Virgin 747-400 to accompany Red Arrows Fly past

[Mackrick]

Virgin Atlantic Airways is to fly a Boeing 747-400 in formation with the Royal Air Force aerial display team, the Red Arrows, at an upcoming UK air show.

The flypast will take place at the International Air Fair, to be held at the historic Biggin Hill airfield, on 28 June.

Virgin Atlantic is participating in the show as part of the celebrations to mark the long-haul carrier's 25th anniversary, which coincides in the same week as the show.



Virgin Atlantic president Sir Richard Branson says the chance to take part in the show is a "very welcome honour", particularly because many of the airline's pilots are ex-RAF personnel.

[MadNaddy]

Am I alone in wondering how much Mr Branson is honoured? Or am I just cynical?

[Saracenman]

that's the beauty of Biggin's airshow - o close to LGW that there were often some interesting a/c 'passing' - i do recall an impressive L-O-W flyby from a Das Air Cargo 707

i bet RB's chuffed to bits - who regularly used to display with the Reds? yup - BA

sm

[Dougs]

think i will be up for this one but no chinook display on the sunday bah

[Mackrick]

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The Red Arrows performed an historic flypast with a Virgin Atlantic 747-400 at the Biggin Hill International Air Fair to celebrate the airline’s 25th birthday.



Led by Red 1, Wing Commander Jas Hawker, Officer Commanding and Team Leader of the Red Arrows, the world famous ‘Diamond Nine’, formated on the Virgin Atlantic aircraft – aptly named ‘Birthday Girl’ – as a crowd of over 60,000 watched in amazement.



The Red Arrows released iconic red, white and blue smoke from their nine Hawk aircraft to mark the special occasion as they performed the flypast with ‘Birthday Girl’, skippered by Virgin Atlantic Chief Boeing Pilot Geoff Andreasenat the Biggin Hill International Air Fair.
Red 1, Wing Commander Jas Hawker, said: “The team were very proud to celebrate the 25th birthday of Virgin Atlantic at the Biggin Hill International Air Fair to highlight the success of a world renowned great British company. We hope the many thousands of visitors to the show enjoyed the unique spectacle.”



Said Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic: “This is a welcome and valued honour for our 25th birthday celebrations and I am very proud that one of our fleet of Boeing 747s has performed the flypast at the Biggin Hill International Air Fair with the world-famous Red Arrows team.”

Colin Hitchins, Chief Executive of Biggin Hill International Air Fair said: “We are delighted that the celebratory Virgin Atlantic 25th birthday flypast with the Red Arrows took place at the Biggin Hill International Air Fair.

“Not only was the flypast a highlight of this year’s event, it rates very highly amongst the best moments in the show’s 47-year history.”

[Saracenman]

very pretty, but not quite Concorde is it?

sm

[Mayfly]

certainly not as good as the formation will be on Sunday..