Mini ‘Red Arrow’ solo flight fools Cleveleys beach goers

Families and dog walkers marvelled at the sight of the lone ‘Red Arrow’ cruising low over sand and surf on Sunday (June 18) before touching down onto the beach.

If you caught sight of the plane from a distance, you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a rare solo flight by one of the aces from the world famous aerobatic display team.

But the plane was in fact a ready to fly model BAE Hawk in Red Arrow colours with a span just over 1 metre (40 inches) and weighing around 3 kilos (6.6 lbs).

The miniature Red Arrow was flown by local model aircraft enthusiast Rob Wardale, a member of Fylde Coast Model club in Fleetwood.

Rob usually flies his model aircraft at the club’s flying site in Jameson Road but the access road to the site is currently closed while United Utilities repair a burst pipe which has leaked untreated sewage into the sea.

Local photographer Kris Cook (KC Photography) snapped pictures of Rob’s Red Arrow in action as it buzzed over the beach before coming into land.

After thrilling onlookers with his remote control flying display, Rob packed up his model plane and cycled home with the Red Arrow in tow on a bicycle trailer.

You can watch Rob fly his model aircraft at the Indoor Scale Nationals on YouTube here, and follow KC Photography for more stunning pictures from around the Fylde Coast on Facebook.