UK Airshow News – Page 43

New Year, new additions to the Wings & Wheels team!

Wings & Wheels team

Wings & Wheels are excited to announce two new recruits to the team this year, Ed Lowman and Laura Johnson. Both have been regulars at the show over the past few years and are keen car and plane enthusiasts.

Ed (24) will be taking up the position as Events Coordinator, whilst Laura (19) will be joining as PR, Marketing and Events Assistant.

Joining us from Help for Heroes where he worked as a Regional Coordinator, Ed will be project managing the Wheels Zone and Camping, as well as assisting with the recently launched Surrey Hills Challenge. Ed has a strong passion for motorsport, spending one weekend a month leading a service crew for a rally team and has recently gained his MSA Co-Driver license. He is currently in training for the Bournemouth Marathon, and has previously cycled from Edinburgh to London!

Ed Lowman, comments: “I can’t wait to get started at Wings & Wheels, I have been lucky enough to attend the show for the last four years, through working for Help for Heroes. I’m looking forward to putting my petrol head side to good use and helping the show to get bigger and better.”

Laura has recently moved to Dunsfold to take on her first office role. She has a keen interest in aviation and has been a volunteer with The Vulcan to the Sky Trust for the past eight years which means that she, too, has been a regular visitor to W&W. Laura is a keen gymnast and football supporter. She comes from a Musical Theatre background and loves dancing! She has been to many air shows with the Vulcan, but her favourite is our very own Wings and Wheels, as it was her first air show as a Volunteer.

Laura Johnson comments: ‘I’ve been coming to Wings & Wheels with the Vulcan to the Sky team for over seven years now, and love the show. Aviation has always been a keen interest of mine and so working with the Wings & Wheels team is a dream come true!”

Wings & Wheels returns to Dunsfold Aerodrome on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th August 2016. Visitors have previously enjoyed the world famous Red Arrows, RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, Chinook, The Blades and a host of other modern and historic aircraft during the five hour flying displays. The aviation line-up will be announced in March.

For four and two wheeled fans, supercars and classic and vintage icons put on an awe inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a two hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum, and over in our Wheels Zone you can expect an array of interactive and static displays.

The show also includes over 25 fixed-price catering outlets, two bars, hospitality facilities, free on-site parking, public camping, lost children point, disabled access, informative show commentary, opportunities to meet the pilots, official show merchandise and grandstand seating.

The 12th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th August 2016, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 21:00.

Advanced rate tickets from £22 for adults or £50 for a family are available. A family ticket consists of two adults and three child’s tickets. Single child tickets (for children aged 5 – 15) will be £7, whilst children under the age of 5 go free. Hospitality packages start from £155 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305 572.

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited and in 2016 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.

RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2016 Date and Theme Confirmed

RNAS Yeovilton Lynx

The annual Royal Naval Air Station YeoviltonInternational Air Day in Somersetwill take place on Saturday 2 July. Planning is well under way for this popular airshow which will take ‘Naval Aviation – Past, Present & Future’ as its over-arching theme.

There will be a number of Fleet Air Arm milestones during the year and Air Day’s acknowledgement of these will include:

Bismarck 75 – The Swordfish, regarded as an obsolescent aircraft during WW2, participated in the pursuit and sinking of the German battleship Bismarck 75 years ago.

Lynx Farewell – The venerable Lynx maritime helicopters which will be out of service in March 2017 will be making their last appearance, and a fitting one, in front of their home crowd at Air Day.

Tomorrow’s Fleet Air Arm – Air Day will provide an insight into what the future holds for the Fleet Air Arm. The next five years are indeed exciting times as the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth prepares to enter service. This will mark the return of the Royal Navy’s carrier strike capabilities as well as providing another helicopter assault ship platform.

Over five hours of flying displays and an extensive static display will featurehistoric naval aircraft and their modern day counterparts in spectacular role demonstrations to acknowledge the Fleet Air Arm’s contribution to Protecting Our Nation’s Interests. Invitations have also been sent out to other UK and foreign military formation and solo display teams to participate at the airshow.

The flying display might be Air Day’s centrepiece but there will also be a huge array of ground attractions. From engineering fairs to the latest defence technology exhibitions and Service displays to trade stalls and arena displays. For the thrill seekers – simulators, fairground rides and helicopter pleasure flights cannot fail to excite.

Air Day tickets are now available to order at a discounted ‘Earlybird’ rate with no booking fees from http://www.store.yeoviltonairday.co.uk for a limited period. These are priced lower than the usual advance tickets which will go on general sale in the New Year.

RAF Cosford Air Show 2016 – Official Launch

Cosford Airshow 2016

Tickets for the RAF Cosford Air Show 2016 to be held on Sunday 19th June, have officially gone on sale today. With the 2015 event selling out weeks before the show took place and now having been voted the region’s ‘Best Event of the Year’ by the public, the organisers are encouraging people to purchase their tickets as soon as possible.

