August – Page 14 – Airscene News

The Roaring Return of the Vulcan

The magnificent Vulcan will now be making an appearance at the 2013 Bournemouth Air Festival. The fantastic Cold War bomber is guaranteed to please the crowds with its deep rumble and impressive visual splendor.

Thanks to the substantial sponsorship of Adrian Gunner of Merley House and the generous contributions from Lord Stephen Young and the brilliant fundraising efforts of Maggie Keet of the Bournemouth Aviation Museum, we are thrilled to say that the Bournemouth Air Festival will welcome the Vulcan on Sunday 1st September.

There had been fears that Vulcan XH558 – the world’s last flying example – would not be visiting due the cost of a display, which is over £10,000. That triggered a fundraising effort from the Bournemouth members of Vulcan to the Sky, who set up a Just Giving page and collected donations via members of Bournemouth Aviation Museum.

Wimborne’s Merley House got on board and, alongside Lord Young’s contribution; they have secured enough to let the Vulcan fly at Bournemouth.

Maggie Keet, from Vulcan to the Sky, said: “It’s excellent news, in two weeks we hit the target. We’re looking forward to seeing her.”

Adrian Gunner, MD of Merley House, added: “When we learned that Maggie had undertaken some fundraising to have the Vulcan fly at the Bournemouth Air Festival, we just couldn’t resist the opportunity to help out to make sure that the beautiful plane graced the skies of Bournemouth once more.”

“The Vulcan is such an iconic aircraft with an enormous following and I knew from parents at a very early age what a special aeroplane it really is.

Lord Young said he had grown up near RAF Benson in Buckinghamshire and saw Vulcans regularly as a child.

“I’ve been passionate about aircraft from about 14 years of age. I’m just in awesome of the Vulcan,” he said.

Colston Nichols, who lives in Poole and flew on XH558, added: “It tugs at the old heart strings seeing it.”

Jon Weaver, Air Festival Director, stated “It’s fantastic that through generous fundraising efforts the Vulcan will now be making an appearance. The Bournemouth Air Festival is built of the generous support of people like Adrian Gunner, Lord Stephen Young, Maggie Keet and David Bailey – Patrons Ambassador. The Patrons scheme has demonstrated the positive effect that such contributions can achieve with £15,000 being raised, funding this year’s Night Air displays in addition to over £20,000 raised for the Air Festival charities by both the public and the Patrons Scheme – thank you all so much’

The Bournemouth Air Festival will be taking place from Thursday 29th August to Sunday 1st September. For more information visit www.bournemouthair.co.uk

All aboard the 747 – destination Wings & Wheels!

Dunsfold Boeing 747

This summer reserve your space on the UK’s most famous Boeing 747 at Wings & Wheels 2013 as the Show throws open the jumbo’s doors for a very special tour. Book your place online, bring your boarding pass to the Show and enjoy a behind the scenes look and guided tour from our team of 747 aficionados.

Located in the Wheels Zone by the plane park, the 747 has made its name as the film set of major Hollywood Blockbusters including the recently released Brad Pitt movie World War Z and forthcoming Formula One themed film Rush with Chris Hemsworth. Visitors will be able to tour the set, learn more about its flying history, sit in the same seat as the meerkats, view the aircraft cock-pit and get up close to the 4 huge engines which were installed for the filming of Casino Royale.

Nancy Edwards, Wings & Wheels Event Manager comments; “Opening the 747 for the first time last year was a huge hit but we knew we could improve on it. This year we’re taking the experience to the next level and our hosted tours will provide even more information and stories on the illustrious flying and filming career of our resident 747. We want visitors to fully interact from the boarding process right through to disembarking and to help with the queues we’ve introduced a new online reservation system and on the day booking process so visitors can just turn up and tour!”

Wings & Wheels Volunteer Flight attendants will be on call throughout the day to ensure visitors fully enjoy their experience. Flights can be pre-booked online by visiting our shop at www.wingsandwheels.net or by visiting the check-in desk at the 747 over the Show weekend. Spaces are limited and a suggested donation of £4 per adult and £2 per child (aged 2 to 15 years) is requested on the day. Book now to avoid disappointment.

Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy the world famous Red Arrows, Wildcat Helicopter, Typhoon, Vulcan, Team Breitling Wingwalkers and a host of other modern and historic aircraft during the 5 hour flying displays. For four and two wheeled fans, supercars and both classic and vintage icons put on an awe inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a 2 hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum.

The 9th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August 2013, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 20:00.

Tickets start from £20 for adults, £45 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £6 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. Hospitality packages start from £150 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 2013 will be assisting fundraising efforts for Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.

Autumn events at Newark

Here at Newark Air Museum, a registered charity, we’re already making plans for our Autumn 2013 special events…

1 August to 31 August 2013 – Fuel Tank Trail

Throughout this August children visiting the museum will be able to take part in a Fuel Tank Trail around the museum to search for aircraft fuel tanks. Entry to the Fuel Tank Trail will be FREE to each child that has paid to visit the museum with their parents, grandparents and guardians. There will be a small sweet based prize for each correct entry received during this period.

7 September 2013 – Autumn Aviation Book, Die-Cast & Model Sale

Following several recent bequests and donations of aviation books the Newark Air Museum has decided to host a special Autumn Aviation Book, Die-Cast & Model Sale on Saturday 7th September 2013 from 10am until 5pm in the Dambusters Hut at the main museum site. {Special discount admission rates apply}

12 October 2013- Indoor Aeroboot Table Top Sale

46 sellers tables all hosted inside Display Hangar 2 amongst the aircraft at the museum site in eastern Nottinghamshire. {Special discount admission rates apply}

Full details about these and other museum activities can be found on the news pages of the website, which is regularly updated www.newarkairmuseum.org

Airbourne Marks 20 Year Anniversary With a New High

Airbourne celebrated its 20 year anniversary in style with its busiest day ever on Saturday 11 August.

With record crowds flocking to the seafront to see the first ever Vulcan bomber display in Eastbourne, by 2pm car parks at Beachy Head and Five Acre Field became completely full for the first time in the show’s 20 year history.

Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “I have never seen so many people on the seafront, we certainly had our best turn out ever for the Vulcan. It was wonderful to see this huge gleaming hulk of a jet appear from around the corner at Beachy Head – simply amazing!

Thank you to everyone who supported the event this year, whether by volunteering, donating or purchasing the programmes and radio headsets – its all helping us to keep Airbourne soaring high.”

Thousands continued the celebration on Sunday evening heading to Princes Park for coverage of the London 2012 Closing Ceremony, along with a parachute jump from The Tigers and fireworks from the beaches.

Donation buckets counted so far already amount to the most donations ever collected at Airbourne. Organised by the Eastbourne Hospitality Association, funds are being split with 30% to the RNLI Eastbourne charity and 70% towards the cost of Airbourne. Programme sales have also topped those from last year with just a limited number left to purchase and proceeds supporting the future of Airbourne.

Eastbourne Hospitality Association Vice President, Marco Giorgi said “There was a real feel good factor about the show this year, people really want Airbourne and were more than happy to donate towards the show and the RNLI. The message seemed to get across for the first time this year that if people donate just £1 each then the future of Airbourne is assured. The show costs a huge amount to put on and can never be taken for granted. However well it’s supported financially, that £1 in the bucket gives the organisers a clear message that the people of Eastbourne want the show to continue”.

The Vulcan display proved a real hit bringing in extra crowds, with Southern Railway seeing record numbers of visitors into Eastbourne station.

Eastbourne Station Manager, Graham Thrower said: “Over 36 per cent more people used Eastbourne station to get to and from the airshow compared to Saturday last year. To be fair to everyone, we once again instigated a queuing system which worked extremely well. Everyone was in good spirits, and everyone got home with the minimum amount of delay to their journey.”

EHA Vice President, Marco Giorgi also added “Hotels restaurants and pubs were all packed over the weekend, especially for Saturday’s Vulcan display – superb! Well done to all of the organisers for taking a risk on the Vulcan.”

A low bank of cloud and mist directly over Eastbourne seafront on Thursday did however lead to the cancellation of flying displays that day. The low cloud base of only 300 feet in Eastbourne and 1-200 feet at Shoreham Airport, meant that some aircraft could not get airborne and others could not display safely.

