Midlands Air Festival 2026 Returns With 100+ Hot Air Balloons and Rare Fighter Jet Displays
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Midlands Air Festival 2026 Returns With 100+ Hot Air Balloons and Rare Fighter Jet Displays

The Red Arrows are expected to draw attention over Oxfordshire today as the RAF display team flies from Lincolnshire to Devon, with RAF Brize Norton listed as one of the key points on the route.

The flight is scheduled for Friday afternoon, May 29, and is not a full aerobatic display. Instead, it is a transit route from RAF Waddington to Exeter, but Red Arrows movements often attract spectators because of the team’s national profile and distinctive red Hawk aircraft.

According to the route details, the aircraft are due to leave RAF Waddington at 1:48pm BST before heading south and west. The team is expected to arrive at Exeter at around 2:30pm BST, with several Oxfordshire locations included in the middle section of the journey.

For people hoping to see the jets in Oxfordshire, the most important timings are shortly after 2pm. The Red Arrows are listed to pass south of Wootton at 2:04pm, northwest of Bloxham at 2:07pm, southwest of Charlbury at 2:09pm and over RAF Brize Norton at about 2:10pm. The route then continues southwest of Clanfield at 2:11pm before moving on towards Upper Lambourn, Lyneham, Bradford-on-Avon, Nunney, Sturminster Newton, Axminster and Bradninch.

RAF Brize Norton is a notable point on the route because it is the RAF’s largest and busiest UK air station. The base plays a major role in air transport, refuelling and operational support, so a Red Arrows pass over the area is likely to interest both local residents and aviation followers.

The full listed route begins at RAF Waddington before passing southeast of Methringham, north of Heckington, southwest of Gosberton Clough, Moulton and south of Sutton St James. After that, the aircraft are expected to continue towards Oxfordshire, cross the Brize Norton area and then head further south-west before reaching Exeter.

The Red Arrows remain one of the most recognisable names in British aviation. Operated by the Royal Air Force, the team is known for precision formation flying, red, white and blue smoke trails and appearances at public events across the UK and overseas. Official display information and team updates are published by the Royal Air Force Red Arrows.

Today’s flyover also comes during a busy weekend for aviation fans. The Midlands Air Festival is taking place at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire from Friday to Sunday, with hot-air balloon ascents, aircraft displays and a focus on women in aviation and STEM activities. Organisers have said the programme includes more than 100 hot-air balloons, character balloons, a Polish MiG-17F fighter jet and a French fire bomber demonstration involving more than 3,000 litres of water.

That wider aviation interest may add to the number of people looking out for the Red Arrows as they move across central and southern England. While the Red Arrows route and the Midlands Air Festival are separate aviation moments, both are likely to appeal to families, photographers and aircraft enthusiasts over the same weekend.

Anyone planning to watch the Red Arrows should treat the times as approximate. Military aircraft movements can change because of weather, air traffic control or operational reasons. Spectators should choose safe public viewing areas, avoid stopping on busy roads and stay away from restricted military property.

Swikblog has also covered wider UK aviation developments, including the Royal International Air Tattoo 2026 cancellation, which showed how closely major air events are followed by aviation fans across the country.

For Oxfordshire residents, the Brize Norton timing is likely to be the headline moment. If conditions remain suitable and the route runs as planned, the Red Arrows should be visible over parts of the county for only a short time, but the flypast is expected to be one of the day’s most watched aviation movements.

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