UK Airshow News – Page 19

2022 Air Shows go on sale as IWM Duxford announces bumper flying season

IWM Duxford Airshows

Running from May through to October, IWM Duxford’s flying season brings the historic airfield to life and, this year, a jam-packed programme of events promises plenty of thrilling aerobatics, roaring Spitfires and entertainment on the ground. Tickets to all flying events for 2022 will be on general sale from today.

Returning for 2022, the Duxford Summer Air Show will be taking place on 18-19 June promising fun for all the family with fast-flying, all-action aerobatics and spectacular sights in the air and on the ground. The annual Battle of Britain Air Show will return on 10-11 September offering visitors an immersion into the 1940s when RAF Duxford played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain, helping to defend the United Kingdom against Nazi air attacks. Expect plenty of Spitfire nostalgia as history is brought to life across the site for this much-loved weekend of flying entertainment.

Thanks to our friends at Aerial Collective, we are thrilled to be able to offer an exclusive prize of an unforgettable flight in a Spitfire. Any visitor who books a ticket to either Air Show before midnight on Tuesday 8 March will be automatically entered into the prize draw.
In addition to these two fantastic weekend events, the IWM Duxford Air Show team will also be welcoming visitors to its Duxford Flying Evening on 27 August to catch spectacular aircraft in flight as dusk descends over the airfield. Whilst Duxford Flying Finale on 8 October will bring together highlights from the year as we say farewell to another fantastic season of flying.

IWM Duxford’s flying season wouldn’t be complete without Flying Days and there will be six of these taking place between May-October 2022. From commemorating D-Day to celebrating the 25th anniversary since the American Air Museum opened at Duxford, each of these individually themed events will present aerial displays and specially curated ground activities.

IWM Air Show Event Manager, Phil Hood, said “Last year, our Air Shows were the biggest in the country and we were thrilled to welcome thousands of visitors back on site for these two fantastic weekends. For 2022, we have been working hard behind the scenes to create even more events to pack into our six-month flying season. Over the coming months there will be more announcements, including display acts and showground content, but we can say for certain that it will be a flying season to remember.”

www.iwm.org.uk/airshows

RAF Cosford Air Show to Return With The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022

RAF Cosford Air Show

The RAF Cosford Air Show is delighted to announce its much anticipated return to the skies on Sunday 12th June 2022, celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee 2022.

The grand return of the RAF Cosford Air Show in 2022, will tell a 70-year story of aviation and royalty – proudly showcasing landmark achievements in aviation and engineering through its showstopping flying action and across the showground. Themed displays will help to tell the story of countless accomplishments of HM Queen Elizabeth II, the first British Monarch to celebrate 70 years of service.

Plans for the Air Show are already well underway, featuring a wide range of exciting RAF flying displays, hands-on experiences for all ages in our interactive STEM hangar and RAF Zone, as well as immersive story-telling experiences and entertainment in our much loved Vintage Village.

Air Show Chairman, Wing Commander Kenny Wickens, said, “We are delighted to announce the return of the RAF Cosford Air Show after two difficult years. A huge amount of work has been done in the early stages of planning this event to ensure we can provide a safe and enjoyable show for all of our visitors and we look forward to welcoming everyone back to RAF Cosford for a day of celebration and entertainment.”

The Air Show will again be an Advanced Ticket Only event. Tickets are now available to purchase – available online via the RAF Cosford Air Show website (www.cosfordairshow.co.uk). Standard adult tickets will cost £34 with under 16s and parking free, providing great value for money for families.

All ticketholders from the cancelled 2020 RAF Cosford Air Show, who did not request a refund, will be carried over to the 2022 Air Show. New tickets will automatically be emailed out to these customers in due course.

Fourteen Spitfires will take to the skies at IWM Duxford’s 1940s inspired Battle of Britain Air Show

Duxford Battle of Britain Airshow

It’s time to practice your lindy hops and dust off your tweed jackets as IWM Duxford’s Battle of Britain Air Show returns on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September, transporting visitors back to the summer of 1940 as the historic airfield prepares for a weekend of vintage showground entertainment and historic flying displays.

Following a successful return to Air Shows in July, IWM Duxford is thrilled to welcome visitors back for its final Air Show of the season which will see the historic site transformed with living history groups, 1940s music and dancing and plenty of activities to keep everyone entertained. The Battle of Britain Air Show will also see a spectacular array of aircraft take to the skies, including The RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial flight. They will open the show’s packed flying programme with a Spitfire, Hurricane, and one of only two airworthy Avro Lancaster bombers remaining in the world. Air displays throughout the day will showcase the best of Second World War aviation with plenty more Spitfires as well as seaplanes, and Thunderbolts. Also featuring are the Great War Display Team who will be performing a choreographed dogfight with authentic First World War aircraft.

