Seafront Packed for Airbourne 2009
The south coast is recovering after its busiest weekend of the year as the sun shone for Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow 2009, with huge crowds every day plus record programme sales.The resort’s 17th annual airshow attracted flocks of visitors to the seafront setting last weekend to marvel at more than 60 flying displays at the free event, including the Red Arrows flying every day plus a rare double appearance greeting visitors on the ground on Friday AND Saturday.
With glorious sunshine on all four days, the airshow brought thousands of visitors to the resort with the official souvenir programme flying out with more sales than ever before.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Susan Morris said “What a weekend! Airbourne 2009 was truly fantastic and after months of planning to improve the event and put on a great show, we are extremely pleased. It was wonderful to see the seafront looking so busy and for visitors to really be enjoying themselves and judging from the feedback we have already received, 2009 appears to be one of the best years ever for Airbourne. For the first time this year we introduced a retiring collection, with proceeds going to both Airbourne and the Sussex Air Ambulance and anyone who did not get an opportunity to contribute can still do so at either the Tourist Information Centre or the Seafront Office”
A brand new Come Fly With Me evening extravaganza took place on Friday this year and delighted visitors with an extended flying schedule into the evening with a Swing Street Band entertaining visitors on the ground. As the Blades, Typhoon, and Hawker Hurricane Bomber flew overhead, visitors got on their feet to dance along in the arena.
The addition of the Globeriders performing daredevil motorcycle racing in a giant steel ball to the arena line up for 2009 meant the Western Lawns were swamped with crowds during the day too, all desperate to witness the exciting new display. Plus the return of the Essex Dog Display team impressed visitors with their canine performance leaping through hoops of fire.
With a great line up of flying displays taking place in 2009, including the Blades Aerobatic Formation Team, agile Eurofighter Typhoon, F16, and the Tigers Parachute Display Team, visitors were desperate to take in top views. Exclusive seating at Eastbourne Bandstand sold out over the weekend, as visitors booked in to enjoy uninterrupted views from the seafront venue.
With the number of trade stands up by 27% in 2009, the ground was packed at Airbourne with visitors treated to a top standard of stalls to browse including the Wii and Pokemon stands entertaining families.
The show came to a fitting close on Sunday night with a moving Sunset Ceremony at Eastbourne Bandstand with music performed by Eastbourne Silver Band, followed by a spectacular firework display from the Pier lighting up the seafront skies and uniting the community for the airshow finale.
With 25 sponsors behind Airbourne 2009, including Barratt Southern Counties and TravelInsured.co.uk, fans of the airshow can keep up to date with the latest news as well as share their views on this year’s event online at www.eastbourneairshow.co.uk.
Once the final income and expenditure figures are available, Cabinet will be able to confirm the 2010 airshow, early indications are positive.