Latest news with #aerobatics
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
RAF Red Arrows set to use vegetable oil for fuel in major green move
THE Red Arrows are to fly their first aerobatics display fuelled by vegetable oil. The RAF team will appear at the three-day Royal International Air Tattoo, starting today Their jets will be powered by a blend of sustainable aviation fuel — typically made from waste cooking oils — and normal jet fuel. Meanwhile hydrotreated vegetable oil, a renewable biofuel, will produce their famed vapour trails. The Arrows are to perform three times, and also feature in various special formation fly-pasts, at RAF Fairford, Gloucs. Organisers said: 'The Red Arrows' performances will be history-making for any national aerobatic team.' The Arrows first publicly used the sustainable fuels in a fly-past over London for the King's birthday last month. The team's Senior Engineering Officer, Squadron Leader Andy King, led the pioneering project. He said: 'At the heart of the Royal International Air Tattoo is a mission to inspire future generations of aviators — a goal shared by the Red Arrows. "This makes this year's Air Tattoo an ideal occasion to showcase the Red Arrows' ground-breaking, world-leading move to more sustainable fuels — powering a display that has the same thrilling, entertaining and exciting aerobatics and teamwork that has captivated millions of enthusiasts across the decades.' The RAF Fairford event will feature planes from 30 countries and attract a total crowd of 170,000.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Blue Angels soar at Pensacola Beach Air Show on Saturday: Full schedule, viewing guide
The official Pensacola Beach Air Show is here. The Blue Angels and more than a dozen other military and civilian aerobatic performers will wow hometown crowds on Saturday with nearly five hours of high-speed displays and maneuvers. Saturday's weather forecast favors clear and sunny skies slightly more than Friday's, but folks shouldn't be surprised if a storm or two rolls over the area and impacts the schedule. The Pensacola Beach Air Show on Saturday starts at 10:30 a.m. Here's everything you need to know to prepare. The 2025 Pensacola Beach Air Show starts with a mix of military and civilian aerobatic demonstrations at 10:30 a.m. The Black Ducks in WWII-era aircraft Sheldon Heatherington in a Zenith 75 STOL named 'Redbird' Gene Valentino in an Icon A-5 Tanner Matheny in a 1946 Navion named 'Olivia' Veterans Flight team in their WWII-era Stearman biplanes honoring WWII and Korean War veterans, led by Roy Kinsey HT-18 training helicopters from TAW-5 aboard NAS Whiting Field VT-10 flying T-6 Texans from TAW-6 aboard NAS Pensacola U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue demo from an MH-65E Dolphin The official air box will close, and lifeguards will clear the water around 11:40 a.m., which is when the official performers will take flight. USAF B-1B Lancer arrives to tease the raw power and speed of the legendary swing-wing bomber. Red Bull Air Force team performs the 'Presentation of the Colors' by skydiving with the American Flag – landing at show center. Expect aerobatics from helo pilot Aaron Fitzgerald and pilot Kevin Coleman in his Extra 330 SC, too. B-1B Lancer comes back for more action and maneuvers to impress. RJ Gritter is next overhead, flying a red, white, and blue Decathlon and bringing high-energy aerobatics to Pensacola for the first time. The father-son duo of Ken and Austin Rieder with Redline Airshows will deliver formation thrills and precision flying in their RV-8s. Next up, the four-man Titan Aerobatic Team performs synchronized loops and bomb bursts in their WWII-era AT-6 Texans. Kevin Coleman and Aaron Fitzgerald team up again in a high-adrenaline, two-aircraft routine to finish up with the Red Bull Air Force finale before a short 10-minute water break. The Blue Angels always close out the air show at 2 p.m. alongside the team's beloved support aircraft, Fat Albert. Fat Albert will typically fly for about 15 minutes before the Blue Angels take to the skies for the next 45. If you have any hopes of getting into the Casino Beach parking lot, you'll want to get out there before 3 a.m. