Excitement turns to disappointment as Red Arrows' fans miss Black Country fly past - here's why route times may have changed

The iconic stunt team flew over the Midlands after making a flypast at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas for VJ Day commemorations.

Media outlets and keen aircraft fans had posted the exact timings members of the public could expect to see the famed Red Arrows fly over homes and parks in their area - prompting a flurry of people to flock to various potential look out points.

Members of the public had been expecting to see the spectacle just after 1pm in Wolverhampton.

In Stourbridge, people flocked to a wildflower meadow next to Stourbridge Canal hoping to see the team make their way from the memorial over the Midlands enroute to Bournemouth.

Some had set up deck chairs, one fan of the Red Arrows was listening in on a radio and others took smart phones and cameras hoping to see the aircraft, famed for their red, white and blue smoke, pass over at around 1.08pm.

But as the minutes ticked past 1.08pm - it became obvious they weren’t coming - the Red Arrows are not known for being late.

But it seems they were early! Or earlier than everyone had thought.

One fan from Netherton told of his frustration at missing them.

He said he knew it would only be a momentary spectacle but he was incredibly “disappointed” to have hopes of seeing them dashed. He said he and his family had travelled especially to try to catch a glimpse of the famous RAF team - and he’d left the gym early.

Meanwhile, Tammy Clift and her mum Rita Hill from Stourbridge, who had decided to head down to the meadow with their deck chairs for the anticipated 1.08pm fly over, told how they were lucky enough to have caught the aircraft as they flew over Amblecote and Brierley Hill an hour earlier. Having only caught a quick glimpse after hearing the roar of the planes they decided to take chairs to the meadow to make an occasion of it.

Tammy said: “We thought we’d make sure we were in a good spot. There were a lot of people here. Now, we’re just enjoying the sunshine.”

Her mum Rita said it was a “shame” to have missed them but she added: “It’s got us out.”

Other disappointed fans of the Red Arrows took to social media to vent their frustrations.

Nicola Partridge said on X: “Red Arrows arrows have just gone past way earlier than their Stourbridge eta which I’d set an alarm for! I’ve now heard them more than seen them. Major sulk.”

Janet Brettell said on Facebook: “I heard them in Wollaston. I was expecting them at 13.08 so I missed seeing them.”

Ann Thompson added: I heard them but didn’t see them. Gutted.”

The RAF Red Arrows have been contacted for comment about the timings.

A post on their official Facebook page, posted shortly before midday, gave the accurate timings for their journey from Alrewas to Bournemouth but their website lists the original expected time of 1.08pm to fly over Wolverhampton. Although it does include a note in italics stating: “The Red Arrows appear to be approximately an hour earlier for this routing. Timings and route may change due to weather or other requirements.”