As an incentive to purchase tickets early, the organisers are for the first time offering ‘Early bird’ ticket pricing. Up until Wednesday 23rd March tickets to the RAF Cosford Air Show 2016 will be priced at £22.00 per adult with accompanied under 16s entering free of charge. After this date adult tickets will be priced at £25.00 each.

Carrying on from the success of the 2015 show the RAF Cosford Air Show 2016 will once again be Advance Ticket Only with no tickets being available to purchase on the gate. This step has greatly improved entry on to the showground giving people a swifter and more enjoyable start to their day.

With record breaking ticket sales came an impressive amount raised for charity with over £220,000 being donated to the four service charities and local projects. The RAF Association, RAF Benevolent Fund, RAF Charitable Trust and the RAF Museum all benefit from the Air Show. Clive Elliott, Air Show Director stated ‘The profit donated to charity this year has been exceptional and the benefits of it will be felt across the whole of the RAF Family.’

Early Bird tickets for the RAF Cosford Air Show 2016 are on sale now, priced at £22 and with free entry for accompanied under-16s. Tickets are available online from www.cosfordairshow.co.uk

Air Tattoo Thrills Captured On DVD

RIAT 2015 DVD cover

Everyone enjoying the BBC2 documentary series ‘Britain’s Ultimate Pilots: Inside the RAF’ can savour even more aerial thrills following the release of the Royal International Air Tattoo’s official 2015 DVD featuring the world’s top aviators in action.

The Air Tattoo DVD is expertly shot with high definition and 4K cameras by aviation film specialists PlanesTV and includes extensive in-cockpit footage, behind-the-scenes features, arrivals and departures and pilot interviews.

All the excitement of the world’s greatest airshow has been captured – including an evocative massed flypast of vintage warbirds to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain – and featuring a moving, private salute by ‘The Few’.

There’s extensive footage of Vulcan XH558’s dramatic – and memorable – final Air Tattoo appearance with on-board cameras adding to the dramatic coverage of its display and joint flypast with the RAF Red Arrows.

Other highlights featured on the DVD include the first ever European display by a Japanese military aircraft – the Kawasaki P1 and the UK display debuts of the Hellenic Air Force Demo Team Zeusand the French Air Force Ramex Delta.

Viewers will be able to experience the pilot’s eye view during many of the thrilling aerial displays including the Royal Netherlands Air Force Apache; the Czech Air Force Mil Mi-35 Hind; the Finnish F/A-18C Hornet and the Airbus A400M.

All the stars from ‘Britain’s Ultimate Pilots: Inside the RAF’are also featured – the high-octane RAF Typhoon role demo, the versatile and manoeuvrable RAF Chinook, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and, of course, the RAF Red Arrows.

Sold in support of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, the official Royal International Air Tattoo 2015 DVDa must-buy for aviation fans of all ages and is available on DVD (£20) or Blu-Ray (£25) formats. A digital download version, featuring the main display programme of the RIAT 2015 DVD only, will be available from November 9 priced £15. For details visit www.planestv.com/riat2015

To order, visit www.airtattoo.com or call 0800 107 1940.

Airbourne Bucket Collectors Raise Thousands for Local Charities and Future Flying Displays

The busiest ever year at Airbourne has brought in the largest amount of public donations from generous givers, in the seven years since Airbourne introduced bucket collections at the international air show.

The final total raised by Rotary Club volunteers was an impressive £36,415.82, part of which will assist in the funding of future flying displays at Airbourne, with another thirty percent of the total being donated to three local charities.

The charities being supported by this year’s Airbourne bucket collections are Friends of Eastbourne Hospital; Kent, Sussex and Surrey Air Ambulance and Riding for the Disabled Association who will each receive £3641.58. In the last seven years a total of £45,989 has been donated through funds raised at Airbourne, to various charities connected to the local area.

Eastbourne Borough Council’s Leader, Councillor David Tutt and Don Perman of Sovereign Rotary will be presenting each of the charities with a cheque during a special presentation held at the International Lawn Tennis Centre at 5.30pm on Monday 19 October, in which Rotary volunteers will also be thanked for their time and efforts in raising these vital funds.

The Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Cllr David Tutt said “Without the generous donations of the public, future Airbourne displays wouldn’t be possible, so a very big thank you goes out to the thousands who donated whilst at the air show. This year the total donations collected exceeded the amount raised in 2014 by £1,107, despite the air show being torrentially rained off on 13 August, which is rather astounding and demonstrates a great public desire to keep Airbourne going.

