Red Arrows wow Qatar with dazzling display

All photos by Ray Toh

Plumes of red, white and blue smoke and the whooshing sounds of nine Hawk fast-jets filled Qatar’s skies yesterday, as the UK’s Red Arrows performed over the Corniche.

The pilots represent the public face of the UK’s Royal Air Force.

The @rafredarrows overflying Qatar's key landmarks. #RedArrowsInQatar #redarrowstour pic.twitter.com/M6Ku41kYsc

— UK in Qatar 🇬🇧🇶🇦 (@ukinqatar) September 30, 2017

They returned to Doha for the first time in four years as part of a Gulf tour that aims to strengthen trade ties between countries.

According to the UK Embassy in Doha, the jets sometimes flew as close as six feet apart at more than 400 miles per hour during the 20-minute show.

.@qatarairways A350 aircraft joining the @rafredarrows team in a fly-by over the impressive Doha skyline #redarrowsinqatar #redarrowstour pic.twitter.com/Lx3sMIqXiE

— UK in Qatar 🇬🇧🇶🇦 (@ukinqatar) September 30, 2017

Qatar Airways also got in on the action, with one of its Airbus 350s flying with the jets after the official show to mark the airline’s 20th anniversary.

In a statement, Ambassador Ajay Sharma said:

“I am delighted to have been able to welcome the Red Arrows to Qatar. Such visits are a very visible demonstration and celebration of the strength of UK-Qatar relations. They showcase the best of the UK from the technical mastery of the pilots to the excellence of our engineering and aviation industry.”