On June 14, 2025, the skies above London witnessed a historic and environmentally conscious spectacle as the Royal Air Force’s renowned aerobatic display team, the Red Arrows, performed a world-first flypast using sustainable fuels. This spectacular event, held in honor of His Majesty The King’s birthday parade, marked a groundbreaking moment in aviation history with the team powering their jets using a high-ratio blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and producing their signature vibrant vapour trails with hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), a renewable biofuel.
The Red Arrows’ nine British-built Hawk fast-jets were topped up with this innovative fuel blend at their home base, RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, before soaring over Buckingham Palace in a dazzling display of aerobatics and color. This is believed to be the first time anywhere in the world that a national aerobatic squadron has simultaneously switched to both a sustainable aviation fuel blend for propulsion and a renewable biofuel for their distinctive smoke trails.
Squadron Leader Andy King, the Red Arrows’ Senior Engineering Officer who led the pioneering fuels project, expressed the significance of the occasion. “Ever since the Red Arrows’ first display in 1965, the team has aimed to inspire future generations and represent the best of British. Using this technology is the latest example of our relentless pursuit of excellence,” he said. “The flypast for His Majesty The King is the perfect opportunity to showcase this innovation. The vibrant vapour trails that we generate is what sets the Red Arrows apart and so to be the first aerobatic team in the world to move to a fully sustainable option is really exciting.”
This remarkable transition follows extensive and successful trials conducted by RAF engineers and logisticians over less than six months, demonstrating the feasibility of integrating sustainable fuels without compromising performance or spectacle. The SAF used is typically made from waste-based, low carbon feedstocks such as used cooking oil or fats, which reduces lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 80 percent compared to conventional jet fuel. Meanwhile, HVO, a premium hydrocarbon-based fuel derived entirely from renewable raw materials, reduces emissions by up to 90 percent across its lifespan when compared to traditional diesel used for smoke trails.
The Red Arrows’ move to sustainable fuels aligns with broader RAF and UK government objectives to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy security. The RAF accounts for approximately 40 percent of Defence’s carbon emissions and is actively experimenting with alternative fuels to meet the UK’s net zero targets. This innovation not only cuts greenhouse gas emissions but also diminishes reliance on volatile fossil fuel supply chains, bolstering operational resilience.
Minister for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, praised the initiative, stating, “The iconic Red Arrows are one of the world’s premier aerobatic display teams and by adopting a more environmentally friendly sustainable aviation fuel, the Royal Air Force is blazing a trail as part of our work to combat climate change.” Air Vice-Marshal Shaun Harris, the RAF’s Director Support, added, “The King’s Birthday Flypast is the perfect event to showcase to the next generation how our adoption of low emission alternatives, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel and biofuel, can decrease our reliance on fossil fuels. Importantly, this technology has the potential to increase our resilience and protect our operational outputs in a more volatile world, with no loss of performance.”
The flypast was a highlight of the Trooping the Colour ceremony, the centuries-old parade that officially commemorates King Charles III’s birthday. The event began shortly after 10:30 a.m. with the King and Queen traveling from Buckingham Palace to Horse Guards Parade in an Ascot Landaus carriage. Thousands of spectators lined The Mall, cheering as members of the Royal family, including Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—participated in the procession and watched the ceremony.
In a somber moment, the King, the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, and the Duke of Edinburgh wore black armbands and led a minute’s silence to honor the victims of the tragic Air India crash that occurred just two days earlier, claiming hundreds of lives, including 52 Britons. The King’s personal request for the armbands underscored the nation’s mourning and respect for those affected by the disaster.
Following the parade, the Royal family gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony to witness the RAF flypast, which culminated with the Red Arrows’ eco-friendly display. The colorful red, white, and blue smoke trails, now produced using HVO, added a new dimension to the spectacle, maintaining the vibrant visual impact while significantly reducing environmental harm.
The King has long championed sustainability and climate action, encouraging the use of sustainable aviation fuels on Royal flights whenever practical. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson noted that while the King was not directly involved in the decision to use SAF and HVO for the Red Arrows’ flypast, he was “delighted” by the initiative and “hopes to be an ‘early adopter’ whose example will help encourage wider availability and use across the aviation sector.”
Beyond this landmark event, the Red Arrows’ 2025 season continues robustly with 60 shows planned across the UK and mainland Europe until October. Their commitment to sustainability is set to be a recurring theme, as Squadron Leader King remarked, “The team will now look to explore further opportunities to use this innovation at other events.”
The Trooping the Colour ceremony itself carries deep historical significance, dating back to 1760 during King George III’s reign. This year marked King Charles III’s third official birthday parade as monarch. In a related royal event on June 13, the King presented new Colours to the Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle, commemorating the regiment’s 375th anniversary and acknowledging their pivotal role in the 1660 restoration of the monarchy. The new Colours feature 44 battle honors and the King’s Crown, displayed for the first time in 70 years.
King Charles III, 76, continues to participate actively in royal duties despite ongoing cancer treatment diagnosed in early 2024. He followed protocol established last year by appearing in the carriage rather than on horseback during the parade, prioritizing his health and comfort.
The King’s Birthday Honours List also highlighted notable figures such as David Beckham, who was knighted for his contributions to sport and charity, a decision supported by a majority in public polling. Other honorees included rock legend Roger Daltrey, actress Gary Oldman, and teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler.
As the Red Arrows blaze a trail with their sustainable fuel innovation, the event underscores a broader commitment within the UK’s defense and royal institutions to address climate change while preserving tradition and inspiring future generations. The fusion of cutting-edge environmental technology with the pageantry of Trooping the Colour provides a vivid example of how heritage and progress can soar together.