24 June 2023 , 06:10
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More than 100,000 people are expected to attend an Armed Forces Day event in Cornwall today (Saturday) - and it'll feature parades and a flypast spectacular.
Red Arrows will perform the flypast at the extravaganza in Falmouth, Cornwall, after crowds enjoy a military parade, Armed Forces bands, and see regular and reserve personnel, including cadets and veterans.
Further air displays start at 3.00pm at the show, which is free and family friendly.
"Cornwall loves welcoming visitors, and it loves its armed forces who have been at the heart of Cornish communities throughout history. These are close ties of very long standing, so this is a natural location for this Armed Forces Day national celebration," Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council's Armed Forces and veterans champion and cabinet member for the economy, himself a veteran Royal Navy Submariner, said.
When is the flypast?
Hundreds of thousands lined the streets for the Red Arrows show following the Coronation in May (Getty Images)"Cornwall also loves hosting stand-out events – just think of the G7 Summit and Tour of Britain Cycle Race recently, and the Tall Ships Race returning this August. We invite residents, visitors - and of course our special guests, the armed forces - to make great memories together, and salute our services community in one of the UK’s most spectacular settings."
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The military parade through Falmouth, involving Cornwall’s armed forces, veterans, cadet forces and reserve units, will start at 11am.
To salute its conclusion, one flypast is expected to commence at 11.10am, following the same route.
The best viewing for this is to be had at Grove Place Car Park in the town centre but space is limited, the council has warned.
There will then be an afternoon of air displays over Falmouth Bay.
The RAF Falcons parachute drop will take place at 2.20pm with its drop zone within Pendennis Castle. The display will be visible from outside the castle but if visitors wish to see the action up close they will need to pay for entry.
The Red Arrows combined with the French Air Force Aerobatic Team for a spectacular across London in 2020 (MOD/AFP via Getty Images)Air displays will then take place from 3pm to 5.15pm in Falmouth Bay, featuring:
- The Red Arrows
- The Black Cats
- The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – Lancaster/Hurricanes/Spitfires
- Typhoon
- Chinook
- Harvard
- Merlin Mk 2
- Seafire
What is the flypast's route?
RAF's Red Arrows also carried out flypasts when the Queen celebrated her official birthday, like this one in 2018 (PA)The flypast will follow the route of the military parade.
Therefore, planes will make their way south above the coastline, beginning the formation above the Church Street area.
They will then go above Custom House Quay, and zoom past Grove Place Car Park.
The formation will then turn east slightly to finish their performance above Events Square, near Falmouth Docks train station.
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