The RAF’s Red Arrows have left their Lincolnshire home for Greece to complete their final pre-season training to refine their manoeuvres ahead of a busy summer.
Exercise Springhawk is a five-week period which allows the Red Arrows to perfect and polish their new 2026 display.Â
The Greeks will be able to see the team improving their skills and synchronisation, ensuring they deliver a captivating spectacle seen during the summer airshows.
The finer weather in Greece provides more guaranteed conditions compared to those often found when flying in the skies over their Lincolnshire RAF Waddington base.Â
The iconic Royal Air Force aerobatic team can fly up to 15 sorties a week in their iconic red Hawk T1 jets at locations and in environments that better simulate what they will find at display venues and airshows in the summer.
Ex Springhawk allows the whole team to gel – both air and ground crew – and to focus on preparing for the demands of a season.
During the exercise, senior RAF officers assess the team, with the aim of gaining Public Display Authority.Â
If this is awarded, the team’s pilots change from green overalls into their famous red flying suits and the ground crews will be able to put on their royal blue display coveralls.Â
The team’s aerobatic displays change each year, with the first half consisting of synchronised, formation aerobatics, following by a more dynamic second half.Â
The Red Arrows’ first UK airshow appearance for 2026 is expected in late-May.Â