Crash forces famous Red Arrows to cancel Salthill appearance
Date Published: 15-Apr-2010
By Enda CunninghamThe RAF Red Arrows have had to cancel their aerobatic display over Salthill this Summer, after one of their pilots was injured in a mid-air collision during training.
However, Let’s Do It Galway – which had been arranging the air display along with Fáilte Salthill – said the cancellation will not have an impact on visitor numbers on the June Bank Holiday weekend.
Around 100,000 people are expected to line Salthill Promenade for the planned ‘powerboat extravaganza’.
The Red Arrows were due over Salthill on June 7, to coincide with the Round Ireland Powerboat Race and the Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championships in Galway Bay, as well as the Salthill Devon National Fives.
However, the Royal Air Force has had to cancel at least nine appearances in Ireland and Britain this Summer, because a new pilot has to be ‘trained in’ following the incident over Crete on March 23.
‘Red 6’, Flight Lieutenant Mike Ling, received minor injuries when he was forced to eject from the £5m Hawk aircraft during a training exercise over Crete.
His replacement as Red 6 is now undergoing extensive training, and the delayed schedule has led to the cancellations.
According to an RAF statement: “The season will begin slightly later than planned to allow for training with a new team member, in order to retain the nine aircraft formation needed to perform all elements of the show.”
Maria Moynihan-Lee of Let’s Do It Galway told the Galway City Tribune: “While we are disappointed, we fully understand and wish the pilot a speedy recovery, there is a weekend extravaganza planned, with two big feature events.
“We have around 20 boats taking part in the Powerboat P1 SuperStock Championship, with viewing from the Promenade on June 5, 6 and 7, and already, we are seeing a similar reaction to what we saw with the Volvo Ocean Race. People are very excited and really looking forward to it,” said Ms Moynihan-Lee.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune