On Friday 8th March, the RAF Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, celebrated the release of their 2024 airshow schedule with a launch event at RAF Waddington, featuring a formation flypast of several of the team's Hawk T.1s with Folland Gnat T.1 G-MOUR.

The Gnat was the first aircraft flown by the Red Arrows (used from 1964-1979), and with this year marking the team's 60th anniversary, it was an opportune moment to perform a mixed-type flypast to celebrate the Red Arrows' heritage. Two Gnats spent the day at Waddington (the other was 4FTS-schemed G-RORI; both are owned by Heritage Aircraft Ltd. based at North Weald), but only G-MOUR participated in the flypast.

Later in the day, Red Arrows Hawks performed two display practice flights, the first including Reds 6-9 and the second including Reds 1-4 and Reds 6-7. The latter sortie included the first complete runthrough of the 2024 display routine, albeit with only six aircraft participating rather than the usual nine; at this stage of pre-season training, it is normal for pilots to train in small groups, rather than as a 9-ship, as they master their specific role in the display sequence.

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