Minehead Summer Festival In Somerset,  Whitby Regatta in North Yorkshire Pull The Plug On The Team

The RAF's Red Arrows precision demonstration team has been axed from two more air shows this summer due to the new safety regulations after a Shoreham air disaster last August.

Minehead Summer Festival in Somerset and Whitby Regatta in North Yorkshire have both decided to pull the Red Arrows from their programs. Earlier this week, the Farnborough Air Show restricted Red Arrows aerobatic display to flypasts only.

Butlins Minehead Resort Director Julian Highfield told the County Gazette of Somerset that it was not a decision that was taken lightly. But "having assessed the new rules and taken everything into account, we felt we had no option," Highfield said. "We understand that people will be disappointed but hopefully they will understand safety has to be our first consideration.”

The organizers of the Whitby Regatta posted a notice of the cancellation on social media.

"Unfortunately, we can confirm the RAF Red Arrows will not be attending this year's Regatta. As a result of last year's Shoreham Air Show crash, the cost of bringing the Reds has increased dramatically," the statement said.

"But it is the need for a whole new raft of time-consuming safety training and planning which has led us to make this difficult decision.

"However, the committee is working hard to ensure all the necessary safety arrangements will be made to bring the Red Arrows back to the regatta in the not too distant future."

(Images from file)

FMI: www.raf.mod.uk/reds