Sky pierced with Cupid’s Arrow over Zhuhai

Streaking across the azure blue sky in a diamond formation, the UK’s renowned aerial acrobatics team, the Red Arrows, has been warming up for Zhuhai’s Airshow China, running from Nov 1 to 6.

The Red Arrows Aerobatic Team of the UK’s Royal Air Force, one of the oldest and most famous stunt airshow teams in the world, will be performing its first ever show over Chinese skies. Made up of 12 Hawk T1 jet trainers, the team performed a number of spectacular moves as they prepared for the coming airshow.

A formation of nine aircraft rehearses for Airshow China 2016.

A particular stunning maneuver saw the nine Hawks take on the shape of an arrow, followed by loops and twists, as plumes of colorful smoke created shapes in the sky.

The talented pilots of the Royal Air Force were able to flip and spin their craft as if in a ballet, with soft poise followed by bursts of exclamation. 

With each jet flying in unison a matter of meters apart, in some cases on 40m when flying at full throttle, the performance requires great mastery, according to David Montenegro, Red Arrows team leader.

The Red Arrows Aerobatic Team flies in unison.

The team’s showpiece finally came to a climax as the pilots painted the shape of a heart in the sky with white smoke, followed by the team streaking through it just like Cupid’s Arrow.

Cupid’s Arrow maneuver performed by Red Arrows Aerobatic Team [Photos by Zeng Yao, Zhong Fan / Zhujiang Evening Post]

Mike Ling, a Red Arrows pilot, said that two of their squad had used that particular aerobatic display to propose marriage, with each succeeding.

To ensure a perfect show every time the Red Arrows practice constantly, preparing their performance for 18 months and covering more than 9,000 miles. 

“Zhuhai enjoys a rather good environment especially the air quality, which provides favorable conditions for our performance,” said Commander Martin Higgins, who expressed his confidence at the team providing a spectacular show.