Red Arrows flypast over Rochdale this weekend

Date published: 11 August 2023

The famous RAF Red Arrows will flypast over Rochdale this weekend on both Saturday and Sunday (12 and 13 August).

The flypast is scheduled to take place on both days - depending on the weather - with the famous planes setting off from Blackpool before heading west to east over Heywood, Castleton and Balderstone.

The distinctive Hawk fast-jets are expected to be over the railway bridge in Castleton at approximately 1.51pm.

The Red Arrows are the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic team and are one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams. Often with their trademark Diamond Nine shape, and combination of close formations and precision flying, the Red Arrows have been displaying since 1965.

Dave Marshall, a sergeant and weapons technician with the Red Arrows who is originally from Rochdale, made the announcement on social media.

He said: “As we are displaying at the Blackpool Airshow this weekend, I have managed to arrange with the pilots a flypast over Rochdale on both Saturday and Sunday from around 1.45pm and 2pm. This is weather dependent; we are expecting Saturday to be really poor weather so there is potential for it to be cancelled, but Sunday will most likely go ahead. 

“They will be setting off from Blackpool and heading West to East over Heywood, Castleton, Balderstone and then heading north towards Clitheroe. “They should be over Castleton railway bridge at approximately 1351 on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th August.

“This doesn’t happen every day and I hope you all get to see it.”