THE glorious sunshine wasn’t the only thing in the skies above Bournemouth and Poole this weekend.

Bournemouth Airport was the temporary home to the Red Arrows from Friday, who were performing at various festivals and events across the weekend.

And eagle-eyed fans spotted them flying over the town on their way to Yeovilton and Goodwood Festival of Speed before they returned to Bournemouth Airport on both days.

Their brief appearance, roaring over Dorset this weekend, is a taste of what’s to come later this summer with appearances at Swanage Carnival on Sunday July 28 and also at the Bournemouth Air Festival at the end of August.

On Saturday, around 11.30am, the team, which has returned to its full nine formation, performed a vertical brake over Bournemouth Airport to the delight of everyone who was watching.

And Bournemouth Red Arrows Association chairman Terry Trevett said the Hawk pilots often like to give the fans watching them at the airport a bit of a treat if they are able.

He also said it was “poignant” to see them back in their nine-formation following the tragic death of Flt Lt Jon Egging at the 2011 Bournemouth Air Festival and Flt Lt Sean Cunningham, just two months later.

This year is the team’s 49th display season and they will make three appearances at the air festival.

Last year they flew as a seven formation at the popular seafront event.

For a full line-up of this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival go to bournemouthecho.co.uk/air