British RAF Red Arrows flying skills leave spectators spellbound in Oman

Flying at 700 kilometres per hour, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force Aerobatics team, popularly known as the Red Arrows, soared over Oman’s skies on Tuesday as scores of people gathered at the Shatti Al Qurum beach to watch the display.

This is the 53rd season of the RAF Red Arrows show and this season they will be performing in 12 countries.

The nine aircraft performed different manoeuvres, including the Hurricane and the Tornado, which are considered among the trickiest ones to complete.
 

The jets even flew two metres apart during some parts of the display. This was a welcome return for the Red Arrows, who have flown in Oman before.

“I came here with the red arrows 10 years ago. We displayed in the very same location back in 2007. We did another display here in 2013 and last year in November we were back here again,” said Mike Ling (Red 10), supervisor of the team.

Apart from the brilliant aerial view of Oman’s coast line, it is the strong bilateral ties between the United Kingdom and the Sultanate of Oman that brings the team here again and again.

“We have very strong ties as a country with Oman, but also as a military. We have very strong ties with our counterparts from the Omani services. It is very important for us to keep those strengths as strong as they can be.” Ling added, “We are also here supporting the Great Campaign—British creativity, British agitation, British technology.”

A number of excited expats and Omanis enjoyed the show thoroughly. “I’ve been to eight to 10 of these and I as an engineer was amazed to see the accuracy and precision with which they made the different formations,” said Ramesh Verma, an Indian expat.

“I did think it was a little short though, but I really loved the display,” said Rajeev Verma.

“It was very interesting. For a moment I though they are going to crash into each other. That was my ‘oh my god’ moment,” said Tasneem. “This show is something different. It was a good atmosphere and we really enjoyed it,” said Alex and Marie, a British couple.