UKs leading seaside resort gets ready for an incredible 4-day summer extravaganza of land, sea and air display entertainment… it’s more than just an airshow!

31st March 2014: The 2014 Bournemouth Air Festival, supported by Mouchel and City Fibre Gigler has been launched and this year’s incredible line up features 4 days of the Red Arrows displays, a host of land, sea and air assets from the Royal Navy, Pier to Pier county show trading stalls and the return of three fantastic evenings of Night Air entertainment … certainly proving the 2014 Festival is set to be much more than just an airshow!

With entertainment on land, sea and air the 7th Bournemouth Air Festival will be welcoming back aircraft favourites and a number of Festival firsts as well as the new Patrons 100 Club designed for local businesses and individuals with a passion for aviation. Last year organisers successfully funded a third Night Air display and again the intention is to organise three evenings of entertainment and bridge the early evening gap with even more flying and music!

If last year was big, this year is bigger and better as the Royal Navy demonstrates their land, sea and air abilities. At sea will be a 4 ship fleet, which includes the French Navy’s FS Sagittaire alongside the RFA Argus, HMS Westminster and HMS Mersey, in the air check out the return of the Black Cats Helicopter Display Team, Royal Navy Historic Flight and Sea Kings. On the ground will be an impressive joint Army village area, hosting the much anticipated amphibious demonstration. Celebrating the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines, there will also be unarmed combat demonstrations and the historic Beat Retreat performed by The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood.

Royal Navy Commodore Jamie Miller said; “2014 will be the greatest ever concentration of Naval force yet seen off Bournemouth, needless to say I am keeping some surprises back – but rest assured this will be our best year yet!”

With a full allocation of RAF display aircraft, the UKs leading seaside resort is set to welcome back the Red Arrows on ALL 4 days of the Festival, a first for the event, and the mighty Typhoon Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition get set for the Tutor, Tucano, RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team and incredible Battle of Britain Memorial Flight displaying with the Dakota, another first for this year’s flying programme.

RAF Wing Commander Alf Garnett said; “The Air Festival is a high priority event for the RAF, in terms of audience numbers it’s perfect for showcasing our aircraft and offers a first class arena for engaging with the public and showing them what we do for them on a daily basis.”

The onshore interactive Forces village areas, the Royal Navy at the heart of the Festival with the Army and Royal Marines, and the RAF located in the Waterfront at Pier Approach area, will give Festival goers a chance to find out more about each Force as well as talk to those with first-hand experience, check out displays, speak to the Careers teams, charities and have a chance to try out military equipment.

Jon Weaver, Air Festival Director added; “For us as a Festival, the organisers, teams of people behind the event and the hundreds of thousands of people who attend, it really shows how far we have come to have such superb Royal Navy and RAF support. This is our seventh Air Festival and with some great confirmations including the Red Arrows performing on all four days, return of the Typhoon, superb Naval contingency and Night Air entertainment, we hope this will keep us on top and news still to come, as we get closer to the event, will only get better!”

Setting Bournemouth Air Festival apart from the other air events is the stunning Night Air programme. Supported by the Patrons 100 Club members and their Ambassador local hotelier David Bailey they will again be funding three nights of evening air displays as well as supporting this year’s Air Festival charities. The entertainment certainly doesn’t stop with the last aircraft as there will be live music at the Bournemouth stage and big name acts and live music on the Wave105 Corona music stage at Boscombe Pier, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until 10pm.

With announcements of civilian aircraft participation still to come, as well as the Wave105 Corona stage line up and huge seafront and cliff top trading areas the 2014 Air Festival is certainly set to be the event of the summer!

www.bournemouthair.co.uk

Tags: 2014, Bournemouth Air Festival, March, News