Red Arrows display ‘most challenging of season’ as bad weather causes cancellation of Battle of Britain flypast

A Red Arrows’ pilot has said the conditions the team faced on Friday at Sidmouth were the most challenging this season because of the bad weather.

Martin Pert, Red 1, tweeted: “That was hard fought. Sorry for the delay whilst we battled the weather but a pleasure to get to Sidmouth and display in our most challenging conditions this season.”

An emergency mission by the Devon Air Ambulance also added to the delays as the Red Arrows put on a display for the start of Regatta weekend. The display had earlier been in jeopardy altogether because of the weather but in the end the famous aerobatics team wowed the crowds who braved the conditions on Sidmouth seafront. High winds had earlier caused the cancellation of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast. The Lancaster Bomber and two Spitfires were set to appear at 6pm this evening as the show opener for the Sidmouth Regatta but organisers announced that weather conditions meant they were unable to leave their base at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

A spokesman for the organisers of the event said: “Obviously, we are very disappointed but these are 75-year-old aircraft and safety must come first. We hope with enough public support, we can encourage them to return next year.”