Cpl Helen Rimmer RAF | MoD/Crown copyright 2018 —

Don’t be alarmed if you see nine cherry red jets in the skies over Boston later this month. The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team is coming to town.

The Red Arrows will perform along the Boston waterfront around 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 19. The show will last about 10 minutes, Boston British Consulate-General spokesperson Paolo DiFabio said.

The team’s jets will start up north, flying down over Boston Harbor toward Spectacle Island and eventually landing at Logan Airport, he said.

The performance will be visible from both the downtown waterfront and the East Boston waterfront. DiFabio recommended watching from anywhere near the USS Constitution, along Fan Pier, or near the New England Aquarium.


“If anybody’s got a boat, they should pop it in the harbor that day,” he said.

He also said any tall buildings that look out on the water would be great viewing spots. And if you can get out to Castle Island, you should.

The Red Arrows set off Monday on their biggest-ever North American tour, according to a release. It’s the first time the team has been to North America since 2008.

Over the course of 11 weeks, the Red Arrows will visit 25 American cities. The team is currently in Canada, but will make its way to its first American stop next week in Chicago.

“Their tour aims to promote the best of British culture while supporting UK trade, business, and defence,” a release said. The team will also participate in events promoting STEM education.

Well you don’t see that every day – the front formation of the team crossing the Atlantic earlier, as seen from the @RoyalAirForce Voyager aircraft carrying our personnel to #RedArrowsTour. @RAFBrizeNorton @AirTanker pic.twitter.com/bNAs0PTPIy — Red Arrows (@rafredarrows) August 6, 2019

Boston’s British Consulate-General is hosting a social media contest where prizes will be awarded to the best photo of the Arrows’ Boston performance shared with the hashtag #RedArrowsTour. The team will choose the winner, the release said.

DiFabio said the prizes will include Red Arrows merchandise, and a larger prize will be announced sometime soon.

“I am delighted the Red Arrows are coming to New England as part of their North American tour,” said Harriet Cross, Her Majesty’s consul general to New England, in a press release. “Their aerial display over the skies of Boston will be a unique and quite breath-taking spectacle.”