“I would also like to thanks the organisers of the collections campaign, Sovereign Harbour and Hailsham Rotary clubs who were joined by volunteers from Eastbourne, Eastbourne AM, Eastbourne Sovereign and Beachy Head Rotary Clubs, who all helped to raise funds throughout the four day air show from 13-16 August.”

Organisers of Airbourne are encouraging people who attended the free air show in August to vote for Airbourne in the category of ‘Best Free Air Show’ in this year’s Airscene Awards. Votes can be placed at www.airscene.co.uk/airscene-awards-2015 until 29 November.

www.eastbourneairshow.com

Air Tattoo Confident Of Future Success

Air Tattoo 2016 inspiring innovation

Following the sell-out success of last summer’s Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in the Cotswolds, organisers say the 2016 airshow will be looking to the future – with the focus set firmly on the pilots, aircraft and technology of tomorrow.

Details of the theme The Next Generation: Inspiring Innovationwere announced as specially-priced tickets for the three-day airshow, which takes place on July 8-10, went on sale this week for a limited period.

Super Earlybird admission tickets, priced at £29 for the Friday and £39for Saturday and Sunday will beavailable until January 31, 2016. The prices represent a saving of more than 20 per cent off the cost of a standard admission ticket. All under-16s are admitted free of charge.

Visitors can expect to see cutting-edge aircraft technology on display both in the air and on the showground featuring fast jets, multi-engine transporters, helicopters and surveillance platforms as well as the world’s greatest international aerobatic display teams.

In seeking to provide inspiration to the next generationand in keeping with its commitment to youth, Air Tattoo organisers are planning to stage official celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of the Air Cadet Organisation. They will also be building on the success of the airshow’scritically-acclaimed Techno Zone and will offer even more children the opportunity to participate in the hugely popular Schools Engineering Challenge.

Air Tattoo Chief Executive Andy Armstrong said the airshow was the perfect place to present a vision of the future of aviation as well as the technology that underpins it.

He said: “Our eight-hour flying programme, large static aircraft park and interactive showground zones provide a dynamic and entertaining environment that consistently engages and challenges young minds.Where better to fire the imagination of the next generation of engineers, scientists and aviators?”

The Royal International Air Tattoo is staged annually at RAF Fairford in support of the RAF Charitable Trust. To purchase Super Earlybird admission tickets and to view enclosure options, visit www.airtattoo.com. Free parking.

Important safety information for The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show this weekend

Ahead of The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show this weekend, IWM Duxford has released some important safety information that it wishes to share:

IWM Duxford takes great care to ensure its air shows are as safe as possible for everyone involved.

It is not safe to occupy the fields immediately south of the runway during the air show. If you do so you are putting yourself and the display pilots in harm’s way.

In support of this, Grange Road will be closed on 19 and 20 September 2015.

In the event of an incident it is imperative that the emergency services have clear, unhindered access to the tracks across this land.

There is no public access to these fields at any time.

Jointly issued by IWM Duxford, Cambridgeshire Constabulary and the landowners.

www.iwm.org.uk

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show is now Sold Out

All tickets have now been sold for The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September.IWM is now advising:

· Anyone without a ticket should not attempt to travel to IWM Duxford on either Saturday 19 or Sunday 20 September as it will not be possible for them to gain entry to the air show.

· Visitors who have purchased their tickets for The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show should allow plenty of time for travelling and follow the AA signs for the air show rather than sat nav.

· Those who have tickets for the air show and are travelling by car should display the car parking passes in their car window to help ensure speedy parking and access to IWM Duxford.

Those who may be disappointed by this news can still experience the build-up to The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show by visiting throughout this week as final preparations are made across the museum and aircraft practice their flying displays above the historic airfield.

Duxford’s historic Battle of Britain atmosphere can be experienced by visitors to IWM Duxford throughout the year. It was at RAF Duxford that the first Spitfires came into service, with the pilots of No.19 Squadron. In IWM Duxford’s Battle of Britain exhibition, contained in the hangar that was home to those Spitfires, visitors can discover how Britain defended its skies during this epic aerial battle and can hear the memories of those young Spitfire pilots. The 1940 Operations Room demonstrates how fighter aircraft were directed into battle, while the Historic Duxford exhibition shows what life was like on a busy RAF fighter base. Duxford’s People in the Battle of Britain, a new permanent exhibition at IWM Duxford, presents the personal stories of seven people who served at RAF Duxford during the demanding days of the Battle of Britain.

www.iwm.org.uk

Typhoon and Spitfire to fly together for the first time at The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show at IWM Duxford

Duxford Typhoon & Spitfire

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a Eurofighter Typhoon from 29 (R) Squadron and a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take to the skies together for a remarkable flying display as part of The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show on Saturday 19 September.

This award-winning display presents the iconic fighter aircraft that defended Britain’s skies 75 years ago alongside the contemporary fighter aircraft that has the same role today.

