inner harbour and the British Columbia Parliament Buildings at approximately 4:40pm. Finally, the Red Arrows will cap off the final Canadian leg of their tour with an enhanced flypast along the iconic Vancouver Harbour waterfront, trailed by their signature red, white, and blue smoke, at approximately 5:00pm.

To celebrate the Red Arrows visit, iconic Vancouver landmarks will be illuminated in red, white, and blue. These include Science World at TELUS World of Science (24 and 26 September), BC Place (26 September), the Olympic Cauldron at Jack Poole Plaza and the Vancouver Convention Centre (26 September) and the iconic five sails at Canada Place at the Port of Vancouver (24 and 25 September).

British High Commissioner to Canada Susan le Jeune d’Allegeershecque, said:

It has been incredible to have the Red Arrows with us in Canada, from launching their North American tour in Halifax to fantastic displays in both Ottawa and Toronto. I am now delighted to welcome them back to Canada for their flypasts over Victoria and Vancouver. Given our rich history and shared futures, I am delighted that British Columbia should serve as the final Canadian stop on what has been an extraordinary tour.

Wing Commander Andrew Keith, Officer Commanding, Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said:

Throughout the Red Arrows’ North American tour, the response of everyone in Canada to our displays, flypasts and ground events has been overwhelming. This has positively demonstrated the close bonds between the UK and Canada across industry, defence and culturally. It will be brilliant to conclude our time in Canada by performing flypasts in Victoria and Vancouver and, once again, have the privilege and opportunity to meet so many people of all ages and backgrounds during our stay.

It is the first time the Red Arrows have ever visited Vancouver and it comes as part of the team’s most ambitious tour of Canada and the United States. In total, the team will visit more than 20 cities, including 4 in Canada, over 11 weeks.

The Vancouver visit is graciously supported by the Vancouver Convention Centre, Science World at TELUS World of Science and the Vancouver International Airport.

As part of their visit, the Red Arrows will also make a special visit to Canuck Place Children`s Hospice for a chance to connect with the young children receiving care. Over 765 children living with life-threatening illnesses and their families receive care from Canuck Place.

The Red Arrows will also meet with local students to promote careers in aviation, science, and technology. Taking place over four different sessions, the Red Arrows will showcase the importance of STEM in their work with students from the British Columbia Institute of Technology, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Templeton Secondary, Britannia Secondary and an organization aimed at inspiring female leaders from shop floor to top floor in high-tech STEM fields, Achieve Anything Foundation.

Wing Commander Keith said

A key aim of the tour is to inspire people through safe, dynamic and visually-exciting shows. However, we have also planned dozens of ground events, where we hope to meet countless individuals and showcase the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths – the STEM subjects – in our work.

Moreover, the tour provides a chance to celebrate and enhance international trade between the UK and Canada, which was worth more than £17 billion in 2018.

For more information on the Red Arrows, follow @rafredarrows on Twitter, like the team’s Facebook page at RAF Red Arrows, view pictures on Instagram @rafredarrows or visit www.raf.mod.uk/reds

Use #RedArrowsTour online to keep up-to-date with the Red Arrows’ tour of North America.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows showcase the excellence of the RAF and represent the United Kingdom both at home and overseas. The team consists of 11 pilots, nine of whom fly in the display, and more than 100 support personnel and technicians. Each of the pilots has previous fast-jet, operational experience flying the Tornado, Typhoon or Harrier, enabling the RAF to secure the skies and protect the nation and its interests, 365-days a year. One of the world’s premier aerobatic teams, the Red Arrows had completed nearly 5,000 displays, in 57 countries, by the beginning of 2019. Flying Hawk T1 jets, the team is based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

LIST OF EVENTS FOR VANCOUVER:

Below is the latest list of events and locations where the Red Arrows will visit during their time in Vancouver. Follow @UKinCanada on Twitter and Instagram and British High Commission, Ottawa on Facebook for further updates.

VANCOUVER

Tuesday 24 September, 7pm – 9:30pm

Red Arrows: Kings of the Skies

Get an exclusive peek into the fast-paced world of the Red Arrows. This documentary, part of a six-episode series, provides exceptional access to what happens in the air and on ground as the team’s pilots, ground crew, engineers and support personnel prepare for a high-profile season. The screening will conclude with a Q&A with Red Arrows pilots and engineers followed by a meet and greet with light refreshments.

Location: Science World at TELUS World of Science

Tickets: Free, but registration is required: www.scienceworld.ca/red-arrows-kings-sky

Thursday 26 September, 10am – 6pm

Aviation Day with the Red Arrows at Jack Poole Plaza

Join us for a series of events at the UK’s pop-up pavilion on the Vancouver Harbour waterfront as we celebrate the fantastic world of aviation. This all ages, public event will give visitors a chance to meet the Red Arrows’ pilots and engineers, learn more about the UK government’s work in Canada, and grab a free souvenir photo at the Red Arrows photo booth.

From past to present, visitors can also get an up-close look at an iconic Sopwith Camel kindly provided by the Canadian Museum of Flight and then don a VR headset to take a ride in the cockpit during a Red Arrows flypast.

Science World at TELUS World of Science and H. R. MacMillan Space Centre will also be on-location to explain the science behind flight with interactive demonstrations including a friendly rocket launcher competition.

Of course, we will also have fantastic British music playing throughout the plaza, an up-close look at luxury British vehicles from Land Rover Canada, along with giveaways from our friends at Yorkshire Tea!

Location: Jack Poole Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre

Cost: Free

Thursday 26 September at 5pm

Red Arrows over Vancouver

The main event of the Red Arrows visit to Vancouver. The Red Arrows will cap off the last Canadian stop of their North American tour with an enhanced flypast along the iconic Vancouver Harbour waterfront, trailed by their signature red, white, and blue smoke. The enhanced flypast will include several passes over the waterfront and take place at approximately 5:00pm.

Location: Vancouver Harbour, near Jack Poole Plaza

Cost: Free

VICTORIA

Thursday 26 September at 4:40pm

Red Arrows over Victoria

The Red Arrows’ visit to Canada’s Pacific Coast will include a flypast over British Columbia’s capital. The single flypast will occur over the Inner Harbour and British Columbia Parliament Buildings.

Location: Inner Harbour, Victoria, BC

IMAGERY, INTERVIEWS AND RUSHES:

Photographs and videos of the team displaying are available by visiting: www.defenceimagery.mod.uk

A map of the tour locations, and other content, is also available.