The Red Arrows screeched above Central London today as the Royal Air Force celebrated the 90th anniversary of its foundation.

The raucous Rolls-Royce Adour engines ensured that the Prime Minister remembered to pay tribute to the RAF as the noise of the stunt team overhead interrupted his monthly Downing Street press conference.

“That is, by the way, the Red Arrows,” Gordon Brown told reporters while his voice was almost drowned out. “This is to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the RAF and we are also celebrating today the 100th anniversary of the Territorial Army.

“We congratulate both the RAF and the TA on their huge achievements for the country.”

A mile and a half further east, a crowd gathered on the Millennium Bridge to watch the air acrobatics team surge overhead leaving trails of red, white and blue across the skyline.

James Smalley, 40, was taking his lunch break in Central London. “Seeing the Red Arrows is a pretty awesome sight. I’ve always been interested in military history and the history of the RAF," he said.

“To be able to come and see it is great. You can’t get better than having the Red Arrows above you with the band playing 633 Squadron in the background.”

The fly-past started south of London City Airport, passing the O2 arena, Canary Wharf, Tower Bridge and the Tate Modern, ending close to the London Eye.

The RAF was formed in 1918, when the Army’s Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged creating a third British military force.

Later this evening a banquet will be held at the RAF Museum. Guests, including the Duke of Edinburgh, will be treated to another fly-by as nine Eurofighters and a Spitfire take centre stage.

Low-key celebrations will also be held in Afghanistan and Iraq, including a sunset ceremony, to mark the date.

On Friday April 11, Prince Charles will present Prince William with his own RAF pilot’s wings as he reaches the end of his four-month attachment to the service.

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