The showground will offer no shortage of entertainment including, for the first time, a vintage fairground complete with a carousel and ferris wheel, jazz and big band sounds from The Debonaires and 1940s classic songs from the cover act, Perfect Vintage. There will also be the chance to dance the lindy hop or try your hand at a swing dance and be sure to say hello to living history re-enactment groups, including Spirit of Britain who will portray the life and roles of 19 Squadron, based at RAF Duxford during the Battle of Britain. Explore static aircraft inside and up close and meet both current and former pilots to hear their stories of life in the air.

All IWM Duxford hangars and exhibitions will be open throughout the weekend including the recently opened Ops Block, an audio-visual experience that captures how men and women defended Britain from Luftwaffe attacks in the former nerve centre of RAF Duxford during the Battle of Britain. With the stories of real people who served here alongside their uniforms, keepsakes, and testimonies, the Ops Block links the personal to the extraordinary feats in the sky.

IWM Air Show Event Manager, Phil Hood, said “The Battle of Britain Air Show is always a very special event at IWM Duxford given the important role the site played during this pivotal moment in the Second World War. We also get to pay homage to the iconic Spitfire, an aircraft with a very close association to Duxford as the first station to receive it in 1939 and seeing fourteen of these warbirds close out the Air Show is guaranteed to be a spectacular site. It has been great to welcome visitors back to our Air Shows this year and we are thrilled to be able to increase the capacity to this event, allowing even more people to enjoy our air displays and showground entertainment.”

IWM will be asking that ticket holders over the age of 18 produce evidence (in line with an NHS Covid Pass) of either a negative Covid-19 test result or proof they have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccination. Please refer to the website for full details regarding entry requirements and other measures we will be keeping in place to keep everyone safe at this event.

Tickets to the Battle of Britain Air Show are available to purchase now at: Tickets | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)

Prices: Adult £42.50 / Children 5-15 £14.25 / Children under 5 and carers free

Air Tattoo to Serve up Aviation Feast – Virtually!

Virtual Air Tattoo

Whilst the actual Royal International Air Tattoo won’t be taking place as planned at RAF Fairford this weekend, Airshow organisers are ensuring their supporters will still be able to enjoy plenty of aviation-related thrills and excitement – albeit virtually!

The six-hour, free-to-view, live-streamed Virtual Air Tattoo takes place on Saturday, July 17 from 10am to 4pm and will include exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage, virtual flying displays, live interviews, competitions and special features.

Presented by Air Tattoo commentator and aviation expert Ben Dunnell and filmed from a live studio by PlanesTV, the 2021 Virtual Air Tattoo will build on the success of last year’s inaugural event that attracted an audience in excess of one million.

As well as being given exclusive operational access to RAF Coningsby and the Historic Army Aircraft Flight at Middle Wallop, the Virtual Air Tattoo team flew on board a USAF Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker air-to-air refuelling flight from RAF Mildenhall. In the studio, there will be a number of live interviews including talks with Red 10, Squadron Leader Adam Collins, from the Red Arrows and Air Tattoo co-founder Tim Prince.

Air Tattoo Head of Air Operations Peter Reoch said whilst it was disappointing not to be able welcome aircraft to RAF Fairford there had been incredible support from air arms from around the world who were keen to participate in the virtual event. Among those represented at the Virtual Air Tattoo will be Austrian, Danish and French, who all participated in the first Air Tattoo in 1971, plus 20 other countries from across the globe.

He said: “We’ve got lots of surprises planned for the live stream , including virtual flying displays with a special 50th anniversary twist! We’ll also be previewing next summer’s Air Tattoo by announcing the Airshow’s themes for 2022. I’m confident that, like the Airshow itself, everyone will find lots to enjoy during the day.”

As well as celebrating the Air Tattoo’s 50th anniversary, the virtual event will also be launching ticket sales for next summer’s ‘real’ Airshow, which will take place on July 15-17, 2022. For ticket details and prices, visit www.airtattoo.com

During the event, viewers will have the opportunity to donate to the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, the Air Tattoo’s parent charity. Text TRUST to 70490 to donate £5 (texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message). Also through Virgin Money Giving: https://bit.ly/rafcharitable

ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE RAF COSFORD AIR SHOW 2021

Cosford Air Show Red Arrows

The RAF Cosford Air Show team have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 guidance and, after much consideration, we have taken the very difficult decision not to hold an Air Show event over the weekend of the 11th and 12th September 2021.

