THE RAF’s famous Red Arrows aerobatic display team performed over Somerset for the third time in a month when they flew over the county Armed Forces Day event being held in Taunton.

Previously, the team gave fly-pasts for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Taunton, Wellington, and Minehead, and later performed at the Weston-super-Mare air show.

In between, the Red Arrows were seen over Bradford-on-Tone as they flew from performing on the South Coast.

This year the Red Arrows are using seven Hawk trainer jets because two pilots have moved to other roles, and their display routine has been adapted accordingly.

They were operating out of Exeter Airport to display at the Wales Airshow, in Swansea.

They performed an overflight check of Taunton’s Vivary Park en route to Exeter from their Lincolnshire base.

Then they returned for the Armed Forces Day event.

White smoke was used because red, white, and blue colours are only used when performing national events, partly because of the limited amount of red or blue dye each aircraft can carry.