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office reported last year that the lot had filled up between 3 and 3:30 a.m. on Saturday. Anyone who values their sleep and doesn't mind taking an open-air trolley ride down Via De Luna Drive can arrive at their leisure. The Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA) is adding four buses and extending public transportation service to Park East, located about a mile east of Portofino Resort. On Saturday, July 12, SRIA will have four buses, plus the three trolleys, running between 6:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. The trolleys will resume their original route until midnight. The trolleys will carry passengers from Park East and Park West to show center at Casino Beach, stopping only at designated stops. Trolley stops will be marked with a bright Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT)-branded feather flag. One the show wraps up, the trolleys and buses servicing Park East will be staged at Via de Luna in front of Sideline's Sports Bar and the Hampton Inn. The staging area for Park West will be at Fort Pickens Road, in front of the Surf & Sand Hotel and The Sandshaker. Pensacola Beach Air Show is centered around Casino Beach, so that is where you'll have the best view. That said, you don't have to be in the thick of it to watch the show. When you're flying as fast as the Blues, it takes a lot of space to set up maneuvers, so you'll have a view even if you're a little out of the way. Of course! In fact, watching by boat is one of the best ways to watch the Pensacola Beach Air Show. Prior to the air show, the U.S. Coast Guard will mark off areas of the water directly beneath the show, but you'll find plenty of spots to anchor and get a great view of the show. Two of the most popular spots are near Quietwater Beach (on the east side of the Bob Sikes Bridge) and Little Sabine. Your view will be slightly obscured by some of the condos and hotels, but you'll have your own space onboard your boat and you won't have to deal with the regular traffic. New this year: Escambia County Emergency Management will implement a new vessel exclusion zone to create a 250-yard lane for first responder vessels to respond to incidents and injuries. The vessel exclusion zone will begin from the shoreline between Flounders and the Santa Rosa Island Authority Administrative Building and extend approximately 250 yards into the sound. Emergency Management has deployed 24 buoys and signage to alert boaters to the vessel exclusion zone. While the vessel exclusion zone is in effect, boaters are prohibited from anchoring their boats within the red buoys. However, boaters may cross through the vessel exclusion zone while traveling to their destination. Hellcat Productions LLC, will be live streaming the Pensacola Beach Air Show on YouTube on Saturday, July 12, if you can't make it out to the show. You can catch the stream here. Yes! But also no. When nothing is going on, you'll be able to swim as much as you like, as long as you observe the beach flags posted along Pensacola Beach. However, during some performances, like the Blue Angels' demonstration, the public will be told to vacate the waters. Every day at the Pensacola Beach Air Show is a full-day event, so you'll want to pack accordingly. Here are some things you shouldn't leave without: Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen Beach towels, chairs or anything else to sit on Water to keep you hydrated (just remember that glass containers are prohibited on the beach) Food or snacks (it'll be a long day) Umbrella, tent or anything else that will provide shade A small bag or container to keep important belongings safe and sand-free Ear plugs A cooler There aren't many show-specific rules to follow at the Pensacola Beach Air Show, but there are plenty of general safety tips to follow: Be aware of beach flags, which are generally modeled after traffic lights. Green is good, yellow flags mean surf conditions are moderate and red flags indicate dangerous conditions. Thursday's current rip current risk is low, according to the National Weather Service. Reapply sunscreen often. The general rule of thumb is to reapply it every two hours of sun exposure. Thursday's highs will reach around 91 degrees, so drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated. In general, you should aim to have around 2-4 cups of water per hour, per person. Pick a spot along the beach with lifeguards if you plan on swimming. The Santa Rosa Island Authority says you cannot bring the following to Pensacola Beach: Glass containers Alcohol (if west of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier) Open containers off the boardwalk or establishment Grills Dogs or animals outside of designated dog parks (excludes service animals) Drones Here is a look at the 2025 