THE Red Arrows aerobatic team will perform their full breath-taking display above the War and Peace Show in July.  It's the first time the crack RAF team has been booked for the Show, held annually at The Hop Farm, Paddock Wood.

"I am absolutely thrilled that the Red Arrows are coming here," said Rex Cadman, organiser of the War and Peace Show, which is now in its 28^th year.

"We have been increasing airborne displays year on year. The Spirit of Kent Spitfire is always a show stopper, as is the Lancaster bomber display. At last year's Show a Messerschmitt flew across the Hop Farm for the first time since the Second World War.

"But the Red Arrows are the icing on the cake, especially in the year when we are commemorating the Battle of Britain. It doesn't get much better."

Negotiations to bring the Red Arrows to War and Peace have been carried out by Chris Yates of Cranbrook, a long term associate of the Show who specialises in arranging air displays.

"I've been telling them how good a show it is for 10 years," he said. "Quite a few of the RAF pilots have seen it from the air and have been amazed at how big it is. One, who had recently returned from a tour of duty overseas, said it looked like there was more military equipment at the War and Peace Show than they had in Afghanistan.

"Already Flight Lieutenant Mike Ling of the Royal Air Force aerobatic team has been down to the Hop Farm and checked out the lay of the land to work out the best direction of approach.

"It will be the full 20 minute display. The Red Arrows have been cleared to fly down to 100ft above the ground, which if you think about it, is just 50 feet above some of the trees. It's going to be a stunning display.

"I believe this will be the only display they are giving in Kent this year, apart from the Biggin Hill Air Show."

Formed in 1965, the Red Arrows is the most famous aerobatic team in the world, having completed more than 4,000 displays in 53 countries. Its nine BAE Hawk T1A aircraft can travel at speeds up to 600 mph. All of the team's pilots are liable to be temporarily detached for operations in Afghanistan during their time with the Red Arrows.

The War and Peace Show display is scheduled for Thursday 22 July, the second day of the Show.

All RAF displays are performed subject to operational requirements.

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More details at: www.thehopfarm.co.uk