In light of the Government’s decision to delay the planned lifting of COVID-19 restrictions by four weeks and the rapid spread of the Delta variant, there is too much uncertainty surrounding factors which are outside of our control. Taking this decision now ensures that the future of RAF Cosford Air Shows is secure and we can now focus on our grand return to the skies in 2022.

We are devastated to be in this position once again but, as with many events, the health and safety of the public, as well as our serving personnel, and the financial security of future shows must be our priorities.

Customers who have held onto their tickets will be able to request a refund through our website at www.cosfordairshow.co.uk/tickets , or they can choose to carry their tickets over to the RAF Cosford Air Show 2022. Those who do hold tickets over will not be subject to any price increase.

Exciting plans are already underway for our grand return in 2022, which will tell a 70-year story of aviation and royalty – commemorating the countless achievements in aviation and engineering throughout the 70-year reign of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

We would like to thank all of our sponsors, traders, suppliers and, of course, our thousands of Air Show visitors for their support and understanding. We look forward to welcoming you back to RAF Cosford in 2022.

Legendary Red Arrows to headline Duxford Summer Air Show this July with tickets on sale from today

Duxford Red Arrows

IWM Duxford is gearing up for a summer of thrilling entertainment in the air and on the ground at the Duxford Summer Air Show on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 July, with tickets on sale from today. Promising fun for the whole family, Duxford’s first air show since 2019 will feature spectacular sights in the sky from the world-famous Red Arrows, parachuting displays courtesy of the Falcons and wingwalking from Aerosuperbatics. There will also be a host of over aircraft taking flight over the historic airfield, including the last remaining airworthy B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ in Europe and dynamic displays from The Blades. For the first time, an airside Flightline Walk will be included in the ticket cost giving visitors the chance to see the aircraft up close before they take to the skies.

New for this year, entry to Duxford Summer Air Show will be via three zones (Blue, Green and Red), each of which contain everything you need to enjoy a fantastic day at Duxford. Each zone will include dedicated viewing areas, food and drink stalls, retail traders, ground activities, entrance and exit, toilets and car parking and visitors will be required to stay within their designated zone throughout the day.

Each zone will offer no shortage of entertainment on the ground with the Blue Zone featuring a First World War RAF pilot living history group, the chance to see historic aircraft being restored and a display from the Airborne Assault Museum where a ‘para sniper’ will tell stories of war from the air. Whilst in the Green Zone, the Laguna Spitfire Legacy will bring to life the support given to Britain by Polish pilots during the Second World War and Historic Aircraft Collection will showcase an array of static aircraft. In the Red Zone, see amazing items from the Royal Anglian Museum, including uniforms and rationed food; tank demonstrations from Duxford Aviation Society and more living history groups re-creating home front life during the Second World War.

For more information about each zone, please refer to the website.

IWM Air Show Event Manager, Phil Hood, said “Air shows have been a highly anticipated fixture on the IWM Duxford events calendar for many years so we are thrilled to be able to welcome visitors back to the Duxford Summer Air Show this July. We are delighted to have secured such an amazing array of aircraft and flying acts which will provide hours of entertainment for visitors. Those familiar with our air shows will notice a few changes we have introduced in order to enable this event to go ahead in the safest way possible and we are confident it will be a memorable weekend, allowing us to get back to what we do best!”

Alongside designated zones, IWM has also introduced other additional measures to keep visitors, staff and volunteers safe on site and ensure social distancing during the air show. On arrival, ticket holders over the age of 11 will be asked to produce evidence of a negative Covid-19 test result or proof they have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccination. All hangars and indoor exhibition spaces will be closed for the duration of the air show, with all historic ground activity being focused outdoors. Please refer to the website for full details regarding entry requirements and other health and safety measures we have introduced to keep everyone safe at this event.

World’s Greatest Airshow Gets Airborne – Virtually

Virtual Air Tattoo

Following the success of last year’s inaugural Virtual Air Tattoo, organisers of the world’s greatest airshow will once again deliver a first-class feast of flying entertainment for aviation fans around the globe next month.

Whilst airshow supporters will have to wait until July 15-17, 2022, to experience an actual Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, they will be able to enjoy the next best thing with a six-hour, free-to-view, live-streamed virtual event on Saturday, July 17, 2021, from 10am to 4pm.

Presented once again by Air Tattoo commentators and aviation experts Ben Dunnell and Mark Manwaring, the exclusive programme will feature contributions from the Royal Air Force and air arms from around the globe.

