First, don’t rely on your ears alone—that roar can be deceptive and bounce off buildings. Instead, use the RAF Red Arrows Twitter feed for real-time location updates. They’re surprisingly active, posting “Next stop: Liverpool” like a proud tour guide.
Second, stand away from trees and tall buildings. Open parks or riverbanks are best. The planes fly at around 300 mph, so you’ll only have about 15 seconds of clear viewing. Record a video, but also just look up—the human eye captures the red, white, and blue trail better than any phone.
Third, bring sunglasses and earplugs if you’re sensitive. The sound is glorious but loud enough to rattle your teeth. A pair of noise-canceling headphones tuned to a podcast about aviation history makes for a weirdly meditative experience.
Fun Little Facts to Impress Your Friends
Did you know that the Red Arrows’ trademark red smoke is actually made from a mix of paraffin oil and dye? It’s non-toxic and washes off easily, but it’s why the smell at a show is a little bit like a barbecue.
VE Day 2026 RAF Red Arrows flypast route and where you can see them
Also, the pilots are all volunteers who must have at least 1,500 flying hours. That’s like driving from London to Sydney and back, three times. In the sky. In a plane that costs £15 million each.
On VJ Day specifically, the Red Arrows will perform a “victory roll” over London—a maneuver where the plane rolls 360 degrees while maintaining its flight path. It’s a direct nod to the Spitfire pilots who did the same in 1945 over Trafalgar Square.
