Technical problem stops Red Arrows air display appearance

But many headed home early after the Red Arrows display team had to cancel due to a technical problem.

At the Halfway, many sat on the beach, while others escaped the wind by sheltering in their cars. Watchers stared in awe as the Navy Wings Seafire looped through the clouds.

James Brown was trying to capture the smooth movements of the plane on his camera.

‘It’s just a hobby for me and so I thought I’d try and get some shots of the air display,’ he said.

‘The weather conditions actually seem pretty good, the clouds are quite high so there is a decent view across to Herm.’

Maisie Nelson had popped out during her lunch hour and was watching the aircraft while listening to music.

‘It’s one of the those events that everyone enjoys and it gets everyone outside for an hour to watch it all take place,’ she said.

‘The wind has just really picked up and it looks like it is about to rain so I hope everything else goes ahead as planned.

Shortly afterwards, it was announced that the Red Arrows had been cancelled due to problems with the start-up of one of the planes in Jersey, and the crowds dispersed just as the rain started.

‘It’s like the RPM in your car – there is a set amount it should be, and it was actually too low, which means it might be an engine problem,’ said the Red Arrows pilot from Red 10.

‘Safety is paramount, safety of the aircraft, the pilots and the public on the shore as well.’

The Red Arrows were already displaying as a six, compared to their usual seven as one pilot had been sent back to RAF Valley in Anglesey to collect a spare plane.

With the faulty plane in Jersey, it would have dropped the display count to five, which is below the safe limit of aircraft required to put on a display.

‘Red 1 who is the boss made the decision to cancel the display. It’s not a decision we make lightly, it’s certainly not something we want to do and disappoint all the people in Guernsey, but as everyone can appreciate it is for safety and the safety of everyone involved,’ said Red 10.

Flying display officer Barry Neal said that because of the weather, everything was going better than expected and he was pleased with what they had managed to put out.

Making an appearance in the island’s skies was Rich Goodwin’s Muscle Biplane, an OV-10 Bronco, a Navy Wings Wasp and a Navy Wings Seafire.

‘We had two cancellations this morning from the UK for weather related reasons and the Red Arrows cancelling is the icing on the cake.’

Mr Neal was with Red 10 at the time of the announcement: ‘It is extremely frustrating, and it is for the pilots of the Red Arrows as much as it is for us.’

Air display pictures pages 18 & 19