Blue Angel pilots and their roles: #1 | Cmdr. Adam Bryan | USN — Flight leader and commanding officer #2 | Cmdr. Jack Keilty | USN — Right wing #3 | Maj. Brandon Wilkins | USMC — Left wing #4 | Lt. Cmdr. Wes Perkins | USN — Slot #5 | Cmdr. Thomas Zimmerman | USN — Lead solo #6 | Lt. Connor O'Donnell | USN — Opposing solo There are three officers who serve as pilots for the Blue Angels' beloved support aircraft known as 'Fat Albert.' Capt. Sam Petko | USMC — Lead C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot Capt. Isaac Becker | USMC — C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot Maj. Josh Horman | USMC — C-130J 'Fat Albert' pilot Fat Albert is a Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules that follows the Blue Angels across the country as they perform air shows during a season. The modified C-130 carries the team's maintenance and support equipment and has its own moment in the sun during air shows as it performs its aerobatic maneuvers for about 15 minutes ahead of the Blue Angels. Here is the latest forecast information from the National Weather Service: High: 90℉ Low: 79℉ Weather: Saturday is expected to be mostly sunny, with a 50% chance of precipitation. Expect a slight south breeze. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Blue Angels Pensacola Beach Air Show Saturday: Everything to know
ABC News
09-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
Avalon Airshow crash preliminary investigation suggests mid-air stunt attempted too low
An aerobatic pilot who was seriously injured when his plane crashed at the Avalon Airshow earlier this year may have attempted the mid-air stunt too low to the ground, a preliminary investigation has found. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a preliminary report into the incident, which happened in front of thousands of horrified onlookers at the Avalon Australian International Airshow near Geelong. An aerobatic aircraft, a Pitts S1 11X, crashed into the ground after performing a loop as part of a display on the first public day of the airshow in March. The plane's sole occupant, the pilot, survived but was seriously injured. Investigators were able to recover video footage from inside the cockpit, which the ATSB said showed the loop was attempted from a lower altitude than it had been in previous practice runs, which were also filmed. Footage published by the ATSB shows the plane's altimeter visible from a camera fixed inside the cockpit. Investigators suggested the "triple avalanche" manoeuvre — a loop with three snap rolls — began at around 100 feet (about 30 metres) above runway height, when in previous training flights the pilot had started it at 200 feet (61 metres). The pilot began the back half of the loop at a significantly lower altitude than in training runs, at around 700-800 feet (213-244 metres) rather than the usual 1,000 feet (305 metres), the report said. It then collided with the ground — no spectators were injured. No defects had been found with the plane so far, the report said. "We've examined the wreckage and we found no evidence of pre-impact defects," investigator Angus Baxter said. "The flight controls were all intact and connected … we've also identified the flight instruments and recovered those as part of our onsite investigation, we'll be attempting to download any data that might be on those flight instruments," Mr Baxter said. "This is a preliminary report and the investigation is still ongoing, we will be reviewing multiple angles of video evidence that we have received to see if we can determine any of the key elements of the flight path … throughout the manoeuvre." The pilot aged in his 50s, Glenn Collins, survived but was hospitalised with serious injuries. The ATSB noted Mr Collins had more than 2,000 flying hours and all relevant qualifications and practices needed for the manoeuvre ahead of the Avalon Airshow performance. In late May, the organisation in charge of the display, Paul Bennet Airshows, posted on social media that Mr Collins was continuing to "progress positively" after being seriously injured in a crash. In a May post on a crowdfunding platform, Mr Collins said he had suffered "life-changing" spinal injuries and was yet to recover full feelings in his legs and waist. "To the pyrotechnic team who acted so quickly and bravely to get me out of the wreckage — thank you for your courage," he said. "To the healthcare professionals who continue to care for me with such skill and kindness — your dedication is deeply appreciated."
