Breitling Jet Team take Red Arrows place for Air Display

Breitling Jet Team take Red Arrows place for Air Display

Deputy Mike Higgins said Jersey would not be following suit and rescheduling the event, adding that holding it in September helped support the tourism industry in both islands.

Guernsey brought its event forward to accommodate the Red Arrows after it was announced they would be undertaking a diplomatic visit during August and September.

Taking their place is the Breitling Jet Team, based in Dijon. The aerobatic squad are made up of seven Czech Aero L-39 Albatros aircraft – painted in a black, anthracite-grey and metal-grey colour-scheme and are capable of flying at nearly 470mph.

Speaking about the decision to bring Guernsey’s display forward, Deputy Higgins said that the make-up of Guernsey’s display did not tend to have any bearing on what appeared in Jersey’s event.

And he also questioned the benefits of his Sarnian counterparts moving their display to June.

‘I think moving their display to the middle of the holiday season is a bit counter-productive. We normally schedule it for September because that is the start of the shoulder months when a bit of slack starts to appear in the tourism industry,’ he said.

‘I would not do the same at such short notice and we would give anyone at least a year’s notice before doing anything like this. Some tourists book their holidays a year in advance.’

Deputy Higgins said he was very pleased to have been able to secure the Breitling Jet Team as they adopted a similar style as the act which they were replacing.

‘They are an exceptionally good aerobatic team and their leader is a former member of the Patrouille de France – he was with them for about 20 years,’ he said. ‘You can actually see them change formation in front of you.

‘They have the same sort of dynamic style as the Red Arrows – they are really first class. They are as dynamic as the Red Arrows.’

The display has also managed to secure a number of other aircraft from the Royal Air Force for the display including the Spitfire, Hurricane, Dakota, Tucano along with Chinook and Puma helicopters.

‘The Chinook is an amazing aircraft and they really throw it around. It is a big helicopter with two rotors which they use all over the world to drop off troops at the battlefield but it is also used to deliver humanitarian aid,’ Deputy Higgins said.

‘They fly them at a really steep angle of attack and come around making very steep turns – everyone knows a Chinook when they hear one. It makes a “wok-wok-wok” noise.’

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