The state-of-the art Typhoon fighter jet is painted, for 2015, in a Battle of Britain-era colour scheme to acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice of the aircrews who took part in the battle 75 years ago.

RAF Coningsby Station Commander, Group Captain Jez Attridge said, “This fully operational Typhoon will be a dynamic reminder to all that see it over the summer of the link between the modern Royal Air Force and The Few that defended our nation 75 years ago during the battle. Today that mission endures with Typhoons on Quick Reaction Alert, every minute of every day. The RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert Typhoons defend the UK against potentially hostile aircraft approaching the UK sovereign airspace.” Group Captain Attridge added: “The technology has changed since the Battle of Britain but the mission for the RAF to protect the UK remains unchanged”.

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a highly capable and extremely agile multi-role combat aircraft, capable of being deployed in the full spectrum of air operations, including air policing, peace support and high intensity conflict.

The Typhoon Display is flown by 29 (Reserve) Squadron from RAF Coningsby. It showcases the incredible performance of the aircraft and also demonstrates the dedication, professionalism and excellence of the RAF personnel who fly, maintain and support Typhoon operations in the UK and across the world.

The agility, power and aerodynamic styling of the Supermarine Spitfire made it the best-known fighter aircraft of the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire is synonymous with Duxford, as it was here that the first Spitfires came into service in 1938. The Spitfire was produced in greater numbers than any other fighter aircraft of the Second World War and was the only fighter aircraft to be continuously produced throughout the Second World War.

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show (Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September) will be an immersive and poignant experience for everyone. Flying displays, including a massed flypast of Spitfires, will be combined with wartime music and the voices of men and women who served. Living history groups will recreate the daily life of RAF Duxford as a Battle of Britain Fighter Station in 1940.

The flying display explores the development of the Battle of Britain and its significant role in the Allied victory of the Second World War. The beginning of the Battle of Britain is commemorated by a Spitfire scramble. Hispano HA-112 MIL (Buchon) aircraft fly in and as the scramble bells sounds, living history interpreters representing RAF fighter pilots race to the airfield and Supermarine Spitfires chase off the enemy aircraft.

Visitors will hear the audio memories of Battle of Britain pilots, recalling waiting to scramble and the exhilaration of the dogfight.

The sacrifice made by Battle of Britain pilots and the feat of winning the Battle is commemorated with contemporary displays including the Red Arrows (Sunday only) and the Aerostars (Saturday only).

The Battle of Britain Anniversary Air Show takes place on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September and tickets are only available in advance. Tickets are now only available for Saturday 19 September. Online booking will close on Sunday 13 September. Tickets can be purchased in person at IWM Duxford and IWM London until Friday 18 September.

www.iwm.org.uk

The B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B joins the Wings & Wheels line-up

Sally-B

We are thrilled to announce the inclusion of the B-17 Flying Fortress G-BEDF Sally B to the Wings & Wheels line-up. The last remaining airworthy B-17 in Europe will display on Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August at the aerodrome near Guildford in Surrey.

For 39 years Sally B has been maintained and flown as a memorial to the 79,000 Allied airmen who lost their lives in Europe during the Second World War. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft is an important educational and heritage project, representing a chapter in our history when formations of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the United States Eighth Army Air Force flew daylight missions out of British bases.

Since 1982, Sally B has been operated by Elly Sallingboe of B-17 Preservation with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers and the backing of one of the largest supporters clubs of its kind in the world – the Sally B Supporters Club. Sally B is maintained by Chief Engineer Peter Brown and his team of volunteers, and flown by volunteer experienced professional pilots.

Sally B is permanently based at the Imperial War Museum Duxford where she is on static display when not flying. However, the aircraft is not part of the Museum’s own collection and relies solely on charitable donations, sponsorship, sales of souvenirs, and the loyal support of her working team of volunteers and 8,000 Sally B Supporters Club Members, one of the largest clubs of its kind in the world.

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy the world famous Red Arrows, RAF Eurofighter Typhoon, RAF Eurofighter Typhoon & Spitfire (Synchro Pair), Vulcan, Chinook, MIG 15, B25 Mitchell, The Blades and a host of other modern and historic aircraft during the five hour flying displays. For four and two wheeled fans, supercars and classic and vintage icons put on an awe inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a two hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum, and over in our Wheels Zone you can expect an array of interactive and static displays to wander around.

The show also includes over 25 fixed-price catering outlets, 2 bars, hospitality facilities, free on-site parking, public camping, lost children point, disabled access, informative show commentary, opportunities to meet the pilots, official show merchandise and grandstand seating.

Tickets start from £22 for adults, £50 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £7 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited and in 2015 will be assisting the fundraising efforts of Help for Heroes and Brooklands Museum Trust.