THE Red Arrows are ready for the “big, big occasion” of displaying at the Bournemouth Air Festival.

The RAF aerobatic display team are due to arrive in Dorset today ahead of the four-day event.

Crowds are set to enjoy the enthralling spectacle of the red Hawk jets in action on every day of the festival.

Speaking at the launch of the festival, Andy Morton public relations manager for the Red Arrows told the Daily Echo: “Bournemouth always represents one of those moments in our calendar which is brilliant. What better place for us to display.

“We have got a coastline here, miles and miles of beaches, hundreds of thousands of people over four days. For us that is brilliant to be able to display in front of all those people, even better Bournemouth presents us with a chance to meet them on the ground as well."

He added: “This year for the Red Arrows has been our busiest season since 2018. More than 70 displays across the United Kingdom but also overseas as well.

“Bournemouth for us is one of our big, big occasions, but it doesn’t stop for after this. We have got a few more displays in the UK and also in the Channel Islands before we have a slight intermission and then the Red Arrows go on tour to the Middle East supporting a range of UK interests and promoting the best of British there.”

The Red Arrows are likely to be the star of the show for many air festival attendees.

Asked about what people can expect from the team this year, Andy said: “A single display every day by us and also a couple of occasions where people might see the Red Arrows on the ground at the seafront as well, plus we have got a team of support staff, engineers and technicians at the RAF experience up at the East Overcliff, where people can come and meet us, ask questions and learn more about the Royal Air Force as a whole.

“People can look forward to seeing a different display from us this year. A number of new manoeuvres. There is one which marks the platinum jubilee, which I know is a big feature of this year’s air festival and also all of our summers.

“Hopefully 2022 is another really good year here in Bournemouth.”