Latest news with #RAFWaddington
The National
4 days ago
- The National
Red Arrows to fly over Deeside on Saturday: Full timings and route
The aerobatics team, based at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, will perform alongside Typhoons at RAF Lossimouth for the base's friends and families day. As they fly back south, their route takes them over Elgin, Tarland, Balmoral Castle and Braemar. READ MORE: Red Arrows 2025: See all the Scotland shows this year Many will be eager to see the impressive RAF flypast, so here's all the details on when and where you can see the event. The full timings and route for the Red Arrows flypast: Depart RAF Lossiemouth – 3.45pm South-east of Elgin – 3.47pm South-west of Tarland – 3.52pm Balmoral Castle – 3.54pm Braemar – 3.55pm Loch Fyne – 4.10pm North-east of Girvan 4.18pm North-east of Workington 4.27pm North-east of Millom – 4.32pm East of Heversham – 4.35pm East of Bilsborrow – 4.39pm Preston – 4.40pm Vicinity of Leyland – 4.41pm Arrive at Liverpool Airport – 4.45pm The event is to mark the base's upcoming friends and families day. Anyone wishing to see observe at Lossiemouth have been encourage to stand at the north end of the airfield, near the West Beach, to keep out of the display area. The team have taken part in more than 5000 displays in around 57 countries. The event, timings, and route are all subject to change dependent on the weather. Who are the Red Arrows and what can we expect? According to the Red Arrows website, the group is one of the world's "premier aerobatic display teams" and has come to represent the "speed, agility and precision of the Royal Air Force." The team is known for flying their "distinctive" Hawk fast-jets and is often seen in their "trademark" Diamond Nine formation. Since their humble beginnings all the way back in 1965, the Red Arrows have also flown in frontline aircraft like the advanced Typhoon.
The National
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
Solar farms could cause Red Arrows to crash, Tory MP claims
Dr Caroline Johnson hit out at plans for large solar farms in her rural Lincolnshire constituency, arguing they were inappropriate as they could hinder farmland productivity in the area. However, Johnson also said solar farms could be problematic for pilots flying from air bases which had played critical roles in the Second World War, and another which is a key training base for aircrew. READ MORE: Scottish Tory MP Andrew Bowie accused of 'contempt for scientific evidence' Leading a debate in the House of Commons on the renewable energy source, she said: 'I also ask the minister to give due consideration to the three RAF bases local to my constituency, RAF Waddington, RAF Cranwell and RAF Digby. Glint and glare from reflective panels will cause problems for pilots flying over these areas. 'Our newest pilots undergo basic training at Cranwell, and RAF Waddington is home to the Red Arrows. It is a huge joy for me and many of my constituents to watch the nation's iconic display team practice the loop-the-loop and roll into turns at high speeds. 'But the miles and miles of aligned panels creating glint and glare could lead to disaster.' Labour MP Sarah Russell intervened and asked Johnson to clarify. She said: 'Does (she) agree with me that pilots seem to fly throughout our nation and many others already, despite there being widespread solar panels in, for instance, Spain, where there is more sunshine than here. So it seems unlikely that they'll be unlikely to manage in her constituency.' Johnson replied: 'I wonder if the average jumbo jet flying to Heathrow does a loop-the-loop on the way in?' Tory MP Caroline JohnsonShe continued to raise concerns, this time about the impact on the home of UK signals unit, the Joint Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities Group, which provides support to the Army, RAF and Royal Navy. She said: 'RAF Digby is the headquarters of the Joint Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities Group. Any interference with these defence estates could cause significant harm.' Speaking from the frontbench, Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello said he could 'write a whole other speech debunking some of the things that were said today', adding: 'Any solar farm development requires a glint and glare report before it gets approved if it's anywhere near an air force base or an airport." Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: 'These solar panels are designed to absorb light, not reflect it, and … glint and glare is considered within the planning process already. So it is one of the factors that is taken into account.' READ MORE: 'Massive increase' in UK military equipment sent to Israel under Labour, data shows Five large solar farms have already been approved for Lincolnshire, with more already in the pipeline. But there has been criticism that it will vastly reduce the amount of high quality agricultural land. Johnson said: 'Lincolnshire is the nation's bread basket and produces 30% of the nation's vegetables. 'The land in the county is also more productive than the UK average, with the wheat harvest over a difficult last five years 25% above the UK average and much, much more productive than global averages. So this is land we can least afford to lose.' RAF Waddington, RAF Cranwell, and the Ministry of Defence have been contacted for comment.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP claims Red Arrows could crash thanks to solar farms
A Conservative MP has raised concerns about the potential impact of new solar farms on flight safety, suggesting they could even cause the Red Arrows to crash. Dr Caroline Johnson, who represents Sleaford and North Hykeham, argues that light reflecting off the solar panels could dazzle RAF pilots. Speaking out against plans for large-scale solar farms in her rural Lincolnshire constituency, Dr Johnson argued they were inappropriate as they could hinder farmland productivity in the area. She claimed solar panels could be potentially dangerous to pilots operating from nearby air bases, including one with historical significance from the Second World War and another serving as a crucial training facility. MPs in Parliament however, clarified that solar power farms absorb light and do not reflect light. Dr Johnson told the House of Commons: 'I also ask the minister to give due consideration to the three RAF bases local to my constituency, RAF Waddington, RAF Cranwell and RAF Digby. Glint and glare from reflective panels will cause problems for pilots flying over these areas. 'Our newest pilots undergo basic training at Cranwell, and RAF Waddington is home to the Red Arrows. It is a huge joy for me and many of my constituents to watch the nation's iconic display team practice the loop-the-loop and roll into turns at high speeds. 'But the miles and miles of aligned panels creating glint and glare could lead to disaster.' Labour MP Sarah Russell (Congleton) intervened and asked Dr Johnson to clarify. She said: 'Does (she) agree with me that pilots seem to fly throughout our nation and many others already, despite there being widespread solar panels in, for instance, Spain, where there is more sunshine than here. So it seems unlikely that they'll be unlikely to manage in her constituency.' Dr Johnson replied: 'I wonder if the average jumbo jet flying to Heathrow does a loop-the-loop on the way in?' She continued to raise concerns, this time about the impact on the home of UK signals unit, the Joint Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities Group, which provides support to the Army, RAF and Royal Navy. She said: 'RAF Digby is the headquarters of the Joint Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities Group. Any interference with these defence estates could cause significant harm.' Speaking from the frontbench, Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello (West Dorset) said he could 'write a whole other speech debunking some of the things that were said today', adding: 'Any solar farm development requires a glint and glare report before it gets approved if it's anywhere near an air force base or an airport.' Energy minister Michael Shanks said: 'These solar panels are designed to absorb light, not reflect it, and… glint and glare is considered within the planning process already. So it is one of the factors that is taken into account.' Five large solar farms have already been approved for Lincolnshire, with more already in the pipeline. But there has been criticism that it will vastly reduce the amount of high quality agricultural land. Dr Johnson said: 'Lincolnshire is the nation's bread basket and produces 30 per cent of the nation's vegetables. 'The land in the county is also more productive than the UK average, with the wheat harvest over a difficult last five years 25 per cent above the UK average and much, much more productive than global averages. So this is land we can least afford to lose.' RAF Waddington, RAF Cranwell and the Ministry of Defence have been contacted for comment.