Making a welcome return will be the virtual flying aces who wowed viewers last year with their aerobatic displays flown, like their real military counterparts, with pinpoint precision. And with no actual Air Tattoo taking place this summer, it will be left to the virtual event to turn the spotlight on the airshow’s 50th anniversary with specially filmed packages celebrating this important aviation milestone.

The programme will be filmed by Planes TV and hosted from a live studio in Fairford. As well as featuring new content, special guests and interviews, the show will invite viewers’ questions via social media, making the Virtual Air Tattoo a truly interactive experience.

Air Tattoo Head of Marketing Helen Webb said: “Last year’s virtual event attracted an audience of over a million. We received so much positive feedback that we were determined to build on its success. Next month’s Virtual Air Tattoo will look to capture some of the thrills and excitement we would have all enjoyed had we been able to stage the real thing. This includes making sure we have the opportunity to celebrate the airshow’s 50th anniversary. It will be an unmissable event for aviation fans.”

www.airtattoo.com

The most exciting air show of 2021, Midlands Air Festival takes place this weekend

Red Arrows

The spectacular Midlands Air Festival is set to take to the skies with a line-up that will thrill spectators, delight families, and impress even the keenest aviation enthusiast, when it returns to Ragley Hall estate in Warwickshire on 4 – 6 June 2021.

Topping the bill will be the RAF Red Arrows when they make their UK debut performance for 2021 with a new display across all three days of the event. The RAF Typhoon Display Team, Battle of Britain Spitfire pair and RAF Falcons will also feature at this year’s event.

Not only will this be the public’s first opportunity to see the new displays for the 2021 season, but this will also be the first Red Arrows full display in the UK since the pandemic, due to the inevitable cancellation of events up and down the country in 2020.

The ticketed event will also feature the largest display of special shape hot air balloons in Europe in its twice daily mass ascents, an exhilarating progamme of civilian and military air displays and its signature Nightfire event which promises fun for all the family on the opening night. In addition, organisers have secured the mighty B-17 bomber and Rich Goodwin in his radical high powered Muscle Biplane to feature in the exhilarating programme of air displays.

As well as a jam-packed afternoon of air displays, the event will feature over 120 hot air balloons that will be rising high in the twice-daily hot air balloon mass ascents at dawn and dusk, providing an unrivalled spectacle. Special shapes that have been confirmed for the event include Wes the Wolf, the Cornetto Ice Cream, the giant Saucepan, Buddy the smiling friend, Up, Fox, Queens Guardsman and Ordnance Survey.

During the afternoon of Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 June, the flying display programme will keep visitors’ eyes to the skies. The audience will be treated to WW2 Warbirds, WW1 air displays, fast jets, helicopters, gyroplanes, high energy aerobatic displays, aerial ballet and flying circus acts as well as parachute and formation display teams, all contained within beautiful surroundings of the Ragley Estate.

The Midlands Air Festival will also be bringing back its spectacular signature Friday evening Nightfire show, when darkness falls aircraft fitted with pyrotechnics, fireworks and lighting systems to their wings will take to the skies, followed by a beautiful nightglow where hot air balloons will light up in a choreographed dance of fire all set to music. The finale of show will be a massive firework display to close a truly unforgettable evening.

Tickets are selling fast and selected tickets available from the Midlands Air Festival website. Children under 14 can attend for free, when accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Tickets for this event must be purchased in advance and will be limited to allow for any government distancing guidelines that may be pertaining.

www.midlandsairfestival.com

Air Tattoo Turns Back Clock to Mark 50th Birthday

Air Tattoo 50th

A Battle of Britain airfield in Essex provided the setting yesterday (May 31) for a celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the Royal International Air Tattoo.

North Weald airfield was the Air Tattoo’s first home when it was established in 1971 and to mark the occasion an aircraft that took part in the inaugural airshow returned to join the celebration.

The Jodel D140C Mousquetaire, registration G-ATKX, was among 80 aircraft to take part in the first Air Tattoo, which was organised by the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA). Around 12,000 people attended in 1971 and what differentiated it from previous annual air displays held at the airfield was the involvement of aircraft from international air arms.

Tim Prince and fellow Boscombe Down air trafficker Paul Bowen were among the original Air Tattoo organising team, led by Sqn Ldr Jack Currie, and with the support of thousands of volunteers over the years, they went on to establish the event as the world’s largest military airshow.

Tim was at North Weald to welcome back the Jodel and he was joined by the Air Tattoo’s current CEO Paul Atherton; one of the airshow’s first volunteers Peter March; author of ‘Air Tattoo 50’ Ben Dunnell and Alan Smith, Chairman of RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises. During the event, a special 50th anniversary cake was cut and Tim was treated to flight in the Jodel, piloted by owner Phillip Petitt.