CBC
02-07-2025
- General
- CBC
Inspiration Takes Flight
Is rising patriotism the fuel the Snowbirds need? Your browser does not support the video tag. Pause Philippine Francois Gascard Radio-Canada Jul. 1, 2025 Famous for their shows across Canada, the 431 Air Demonstration Squadron, better known as the Snowbirds, continues to draw crowds as it approaches its 54th anniversary. But as patriotism makes a comeback due to American threats, this season could have a special flavour. The surge in national pride may be just what the Snowbirds need as the clock ticks down on their aging fleet of Tutor jets, currently scheduled to be in use until 2030, and their future remains uncertain. As a little girl, Caitie Clapp looked up at the sky. She saw nine sparkling red dots cut through the air, tracing a perfect symphony. "When I was younger, I saw a show over my hometown," Clapp remembers. She says that day changed her life. Twenty years later, Clapp now holds the title of captain and pilots one of these planes herself. She is the only woman on the Snowbirds pilot team and the third in history. Inspiration for young and old alike is at the heart of the Snowbirds' DNA. The squadron has been able to preserve that core principle over the decades, despite challenges. From gold to white One thread of the Snowbirds' history began in 1967, with the formation of the Golden Centennaires. It was the 100th anniversary of Canada's Confederation. The Royal Canadian Air Force set up an aerobatic team to fly gold and blue CT-114 Tutor jets in 100 air shows across the country, and another seven in the United States, before the planes were grounded, despite their commander's protests. That leader, Col. O.B. Philp, would go on to be the commander at CFB Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan. After seeing how people reacted to the Golden Centennaires shows, he thought it would be nice to use the planes for a permanent aerobatic team. The Canadian Forces — Navy, Army, and Air Force — were unifying at the time. It was a delicate period, and the last thing on the minds of senior commanders was the creation of a new aerobatic team. But O.B. Philp had other ideas. "I said, let's set up a formation demonstration team, which I could do as part of my responsibilities [as commander of the Moose Jaw base]," Philp said in the documentary Canada's Magnificent Snowbirds: The First 20 Years. "We were a training command base. The flight instructors here, at the base, needed flight skills to be able to train students." The Snowbirds were initially an unofficial team. The pilots were volunteers. Team members even had to chip in for their flight suits. It wasn't until 1975 that the Snowbirds were officially designated as the Canadian Forces' air demonstration team. Three years later, they finally became a permanent formation and took on the title of 431 Squadron. Flying in the service of Canada Their daredevil manoeuvres — loops, rolls and solo passes — continue to impress the curious and the passionate, but the Snowbirds are much more than a simple aerobatic squadron. They represent a powerful communication tool for the entire Canadian Armed Forces. They're a bridge between the military and the general population, a recruitment tool and a force of national influence. "The Snowbirds have a purpose that is purely propaganda," independent military historian Stéphane Guevremont said. "It's to show the excellence of the Royal Canadian Air Force. They project the image of a Canada that is good at aviation.' The Canadian Armed Forces are looking to restore an image tarnished by various wars. What was once an honour and a duty is now less attractive. This makes the Snowbirds an even more important asset for recruitment. 'We are starting to regain this prestige since the end of the war in Afghanistan, but it's not the same anymore. A young man will no longer see military service as prestige unless they come from a military family." Up in the air: Aircraft aerobatics here and abroad This year again, they will perform nearly 25 shows. This proximity to the public is direct promotion for the CAF. The image of the pilots, straight silhouette and helmet under the arm, evokes for many the aviation heroes of movies like Top Gun, projecting an image of a "cool" military that attracts many spectators. "People, and especially young men, have always been attracted to aviators with films like Top Gun and Tom Cruise. Everywhere [the Snowbirds] go, I'm sure people decide to join the Armed Forces or seriously consider it after seeing a show." "I was amazed by it when I was younger, but at first, I didn't want to be a pilot. I was afraid of going too high, upside down, fast," said Capt. Marc-André Plante, now a Snowbirds pilot. "The cadets convinced me to at least take the glider courses. And then, I realized that I really loved flying and that I wanted to make it my profession. "Being with the Snowbirds is really about being able to overcome all my childhood fears." The Snowbirds attracts pilots from all walks of