However crowds still enjoyed the ground displays, including the new tri-service exhibition with new exhibits of an inflatable assault course, Army paint balling and an Apache helicopter simulator all proving very popular. Blue skies early on Friday meant visitors enjoyed bonus practice flying displays from many teams in the morning followed by a full display in the afternoon.

For fans who missed the show, exclusive photos and cockpit footage are available to view online, including the Jet Provost display and the Royal Navy Raiders Parachute jump. Fans can also share their own photos and video on the Airbourne Facebook page.

There is still time to donate or buy a special edition 20th anniversary souvenir programme. To buy or donate online visit the Airbourne website or donate at the Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre or Seafront Office.

Airbourne returns in 2013 from Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 August.

http://www.eastbourneairshow.com/

Explosive success for Dunsfold Wings & Wheels

The most exciting, explosive Wings & Wheels to date enthralled and delighted over 30,000 visitors on Sunday 26th and Monday 27th August. A fantastic combination of new and old aircraft thrilled crowds as the Red Arrows, Vulcan and Battle of Britain Memorial flight took part in the five hour airshows along with unique formation displays from the Meteor T7 and Hawker Hunter, Spitfire and Mustang, Fokker and Apache.

Hearts were pumping and crowds jumping as the Tornado GR4 roared across the sky through fireballs and explosions in a simulated attack before the soothing aerobatics of the Breitling Wingwalkers took centre stage.

Straight from his jump as the Queen at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, stuntman Gary Connery leapt from his helicopter in his wing suit, leaving crowds gasping as he waited until he was metres from the ground before deploying his parachute.

The Wheels Zone was awash with vintage vehicles in static displays and over 100 participants joined in the motoring demonstration run by Brooklands Museum including legendry Formula One and Grand Prix Motorcycle road racer John Surtees in his Formula One car. The Stunt Zone showcased four and two wheeled daredevil performances from Paul Swift and *NEW* act, Learn 2 Wheelie.

The 70th anniversary of the Aerodrome was celebrated in a popular central arena display which charted the historic sites beginnings to the current thriving business and events hub it has now become.

The 32 acre public arena was also bursting with a huge variety of interactive attractions from the 1940s Zone, Hot Rod Zone and *NEW* interactive display from the famous Boeing 747 and DC3. Visitors enjoyed laser quest, kids driving, paintballing, kit-plane demonstrations, aviation and motoring simulators, military outlets and displays, static aircraft, a Wall of Death, fairground, emergency services demonstration and over 80 retail outlets selling a wide variety of products and gifts.

Jamie McAllister, Events Director, Wings & Wheels comments: “Each year the team work tirelessly to improve and introduce new elements to Wings & Wheels and we are thrilled with the success of this year’s Show. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. There was so much to see and do in the air and on the ground, from old classics to new and exciting demonstrations with something for everyone. I would like to thank all of the staff, volunteers and individuals who worked tirelessly to put on the Show and all those who have supported Wings & Wheels through sponsorship, donations and by purchasing tickets.”

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited to help raise funds for nominated charities: Brooklands Museum Trust, Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust, Help for Heroes and Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.

http://www.wingsandwheels.net

On Her Majestys Secret Service

Following his two celebrated showcase events this year, Olympics opening ceremony aerial stuntman GARY CONNERY will make an exclusive appearance at Dunsfold Wings & Wheels on Monday 27th August.

Gary will combine his wing-suit world record achievement with a deployment by canopy in front of a thrilled audience. Arriving in a James Bond-esque pursuit in an AC Cobra, Gary will make good his escape by helicopter, before exiting to make his trademark wing-suit flight, deploying the canopy just in time to make a target landing in front of the audience. He’ll then return to the wheel of the Cobra before joining the crowd for meet and greets and photographs.

Garry Connery comments: “I have always had a passion for flying and cars. To be involved in a show that brings the two together is wonderful and I can’t wait to share my wingsuit flight with so many people in one day at Wings & Wheels. The visual experience will be awesome.”

Over 1 billion people worldwide watched Gary’s last performance as he stood in for the skydiving ‘Queen’s’ dramatic arrival at the Olympics Opening Ceremony with James Bond on Friday 27th July 2012. It was the most talked-about sequence of Danny Boyle’s stunning three hour ceremony.

