Red Arrows are go! All set for team's roaring debut over Southampton Water

It will be the first time that the Red Arrows have appeared over Southampton Water as part of the 175th anniversary of Cunard.

They are taking to the sky for a spectacular aerial display above Cunard’s flagship Queen Mary 2.

They were due to appear on two separate occasions previously in 2012 but adverse weather conditions – pouring rain and overcast skies – resulted in both of the heart-stopping displays being abandoned.

The first one was in June in order to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and then a month later P&O Cruises brought its whole fleet of seven ships together in Southampton to celebrate the company’s 175th anniversary.

With sunny summer weather on the cards this time, the Red Arrows, who celebrate 50 years of precision flying this year, are looking forward to staging an unforgettable display starting a few minutes after 3pm.

People lining the shoreline of Southampton Water will have a spectacular view as the aircraft sweep across the city above QM2 due to be berthed at the City Terminal in the Western Docks. Best places for a grandstand view of the flying display will include Mayflower Park, Town Quay, Marchwood, Weston Shore and Hythe Marina.

The world’s leading premier aerobatics team will provide an unforgettable send-off for QM2 and her passengers as she prepares to depart her home port and continue the company’s celebrations with her 175th anniversary crossing of the Atlantic.

QM2 will then arrive in Liverpool on Saturday,175 years to the day that Cunard’s first ship, Britannia, set sail from that port for Boston, via Halifax on July 4, 1840.

Later that day the flagship will follow in Britannia’s wake and head for Halifax and Boston before arriving in New York on Tuesday, July 14.

Squadron Leader David Montenegro, Red 1 and team leader of the RAF aerobatic line-up, said: “The departure of Queen Mary 2 and events marking the 175th anniversary of Cunard should provide a great occasion and backdrop for the Red Arrows’ display in Southampton.

“On behalf of all the team we are looking forward to performing our 2015 show over Southampton Water.

“I know, from our recent fly-past over Liverpool and the company’s ‘Three Queens’ event, how much the public enjoy seeing the combination of these ships and our jets overhead, trailing red, white and blue smoke.

“As national ambassadors, the Red Arrows represent the United Kingdom and it is always a great honour to be a part of such a special event that will hopefully be seen by thousands of people.”

For this season’s show, there are a number of new moves added, including the shape of a Spitfire (pictured above), a move of particular interest to Southampton as it was in this city that the Second World War fighter first took to the air back in March 1936.

This is in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and the Royal Air Force’s continued role in making the skies over the United Kingdom safe in 2015.

In this manoeuvre, Red 4 and Red 5 trail smoke to represent the wing tip vortexes seen in the intense battle over Britain in 1940.

After seven months of continuous training, the Red Arrows’ 2015 display features the first half of synchronised formation aerobatics, which is followed by a more dynamic second half.

Squadron Leader Montenegro is the new Red 1 who was previously in the squadron as a team pilot between 2009 and 2011.

Following the official approval of the display, the pilots were allowed to change from their green coveralls, used during training, into their famous red flying suits, which are worn during the season.

All Red Arrows pilots are from frontline squadrons and, before joining the team, operated jets such as the Tornado or the Typhoon.