Britain's aerobatic team returns home after long tour

Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) aerobatic team, The Red Arrows, arrived at their Scampton base in Lincolnshire on Friday after long tour that included their first ever visit to China.

The tour, their largest in decade, completed more than 20 displays and flypasts across Asia and the Middle East, which attracted millions of spectators.

The tour included the team's first ever visit to China, where the British-built Hawk jets performed at the airshow in Zhuhai.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense (MOD) has described the tour as "part of RAF Exercise Eastern Venture, as well as the government's GREAT campaign supporting British interests in trade and innovation."

The government-led GREAT Britain campaign aims to promote Britain internationally as a great place to visit, study and do business in partnership with hundreds of British organizations of all sizes and sectors.

"This historic deployment illustrated the UK's influence across the globe, promoting British prosperity and business excellence," added the spokesman.

Defense Secretary Michael Fallon also applauded the team's tour, saying "We can be very proud of all the RAF personnel who made this exercise a success. This historic Red Arrows tour has highlighted Britain's ability to project 'soft power' across the world."

Fallon said this tour has underlined not only Britain's defensive strength but also the country's export potential.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the formal name of the Red Arrows, was formed in 1964. The team has performed over 4,700 displays worldwide since then. Endit