Gary made his first parachute jump as an Army recruit at the age of 23 and has since become a professional stuntman. The 42-year-old daredevil is a veteran of the skies with over 880 sky dives, 450 base jumps and dozens of film and television roles, as well as having leapt from famous buildings including the top of London’s Tower Bridge, the London Eye, Nelson’s Column and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Jamie McAllister, Event Director, Wings & Wheels comments: “We are thrilled to announce that Gary is joining our Wings line-up on Monday 27th August with his unique wing-suit display. He’s renowned for his world record attempts and more recently his stand in role as the Queen at the Olympics Opening Ceremony and is a welcome addition to what is shaping up to be our most exciting Wings & Wheels Show to date.”

http://www.wingsandwheels.net/

World Records and Flying Machines Launch Wings & Wheels 2012

The Wings & Wheels launch got off to a flying start yesterday (Tuesday 14th August) as two Hawks swooped in to help the team with their Guinness World Record attempt.

Having looked long and hard at the thousands of recent records, discarded the longest distance to squirt milk from your eye and the most forward rolls in one minute, the team at Wings & Wheels created the longest ever line of toy cars.

The world record attempt, which saw 3,737 cars lined up over 258.2 metres, was completed on the Top Gear track with a little help from Hawk pilots Flt Lt Phil Bird and Flt Lt Bruce Poole, volunteers from Help for Heroes, Brooklands Museum, Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance and Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust, as well as 14 Sussex Wing Air Cadets and 17 families and fans of Wings & Wheels.

Two independent officials, Richard Newsam of Curchod & Co and Lt. Col. Bill Carling were also on hand to oversee proceedings and make sure everything was in order. The Wings & Wheels team now have a tense seven day wait to hear if they have succeeded and beaten the current world record of 3,001 cars and a length of 239.1 metres.

Nancy Edwards, Wings & Wheels Event Manager comments; “Each year at the show we major on the diverse range of displays and attractions we have available for the whole family to enjoy. The launch was a little taste of this and we were thrilled with the reaction we got from the public and press on our world record attempt, it really captured everyone’s imagination. We’ll be displaying the cars from the record at Wings & Wheels on Sunday 26th & Monday 27th August 2012 where we also hope to announce our record result.”

As well as flypasts from the Hawks, journalists and guests were taken back in time by Brooklands Museum to compete in an adrenaline pumping pit-stop challenge on a 1928 Bentley 4 ½ litre Le Mans car. Teams of two raced against-the-clock to get into their 30s race suits, remove and replace wheels, check oil levels and clean windscreens with aviation journalists Mike Rivett and James George eventually being crowned overall winners.

The launch was just a taster of what a sensational summer event for the whole family Wings & Wheels is. Bursting with the unmissable sound of roaring jet engines, the twisting and turning trills of death defying stunts, the iconic beauty of vintage and classic machines and the joyful buzz of delighted spectators, the Show will blow your mind!

The 8th annual Wings and Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Sunday 26th & Monday 27th August 2012, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 18:00.

Tickets start from £18 for adults, £40 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £5 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. Hospitality packages start from £65 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book tickets call 08712 305572.

Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited with proceeds going to nominated charities: Brooklands Museum Trust, Cranleigh Village Hospital Trust, Help for Heroes and Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance.

A little piece of America at IWM Duxford with American Air Day

The popular American Air Day will bring a bit of US culture to IWM Duxford on Friday 17 August.

This family-friendly day offers the chance to meet and mingle with personnel from the United States Air Forces in Europe and find out more about their missions, aircraft and equipment. Discover what it is like to be serving at an American air base such as RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in East Anglia.

Exciting flying demonstrations will include a fly-by from up to four F-15E Strike Eagle single-seat fighters and a KC-135 Stratotanker, the aircraft that provides the core refuelling capability for the United States Air Force.

An MC-130H Combat Talon II and an MC-130P Combat Shadow will fly in, land and open up for public tours .

An array of historic American aircraft will take to the skies, celebrating the United States’ heritage of iconic aeroplanes. These include the famous B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B, a P-51 Mustang, North American T-28 Trojan, two Boeing Stearman , Ryan PT-22 Recruit, Piper L4 Cub, Cessna L-19 Birddog and the rip-roaring North American F-86 Sabre.