Tim said: “Returning to the birthplace of what is now the Royal International Air Tattoo has been very special for me as I am reminded of all of the wonderful people who volunteered their time and energies and came together to stage Air Tattoo 71; whether civilian, RAF, Army, Royal Navy or Air Cadets we all stepped into the unknown and staged an event that was to become world famous as the stage for the air forces of the world to meet annually in a spirit of friendship and cooperation whilst inspiring the next generation of aviators through the magic of flying.”

Paul Atherton said: “The Air Tattoo has an illustrious history and its success over the past 50 years is a result of the incredible support provided by the US Air Force, the Royal Air Force, international air arms and the aerospace industry. That this support continues to this day is testament to the professionalism, passion and hard work of the organising team, many of whom are volunteers, who come together each year to stage this unique event.

“Of course, it’s hugely disappointing for everyone involved that the pandemic has meant we’ve been unable to stage an Air Tattoo in its 50th year but we plan to be back bigger and better in 2022 to open a new and exciting chapter in the event’s history.”

The Royal International Air Tattoo, which is staged in support of the RAF Charitable Trust, will take place at RAF Fairford on July 15-17, 2022.

www.airtattoo.com

Midlands Air Festival to host RAF Red Arrows first display of 2021

Red Arrows

The RAF Red Arrows will make their UK debut performance for 2021 at the Midlands Air Festival.

The festival which takes place at Ragley Hall on Friday 4 to Sunday 6 June has today announced that the RAF Red Arrows, RAF Typhoon Display Team, Battle of Britain Spitfire pair and RAF Falcons will feature at this year’s event.

The RAF Red Arrows are one of the finest and most respected jet aerobatic teams in the world and the nation’s favourite wherever they display in the UK. Arriving in the sky over the historic Ragley Estate, they will showcase their new arrival formation for 2021 called ‘The Wall’. The team will then display a series of different formations with their wingtips just a few feet apart, before breaking into two sections for the dynamic part of their show, featuring nail-biting high-speed opposition passes and spectacular breaks.

The RAF will also bring three front line fighters to the show, the first being the incredible Typhoon FGR4 jet, capable of a maximum speed of 1,300mph. The Typhoon is the RAF’s current front-line fighter, protecting UK airspace 24/7 and on deployment around the globe. The others are the front-line fighters of the 1940’s, the Supermarine Spitfire. Used in all theatres of WW2, the Spitfire played a pivotal role in winning the Battle of Britain. These aircraft are part of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and are two of a number of WW2 aircraft that the RAF preserve in flying condition as a living memorial to the pilots, crews and builders of these iconic aircraft and to inspire future generations. Both aircraft will fly some unforgettable displays, featuring the unique capabilities that have made them so famous in their respective eras.

The final addition to this fantastic line up is the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team. The Falcons are the UK’s premier military parachute display team. Celebrating their 60th anniversary the team will fly their new commemorative display at the Midlands Air Festival. The world’s most accomplished military skydivers will leap from their aircraft, trailing smoke to make them easier to spot. Once they deploy their canopies, they will carry out a series of manoeuvres and set pieces, including their famous non-contact canopy stacking and relative work.

The military additions complete the spectacular air display programme for the 2021 Midlands Air Festival which include formation aerobatics from Team Raven, Rich Goodwin in his high energy Muscle Biplane, the mighty Boeing B-17 4 engine bomber Sally B, acclaimed aerobatics pilot Chris Jesson in his classic Stampe Biplane, the nine tiger moths of the Tiger 9 Display Team, the Westland Wasp helicopter and many more.

There will also be a unique opportunity to see two powered airships and mass ascents of over 120 hot air balloons including Europe’s largest collection of special shape character balloons. In addition to this, breath taking giant kites will take to the skies and some of the UK’s largest historic radio-controlled models will conduct a stunning airfield attack.

The director of aviation for the event, Trevor Graham said, “We are delighted and honoured to have so many of the nation’s top military and civilian aviators to support us and fly for the people of the Midlands. What better way to blow away the lockdown blues than a stunning day out in the wide-open spaces of the historic Ragley Hall with the best of the best!”

Tickets to the Midlands Air Festival must be purchased in advance and are limited to allow for capacity restrictions and government regulations pertaining at the time of the event. Organisers are advising those wishing to attend to book their tickets early to avoid disappointment. Children under 14 can attend for free, when accompanied by an adult ticket holder.

MOD participation is subject to operational confirmations and PDAs.

To keep up to date with the latest news and information visit the Midlands Air Festival website www.midlandsairfestival.com