UK's Red Arrows Arrive In Formation At Rocky Mountain Metro Airport
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) - The United Kingdom Royal Air Force Red Arrows performed a flypast Monday at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport. The aerobatic team of pilots are in Colorado for a two-day visit.
"We're a demo team, so we're very similar to the USAF Thunderbirds, the Navy Blue Angels," said Lt. Jon Bond.
"We're hoping that their visit will sort of shine a spotlight on the special relationship that the United Kingdom has with the state of Colorado," said Erin Kuhn with the UK consul.
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is highlighting the close business link between the UK and Colorado during Denver Startup week. The United Kingdom is Colorado's largest foreign direct investor, with more than 200 British companies employing more than 18,000 Coloradans.
"The UK is by far and away the largest foreign direct investor in Colorado" Kuhn said. "We are seeing business connections between the UK and Colorado grow rapidly, particularly in the tech space."
The team visited Colorado Springs on Monday and spent time with cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy. They will also fly past the United States Air Force Academy on Tuesday before another show at the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport around 5 p.m.
The Red Arrows are visiting Colorado as part of an 11-week North American deployment, which includes 20 displays and dozens of flypasts in cities across the U.S. The tour is funded by the £208 billion GREAT Britain campaign, which aims to enhance trade and investment between the UK, Canada and the U.S.
You can follow the Red Arrows on their website, along with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.