A wide range of displays will show the diversity of operations and roles within USAFE. These include a Security Forces weapons display, the popular military working dog demonstration and installation firefighting equipment, including the chance to meet Sparky the Fire Dog.

The 48th Operations Support Squadron from RAF Lakenheath will be presenting aircrew flight equipment and demonstrating how they prepare a fighter aircraft for readiness – using IWM Duxford’s own static F-15 Eagle as part of the demonstration.

There will also be a display of medical equipment and an ambulance used by Air Force service members to support their installation medical mission.

In addition, there will be a Birds of Prey demonstration, which is always a huge attraction for visitors of all ages.

The USAFE Band Wings of Dixie will be performing traditional American Dixieland Jazz, bringing the sounds of New Orleans to IWM Duxford.

The 501st Combat Support Wing and 100th Air Refueling Wing historians will be highlighting the historic link between East Anglia and the United States Air Force that dates back to 1918, when the first US airmen arrived at RAF Duxford.

In a poignant Missing in Action ceremony, the RAF Mildenhall Honor Guard will be remembering United States military personnel who lost their lives in active service.

Come along and meet members of the United States Air Force in Europe in a relaxed, family-friendly day and enjoy a little bit of America at IWM Duxford.

www.iwm.org.uk

Vulcan XH558 and the Red Arrows at The Duxford Air Show

Now confirmed – a stunning line-up for The Duxford Air Show on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 September.

New for Saturday 8 September only is Avro Vulcan XH558, which previously flew at IWM Duxford in September 2008. Vulcan XH558 performs a majestic flying display in the 60th anniversary year of the Vulcan’s maiden flight and the 30th anniversary of the Falklands conflict, in which the Vulcan played a vital role.

XH558 was the first Vulcan B Mark 2 to be delivered to the RAF and the last Vulcan to leave RAF service after a sterling 33 years. It is now the oldest complete Vulcan in the world.

Also now confirmed for Saturday only is the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, an American-built jet trainer aircraft.

The world-famous Red Arrows perform on Sunday 9 September only.

There is still time to purchase your tickets in advance to save 10% and get a free child ticket, which is available with every adult or senior ticket purchased.

This offer is on advance ticket purchases only; it cannot be used on the day of the event.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.iwm.org.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01223 499 353. The Box Office is open from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.

There is no booking fee but a postage and packing fee applies per transaction.

Advance tickets will be available until:

5pm on Friday 24 August for overseas postal delivery

5pm on Wednesday 29 August for UK postal delivery

First-ever Summer Camp at IWM Duxford

For the first time, IWM Duxford is hosting an exciting American-style Summer Camp for 11 to 13 year olds between Monday 6 and Friday 10 August.

We have a last few remaining free places available. Contact us to find out more information and to secure a place for this exciting event.

It is now 70 years since Britain experienced the ‘friendly invasion’ of the United States forces during the Second World War. Summer campers will discover the story of these American servicemen and how they coped in an unfamiliar environment far from home.

Find out about the challenges faced by the American airmen and the residents of East Anglia as they learnt to overcome cultural differences to live and work side-by-side. Learn new skills and find out more about Second World War history in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Bringing history to life in a hands-on way, you’ll be learning about code-breaking, propaganda and escape and evade tactics. You’ll learn about ‘forties fashion and dancing, make period-style news reports and learn about the enduringly popular American sports that the United States airmen played to relieve the tension and boredom between missions.

Even more exciting is the chance to spend a night at the museum, amongst the exhibits, in an American-style sleepover. We’re fairly sure that none of the exhibits will come to life!

This all takes place in the historic atmosphere of IWM Duxford, which, as an RAF base during the Second World War, hosted the 78th Fighter Group of the United States Army Air Force from 1943 to 1945.

As this is the first time that we have hosted Summer Camp, we are offering free places to young people, available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants must be available from Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 August from 8.45am to 3.15pm and on Thursday 9 August from 8.45am until 9am the following morning.

Summer Camp is run by IWM staff in partnership with qualified history teachers from the United States and the United Kingdom.

For further information on the Summer Camp email americansummercamp@iwm.org.uk