Image source,The Red Arrows, pictured in 2013, say they will have a few new manoeuvres in their display this year
Mr Thilthorpe, from Sittingbourne in Kent, joined the Royal Airforce in 1961 and flew English Electric Canberra PR9 planes and Avro Vulcans.Watch: Clacton Airshow 2023 day one displays including twilight showe Having witnessed a crash during a Red Arrows display at Brighton in 1980, when a Hawk hit a yacht mast with its wing tip, Mr Thilthorpe was keen to organise a certain type of event."When you look at it like that, of course you can't get the crowds in the middle of the Atlantic, so the next best thing was a seaside show where you can control everything in the water."
Mr Thilthorpe said there were only six items on the first flight list in 1991, compared with about 20 this year.