Red Arrows to rocket over American skies to help Donald Trump celebrate 250th anniversary of US independence

The RAF's Red Arrows will perform across the US over the coming weeks as part of America's 250th independence anniversary celebrations.

The tour, dubbed Operation Eagle Hawk, includes a spectacular flypast above New York City scheduled for July 4.

Events will span from Maryland to Michigan and from Maine to Wisconsin.

The famous squadron officially launches its American programme this weekend with a performance at the Baltimore airshow.

They also soared over Washington DC on Thursday evening - including a flypast over a Washington Nationals baseball match.

The team's iconic though under-fire Hawk jets will demonstrate their celebrated precision formation flying and perfectly timed aerobatic manoeuvres.

Audiences can expect close passes at combined speeds reaching 800mph, complete with the distinctive red, white and blue smoke trails.

A dramatic finale will feature "the cascade" - a spectacular routine not performed for almost three decades.

This manoeuvre involves the aircraft climbing in a loop to approximately 6,000ft before splitting apart like a firework display and descending back towards spectators.

The Lincolnshire-based squadron, which operates from RAF Waddington, previously toured America in 2019.

The deployment is intended to reinforce the enduring, if troubled, security partnership between Britain and the US.

It also coincides with Mr Trump launching the anniversary festivities at a rally on Washington's National Mall.

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The President last night delivered a campaign-style address at the Great American State Fair after several performers pulled out.

Artists expressed concerns the event had become excessively political and too closely associated with the President.

But the celebration went ahead regardless, featuring a B-2 stealth bomber flyover accompanied by fighter jets, military band performances, and Lee Greenwood singing his patriotic song God Bless The USA.

Mr Trump declared to attendees: "As we stand on the edge of our 250th year of independence, I am thrilled to declare that America is back."

"Nobody's laughing at us anymore."

The President referenced the troubled multimillion-pound refurbishment of the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool.

The restoration has suffered from liner damage and algae problems, with Mr Trump attributing the issues to deliberate sabotage by vandals.

Security has since been increased and several arrests have been made.

The President announced he would address another Washington rally on July 4 - the date America formally declared independence from Britain in 1776.

He told the crowd: "Your favourite President will be speaking, so please show up."

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