life to Moose Jaw, Sask., where the team's home base and the main site of the NATO flight training program in Canada are located. The team includes former instructors, maritime patrol aircraft pilots and even a former bank employee, Capt. Jeremy Dionne, who became a pilot. "I joined the Forces for adventure," said Dionne, a Quebecer originally from Saguenay who is in his first year with the Snowbirds. "I worked in banks before and it wasn't what I liked the most. Then, I became a helicopter pilot." "It's always been a dream, even before joining the Canadian Forces," Capt. Patrick Charette, who grew up in the northern suburbs of Montreal, said. "It's an honour. Probably the highest honour I will have in my career. For me, the Snowbirds are the ultimate expression of teamwork." images expandFlying with the Snowbirds is a dream for many aspiring Canadian pilots. Precision and rigour When training time approaches, the roar of the engines replaces the fresh morning wind on the tarmac. This is followed by nearly an hour of high aerobatics. The pilots put a lot of pressure on themselves to be a symbol of precision, excellence and national pride. Rehearsals before the season are essentially complete shows, aimed at perfecting each manoeuvre, each fraction of a second, until everything is impeccable. It is in this daily rigour that confidence is born. In tight formation, fear is a poison. You have to fly with precision and, especially, faith in your teammates. Nine planes fly in a formation so tight that they take up less space than an Airbus A380. The slightest deviation could cost them their lives. Nine Snowbirds have died in training or demonstration since the team was created 54 years ago. image expandsCredit: Veterans Affairs Canada These crashes have marked the lives of squadron members. For retired Lt.-Col. Yves Bossé, a member of the Snowbirds from 1978 to 1980, the memory is still crystal clear. "In 1978 in Grande Prairie, two planes collided while doing barrel rolls. And the tail of Snowbird 8 broke off. The plane went from 1G to -25G. The seat caught fire and ejected, but the pilot was already dead. The plane then fell on a parked car. It was not pretty at all," the former Snowbird recounts. Aircraft tails were overhauled after that crash. This helped detect many deficiencies and potentially save more lives. G-force, shortened to G, measures the intensity of acceleration experienced by a body. In this case, it means that the plane and its pilot were subjected to a force equivalent to 25 times their weight in the opposite direction of gravity — extreme pressure. The pilots are aware of the risk they take every time they take off. They hug each other after each flight, creating the feeling of being part of a big family. Memorial unveiled in Kamloops to honour fallen Snowbirds captain During training, a fraternal relationship develops between the pilots and their ground crew. Friendships are formed in this intense quest for excellence. "We don't hesitate to tease each other, to make fun of each other a little," Capt. Patrick Charette said. "We can also be brutally honest with each other, to make sure we're at the top of our game." "It's like travelling with your family," Capt. Marc-André Plante said. "We know each other very well. We can tell if someone is in a good or bad mood. 'Like a family, we don't choose who we work with, but we learn to work with everyone." O Canada, O patriotism With repeated threats to Canadian sovereignty from U.S. President Donald Trump, patriotism seems to be growing across the country. The Snowbirds show may be even more eagerly awaited by fans this year, both in Canada and south of the border. "The Snowbirds are a pure, 100 per cent Canadian product. They are very popular in the United States. It could be an anti-Trump symbol, a symbol of respect for Canada," Guevremont, the military historian, said. "They might be applauded more loudly." In Comox, B.C., where the team trains for nearly a month, many curious onlookers gather for a free behind-the-scenes look. Some are die-hard enthusiasts. Gordon McDonald has been following the Snowbirds for 24 years. He is there every afternoon when the pilots train in the Comox Valley and knows all the manoeuvres by heart. "It's important for patriotism, for the country. The Snowbirds are the first to represent Canada, and they make us proud. We call them 'the warriors of the air,'" McDonald said enthusiastically. Being part of the 431 Squadron can come at a personal cost. Millions of people across the continent see the Snowbirds in the sky each season, but the pilots' families hardly ever see them. Florence De Garie came to support her father, one of the pilots, and spend a few days with him "It's a little hard being away, but I call him every night or whenever we can call him," the nine-year-old said. "I'm really proud of my dad. Every time he flies, I think of him, and he thinks of me." The girl is taking advantage of the few weeks of training in Comox to cheer on her father and celebrate her