Sky high delights and fabulous fun at your feet
Excitement is mounting for the sensational Southend Festival of the Air 2009 on Sunday 24th May and Bank Holiday Monday 25th May.The finishing touches are now being added to the tremendous two-day event which offers enthralling spectacles in the air and on the ground. Both days feature fabulous flying displays starring the World Famous Red Arrows – and much much more besides.
Festival flying is set for take off at 1.50pm on Sunday 24th May when a terrific selection of aircraft roars above Southend seafront. First off the ground will be the Sar Role Demo, Mustang, B25 Mitchell, Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display and the Team Guinot Wing Walkers.
From 3pm, the well-loved Battle of Britain Memorial Flight gives us a rare glimpse of our airborne heritage. These historic planes will be followed by the Matadors, Apache Helo, Hawk, Tutor and Gnat Pair.
Then the matchless Red Arrows take centre stage at 4pm performing a daring new display sequence for their first UK performance of the season.
Afterwards, the Swift Team and Typhoon will be put through their paces, before the day’s proceedings culminate in a magnificent parachute display from the RAF Falcons at 5pm.
On Monday 25th May the displays are due to begin at 2.30pm with the Swift Team and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Then the Red Arrows return with their head-turning, jaw-dropping manoeuvres to wow the crowds at 3pm, followed by the Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display and the Wing Walkers.
From 4pm the Tutor, Mustang, B25 Mitchell, Gnat Pair and Matadors take flight. The finishing displays at Southend Festival of the Air 2009 at 5pm include the Apache Helo, Hawk, Typhoon and the RAF Falcons.
Throughout both days there will be a dazzling variety of ground entertainment with activities for all members of the family to see, enjoy and take part in. On offer will be: giant inflatables, flight simulators and a full arena programme throughout both afternoons. Entertainments include the Royal Marines Unarmed Combat, a fitness challenge where civilians take on the armed forces in the “Survival of the Fittest”, acrobats, singers, stilt walkers, dancers and even a robot!
Attractions along the seafront include: the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Town Show, a Charities Marquee, the RAF Town Show the Red Arrows Village and Meet the Pilots area, the Army Town Show and Music Roadshows from Southend Radio on Sunday and Essex FM on Monday. Hungry Festival goers will find refreshments to suit all tastes offered by the international range of cuisine from the catering concessions.
Councillor John Lamb, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Enterprise, Tourism & Regeneration says: “Southend Festival of the Air 2009 is an unmissable extravaganza of entertainment and activities to captivate the whole family. We have thrilling aerobatic treats and ground-level delights where people can actually meet some of the pilots, test their nerve in flight simulators, see planes at close range, challenge their fitness against members of the armed forces, and experience a massive variety of other attractions.”
PLEASE NOTE: Flying programme times may vary. Check out the latest details of Southend Festival of the Air 2009 on www.southendairshow.com