Taking flight
VE Day 2025 flypast route: Map of where the Red Arrows and other RAF planes will fly
The Red Arrows are often split into two squads - one of which is named after a famous author
THE RED Arrows squad will be making a daring flight across London to mark Victory in Europe (VE) Day 2025.
Their incredible flight will be marked by streams of red, white and blue vapour as they cross over London for VE Day. But how can you watch their journey?
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The Red Arrows take flight
The Red Arrows will be appearing at the VE Day 2025 celebrations on May 5, as the UK celebrates the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Allied Forces over Nazi Germany.
Their display will begin over the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk, before flying inland over East Anglia and Essex.
Next, the legendary squad will fly over London leaving behind trails of red, white and blue in a reference to the Union Jack.
Finally, they will disperse over Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.
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Planes will not be allowed to enter the Red Arrows’ airspace, meaning they are barred from entering those areas at certain times.
Those times include:
- Area A: between 11.45am-2.45pm, up to 10,000ft
- Area B: between 1.15pm-2.10pm, up to 5000ft
- Area C: between 1.20pm-2.10pm, up to 4000ft
- Area D: between 1.20pm-2.10pm, up to 3000ft
- Area E: between 1.25pm-2.10pm, up to 2,500ft
- Area F: between 1.25pm-2.10pm, up to 2,500ft
- Area G: between 1.45pm-2.25pm, up to 2,500ft
- Area H: between 1.45pm-2.25pm, up to 2,500ft
- Area I: between 1.45pm-2.25pm, up to 2,500ft
The incredible squad will be launching from the RAF Waddington base in Lincolnshire, where they have been based since 2022.
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A historic aerobatics team
The Red Arrows were formed in 1964 as the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force (RAF).
They are a fixture of the UK's summer holiday events and have been spotted by fans at celebrations including Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
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The team has nine display pilots each year, all of which are volunteers.
Each pilot must have 1,500 flying hours and remain with the Red Arrows for three years after signing up.
Their squad is often split into two sections, with Red planes 1-5 being named Enid - in a reference to Enid Blyton.
Red planes 6-9 are named Hanna, after the founding member Squadron Leader Ray Hanna.
While flying, pilots experience forces up to five times the force of gravity which normally measures 1g.
During the daring Vixen Break manoeuvre, forces of up to 7g can be reached.
In 2025, Keir Starmer stepped in to save the iconic BAE Hawk planes, which have been favoured by the squad since its inception, from being replaced by the Russian-made Aermacchi M-346s.
A modern day celebration
VE Day 2025 officially falls on May 8, which will be exactly 80 years after Nazi Germany surrendered.
However, the impressive flypast is being held at 1:45pm on May 5 - a bank holiday.
The end of the Second World War in 1945 was marked by huge street parties and celebrations, with the then-Prime Minister Winston Churchill and King George VI both addressing the nation.
The future Queen Elizabeth II and her sister, Princess Margaret, were said to have slipped into the crowd to anonymously enjoy the celebration together.
Keir Starmer has announced that, although there won’t be an additional day off to mark VE Day, the bank holiday will be dubbed Victory Day.
To mark the occasion, pubs will be allowed to continue serving alcohol until 1am.
The Government has also organised a string of exciting events, including a military procession which will be accompanied by an actor reading Winston Churchill’s VE Day speech.
30,000 ceramic poppies will also be laid at the Tower of London to commemorate the soldiers who died during the Second World War.
Surviving veterans of the Second World War will be treated to a private tea party hosted by The Royal British Legion.
Other flypast aircraft
The Red Arrows will not be the only planes taking part in the VE Day flypast.
As with previous national celebrations, the formation will be made up of multiple different RAF aircraft.
A total of 23 military aircraft will be flying overhead, including some historic planes from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
One of these - a Lancaster bomber - took part in flypast rehearsals on April 29.
Other planes that usually form part of the BBMF include the famous Spitfires and Hurricanes from WW2, though it has not been confirmed whether they too have been rehearsing for the flypast.
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The formation will gather behind an RAF Voyager transport aircraft and is set to include Typhoons and F-35 fighter jets as well as A400M Atlas, C-17 Globemaster, Rivet Joint and P8 Poseidon planes.
Wing Commander Andrew Watson said of the flypast: "It should be a good spectacle for the nation and the Commonwealth."
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