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Rhyl Journal

PICTURES: Spectacular Red Arrows soar over North Wales

The jets performed at Blackpool Air Show on Saturday and Sunday (August 9 and 10), but flew over North Wales enroute. The Red Arrows set off from RAF Waddington a day early, on Friday, August 8, and landed at RAF Valley on Anglesey at 12.55pm before resuming their journey to Blackpool at 3.25pm. On their way to RAF Valley, the Red Arrows flew over Graigfechan in Denbighshire, Gwytherin in Conwy, Capel Curig (12.51pm), and Glasinfryn in Gwynedd. They then flew over North Wales again before their Blackpool Air Show at 2pm. They flew over the vicinity of Llandudno (1.47pm), Colwyn Bay (1.48pm) and Rhyl (1.49pm). Their Blackpool display on August 10 was at 5pm. Again, they flew over Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Rhyl at planned times of 4.47pm, 4.48pm and 4.49pm [they ran slightly early and were visible on Llandudno promenade at 4.45pm]. Rhyl Journal Camera Club members were delighted to spot the jets. Jack Nelson said: "So exciting to see the nine Red Arrows at Kinmel Bay/Rhyl together." The Red Arrows display team consists of nine aircraft. Jack captured the jets flying over Kinmel Bay and Rhyl (Image: Jack Nelson, Rhyl Journal Camera Club) Keith Smith shared images of the Red Arrows on their way to Blackpool. Keith Smith captured the Red Arrows on their way to Blackpool on August 9 (Image: Keith Smith, Rhyl Journal Camera Club) Dave Parry posted an image of a Red Arrow flying over Dyserth. A stunning image of a single jet taken by Dave Parry - Dyserth (Image: Dave Parry, Rhyl Journal Camera Club) Greg Mape sent in an image of The Red Arrows zooming over Old Colwyn late on Sunday afternoon. The Red Arrows display team fly over Old Colwyn (Image: Greg Mape) MORE NEWS Revealed: What the Queen's Market in Rhyl really cost - and why Red arrows flypast and free family fun in Rhyl this weekend - All you need to know More than £1million spent on roof repairs at Rhyl's SC2 John Smith also snapped the Red Arrows jetting over Rhyl (Image: John Smith, Rhyl Journal Camera Club) John Smith shared an image of the Red Arrows speeding over Rhyl. Rhosneigr Coastguard Rescue Team also had eyes to the skies and shared snaps taken from RAF Valley Families Day on August 8. They said: "What an amazing day it was on Friday as we welcomed back the world famous Royal Air Force aerobatic display team, the Red Arrows, who returned to RAF Valley for the families day event here on Anglesey. "As parts of our Rhosneigr Beach is close to the RAF Valley airfield, we are so privileged and very fortunate to witness the full display which was as always spectacular." The RAF Valley Families Day, held at RAF Valley, is a 'ticket only' event and entry is restricted to 'whole force' personnel who work at RAF Valley and their invited families. Rhyl Air Show, which draws thousand of visitors to the town, will not be taking place this year due to a "lack of funds." The event, organised by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) and typically held during the August bank holiday weekend, has not taken place since 2023. Denbighshire County Council, which owns DLL, confirmed the news in response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the Journal. The local authority said: 'It is not taking place. DLL confirmed to the council that there wouldn't be an air show in 2025 on February 6, 2025, owing to a lack of funds. 'It is a DLL-run event, and we do not manage the event.' A spokesperson for DLL said: 'DLL provides major events in Rhyl that are funded by Denbighshire County Council and Rhyl Town Council. Since 2020, costs to run and host such major events have risen significantly. 'DLL has in the past, and up until recently; underwritten a large shortfall in the available funding for the air show. 'But like every other business in Rhyl, DLL does not have an endless pot of money to underwrite costs associated with running such events. 'All Rhyl businesses benefit significantly from events such as the air show, but it has historically been DLL that underwrites the costs and the shortfall. 'Added to that, an event on the scale of the air show may not have been feasible this year due to the ongoing coastal defence works, with large sections of the promenade being inaccessible." An RAF Rhyl Town show took place on August 9 and 10. Rhyl Events Arena was transformed into an interactive experience. Visitors were able to climb into an aircraft cockpit, test their coordination, and take part in a real-life survival challenge.