birthday with him. Each season, the composition of the 11-pilot team evolves. Each new team builds on the experience of the previous ones. The annual show is designed around the people who make it up, based on the personalities of the team members. "We have a playlist and ask the squadron for suggestions. Then, during the first practices, we try out songs that would go well with the manoeuvres," Capt. Jeremy Dionne said. "It has to be unanimous. The goal is to make those who attend the show feel emotional." The squadron attempts new manoeuvres every season to keep things fresh. For this 54th season, the team drew inspiration from the Red Arrows, their counterparts in the United Kingdom, to create a new formation: the tornado. Your browser does not support the video tag. Pause One last landing? The Snowbirds' mission is to conduct a tour that meets the expectations of both the Armed Forces and the public. After 54 years of existence and aging aircraft, it can be difficult to maintain such a high level of performance. Acquired by the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1961, the CT-114 Tutors are still used by the Snowbirds today. These aircraft have been used primarily for training and aerial demonstrations. Despite strict maintenance, the Department of National Defence stated in 2024 that the aircraft had exceeded their useful life. To keep the CT-114 Tutors flying, technicians must be ingenious and make technical improvements over time. "In the 1960s, it was less computer-based," said Cpl. Francis Hamel, an aviation systems technician for the Canadian Armed Forces. "Sometimes, from one aircraft to another, there are small differences. Some panels can't fit on another aircraft because, in those years, it was more done by hand." Continuous upgrades to the CT-114 Tutors will allow these legendary aircraft to extend their lifespan until 2030, almost 70 years after their initial entry into service. Uncertainty clouds future of Snowbirds as Ottawa looks to retire equipment But repairs can't keep them in the skies forever. "We're going to have to replace these aircraft if we want to continue. And it's going to cost us $1 billion or $2 billion. Are Canadians willing to pay?" Guevremont, the military historian, asked. Guevremont said the need to replace these aircraft could help revive Canada's military aeronautics industry. Previously capable of designing and manufacturing aircraft, the Canadian industry now focuses primarily on maintenance. "It would be my dearest wish that we build this new aircraft ourselves to revive the industry and perhaps sell it to other countries," Guevremont said. For now, until at least 2030, the Snowbirds will continue to delight thrill-seekers by taking to the skies and pushing their limits. Footer Links My Account Profile CBC Gem Newsletters Connect with CBC Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram Mobile RSS Podcasts Contact CBC Submit Feedback Help Centre Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6 Toll-free (Canada only): 1-866-306-4636 TTY/Teletype writer: 1-866-220-6045 About CBC Corporate Info Sitemap Reuse & Permission Terms of Use Privacy Jobs Our Unions Independent Producers Political Ads Registry AdChoices Services Ombudsman Public Appearances Commercial Services CBC Shop Doing Business with Us Renting Facilities Accessibility It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. About CBC Accessibility Accessibility Feedback © 2025 CBC/Radio-Canada. All rights reserved. Visitez
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Red Arrows flypast route today - when and where to spot them
The Red Arrows will fly over northern England today - thrilling spectators who are eagerly getting ready to have their eyes on the skies. The world famous Royal Air Force aerobatic team, based at RAF Waddington, near Lincoln, are taking part in Armed Forces Day today, Saturday June 28. It is among a host of iconic flypasts scheduled for today, with a whole programme ready to enthrall spectators at Scarborough Armed Forces today. Although the daring acrobatic aircrafts won't make it to the big event in Scarborough, they will perform at its fellow Armed Forces Day even in Cleethorpes. READ MORE: 77 workers lose jobs at Hudderfield family-run firm - full scathing statement from boss READ MORE: 'Don't get caught out' warning as Kirklees bin collection days changed for thousands At 12.30 they will perform a display at Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, for the town's popular Armed Forces Day. At 1pm they will perform a flypast at Kenwick Park, Louth, Lincolnshire. And at 3.42pm they Red Arrows will flypast Barrowden, Rutland. At 3.50pm, they will perform a display at the Shuttleworth Festival of Flight at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. And at 4.25pm you can see them flypast Cranwell. At 6.38pm they will perform a flypast at Glinton. The Red Arrows have been performing since 1965. Get all the latest What's On news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.
