Regional Development and Tourism Organisations Join Forces to Celebrate Centenary of Britains First Airshow
Following a Yorkshire Air Museum initiative, Doncaster Racecourse, Yorkshire Forward, and Welcome To Yorkshire have joined forces with the Museum to mark the Centenary of Britain’s first ever air show. An Education & Skills Day, exhibition and Edwardian Race Day event will celebrate this unique aspect of Yorkshire’s pioneering aviation heritage. This will take place on 2nd & 3rd July at the superbly redeveloped Doncaster Racecourse.Together with regional Business & Education Partnerships, we will be putting on a series of workshops that will reflect and celebrate Yorkshire & Humberside’s aviation and aerospace achievements and stimulate creativity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
Support from Yorkshire Forward has turned this concept into a reality and Yorkshire Air Museum will provide educational resource publications, Living History interpreters, archive film screenings, interactive displays, vehicles and artefacts, along with the provision of an exhibition detailing the colourful history of the intrepid airmen and their weird machines at this unique event at Doncaster. The Museum will also display its historic Wright Flyer, similar to those flown 100 years ago.
The two facets of the event will be the Education & Skills Day, on Thursday 2nd July, followed on Friday 3rd July by the public ‘Edwardian’ Race Day, with the exhibition providing an additional visitor attraction to the day’s horse racing.
Ian Reed, Museum Director, said: “Britain is the world’s second largest aerospace manufacturer. Aerospace is vital to our national economy and the idea behind this event is to create an annual skills opportunity showcase and celebration of Yorkshire’s incredible aviation heritage. Doncaster Racecourse provides a fantastic background to bring together various aviation industry organisations and education providers and create a new and exciting event that we hope will become an established part of the Yorkshire tourism calendar.”
New Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive, Gary Verity, offers his support:
“One hundred years ago Yorkshire made aeronautical history on the world stage. Today we are aiming for global recognition of Yorkshire as a major visitor destination. Attractions such as Yorkshire Air Museum and Doncaster Racecourse play a crucial role in enhancing the region’s tourism offer. Let me offer our best wishes for a successful summer that brings explorers, aviators and visitors alike from across the world to enjoy a raft of warm Yorkshire welcomes.”