A sad farewell has been waved to The Blades aerobatic team after pilots took their last flight on Friday April 14, 2023.
The announcement was made earlier this year that The Blades would no longer continue and that the 2022 season was the team’s seventeenth and final season.
They did, however, treat plane lovers to one final flight.
Since the confirmation that The Blades would not fly as a team again, there has been many messages of support on social media, with fans saying the team will be missed.
One social media commenter said: “This is sad news. We have enjoyed the Blades for many years and they have been a regular sight in the skies over our neighbourhood. We will miss them bigtime!"
Another added: “Sad news - used to watch them practice and fly over. Such a shame, were proud of them being from Northampton. Thank you for those moments.”
And another commented: “Oh gutted! Watching the planes from my back garden or across the fields is one of the highlights of my summer!”
We delved into the archives to find pictures of the aerobatic display team since its beginning in 2006.
Below are photos of Northamptonshire’s The Blades through the years.
They did, however, treat plane lovers to one final flight.
![In 2020, The Blades marked Battle of Britain Day by flying over former RAF sector stations that played an essential role in defending our skies during the Second World War.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVkNWEyM2YwLWNhMTYtNGY2ZC04MzhiLTM0ZGU4ZjZjNjJmZDoxNTM0NDdhOC1hNjBjLTRlNzEtYWQ1OS00OTQyNGRkZjdkYWM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
17. Looking back at The Blades
In 2020, The Blades marked Battle of Britain Day by flying over former RAF sector stations that played an essential role in defending our skies during the Second World War. Photo: Kirsty Edmonds
![The Blades’ team leader, Andy Evans, said at the 2020 commemoration: "This is an extraordinary day and what other way to mark the Battle of Britain anniversary than sharing the skies with the world-famous British icons that took centre stage 80 years ago?"](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjI3MzNhOGUyLTk5ZjItNGRlYi05ZTY2LWYxNzc5MjJkMGZmODpmZTRmYWNmOS1iNDFkLTQyY2EtYjA1Ny04MGViZDRhMTUzZDY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
18. Looking back at The Blades
The Blades’ team leader, Andy Evans, said at the 2020 commemoration: "This is an extraordinary day and what other way to mark the Battle of Britain anniversary than sharing the skies with the world-famous British icons that took centre stage 80 years ago?" Photo: Kirsty Edmonds
![In 2021, The Blades team swapped the skies for two wheels and cycled more than 600 miles collectively to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjM3NjUzYmQxLWNkODctNDRmOS1iNWI2LTNmODNmNDAyZmI2MTplNGMyMzkyZS1lNDBkLTRjNTktYmFhMi1iNjc5YTg4MjYyM2I=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
19. Looking back at The Blades
In 2021, The Blades team swapped the skies for two wheels and cycled more than 600 miles collectively to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Photo: UGC
![The Blades pilot Kirsty Murphy was named on the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2021 and was awarded an MBE. Kirsty broke the glass ceiling for women in the Red Arrows when she joined in 2009 and went on to perform 136 public displays and 133 flypasts in 11 countries.](https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjE1MjM3MjQyLTJhNjktNGVlZS05ZTgzLTkwY2EwYmM3ODg2OTozOTdlNGMzZS04NmY1LTQ0NTQtODk0MC03ZWQ2ZTk0N2VmMmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
20. MNCE-24-01-2023-The Blades through the years 2021 2-CENupload.jpg
The Blades pilot Kirsty Murphy was named on the Queen's Birthday Honours List in 2021 and was awarded an MBE. Kirsty broke the glass ceiling for women in the Red Arrows when she joined in 2009 and went on to perform 136 public displays and 133 flypasts in 11 countries. Photo: NW