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Red Arrows
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===Later years=== [[File:RAF Red Arrows perform the Spaghetti Break over Scampton.jpg|thumb|upright|Red Arrows perform a manoeuvre called the "Spaghetti Break" over RAF Scampton, September 2015]] In July 2004, speculation surfaced in the British media that the Red Arrows would be disbanded, after a defence spending review, due to running costs between Β£5 million and Β£6 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why everyone loves the Red Arrows |first=Jonathan |last=Duffy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3908187.stm |newspaper=BBC News |date=20 July 2004 |access-date=16 April 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220125454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3908187.stm |archive-date=20 February 2009 }}</ref> The Arrows were not disbanded and their expense has been justified through their public relations benefit of helping to develop business in the defence industry and promoting recruitment for the RAF. According to the [[BBC]], disbanding the Red Arrows will be highly unlikely, as they are a considerable attraction throughout the world. This was reiterated by [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]] on 20 February 2013,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21514999 |title=Red Arrows 'future safe under David Cameron' |publisher=BBC News |date=20 February 2013 |access-date=20 February 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221180620/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21514999 |archive-date=21 February 2013 }}</ref> when he guaranteed the estimated Β£9m per annum costs while visiting India to discuss a possible sale of Hawk aircraft to be used by India's military aerobatics team, the [[Surya Kiran]]. With the planned closure of RAF Scampton, the future home of the Red Arrows became uncertain. On 20 May 2008, months of speculation were ended when it was revealed that the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) were moving the Red Arrows to nearby [[RAF Waddington]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Red Arrows moving to new RAF base |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/7412074.stm |newspaper=BBC News |date=21 May 2008 |access-date=16 April 2011}}</ref> However, in December 2011, those plans were put under review.<ref>{{cite news |title=Red Arrows RAF Scampton move plan to be reviewed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-16205679 |newspaper=BBC News |date=16 December 2011 |access-date=18 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222215408/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-16205679 |archive-date=22 February 2012 }}</ref> The MoD confirmed in June 2012 that the Red Arrows would remain at RAF Scampton until at least the end of the decade. Scampton's runway was resurfaced as a result.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EstateAndEnvironment/RafUnitsToRemainAtScampton.htm |title=RAF units to remain at Scampton |date=18 June 2012 |work=Estate and Environment |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=26 June 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622010237/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EstateAndEnvironment/RafUnitsToRemainAtScampton.htm |archive-date=22 June 2012 }}</ref> In July 2018 the RAF announced that RAF Scampton, the wartime base of [[No. 617 Squadron RAF|No. 617 Squadron]] also known as ''The Dambusters'', would close by 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-44936234|title=Red Arrows air base to be sold off|work=BBC News|date=24 July 2018|access-date=28 July 2018}}</ref> In March 2019, the MoD indicated that RAF Waddington, alongside [[RAF Leeming]] and [[RAF Wittering]], was being considered as their future home.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 March 2019 |title=Three choices for new Red Arrows base |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-47617062 |access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref> It was confirmed in May 2020 that Waddington had been selected.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 May 2020 |title=Red Arrows moving to RAF Waddington from RAF Scampton |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-52709531 |access-date=19 May 2020}}</ref> The move was completed on 13 October 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 October 2022 |title=RAF Red Arrows move to new Lincolnshire home |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/stations/raf-waddington/news/raf-red-arrows-move-to-new-lincolnshire-home/ |access-date=21 October 2022 |website=Royal Air Force |language=en-gb}}</ref> The Red Arrows will continue to use airspace above RAF Scampton for their training.
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