Author: william.kitchen

Timings for the nation’s favourite, the Red Arrows, have been announced ahead of this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival.

The Red Arrows will have a special colourful seven-aircraft formation celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at this year’s festival.

The team behind the Reds, who perform some incredible feats of aerial acrobatics, will be flying every day of the event, which takes place September 1 and September 4.

Across the weekend a myriad of exhilarating aircraft will rip through Bournemouth’s skies including the RAF Typhoon and The Battle of Britain Memorial planes – the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster.

Aspiring Mavericks of their own can head up to the STEM marquee, which aims to inspire the next generation of engineers with a range of exciting stalls and speakers.

There will be lots of things on the ground to keep your mini-Mavericks entertained this year, with fun fair rides, trade and food stalls.

All the timings for the whole festival will be available on the Air Festival App or in the official Air Festival brochure, which will be available from the first week of August.

For now, the key times the Red Arrows will take to the skies during the Air Festival are:

Thursday, September 1 at 4.30pm

Friday, September 2 at 4.30pm

Saturday, September 3 at 4.30pm

Sunday, September 4 at 1.30pm

Jon Weaver, festival director, said: “We have the UK’s best free air, land and sea show right here on our award-winning blue-flag beaches and this year is set to be one of the best yet.

“With the news the Red Arrows will be performing every day with a very special Platinum Jubilee sequence, we are now starting to get very excited.”

“We have some more surprises up our sleeves too. With the mix of fast jets, acrobatic aircraft, parachuting teams and heritage aircraft our festival will this year give those on the ground goosebumps.”

Councillor Beverley Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Vibrant Places, said: “I’m so proud that we have the biggest free air, sea and land festival right here on our beautiful south coast.

“Thousands typically descend on to Bournemouth’s beaches for the event – in fact 800,000 visitors came in 2019, which puts it is the largest single audience of any aviation event in Europe!

“It’s always wonderful to see families and children from near and far having a good time, either at the fun fair, at the STEM marquee, or being thrilled by the magnificent air displays.

“So, stick the date in your diary and watch this space!”

Editor’s notes:

To preorder the brochure, visit the Air Festival website here.

To download the app, visit the Air Festival website here.

For more Bournemouth Air Festival news, follow us on social media

@bournemouthairfestival | @bmthairfest | @BmthAirFest

Press Information:  email Julia.bullas@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Commercial and sponsorship opportunities: email helen.wildman@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Tom Cruise may have the shades and the swagger, but Bournemouth Air Festival has the full package this Jubilee year, say festival organisers on the eve of the new Top Gun film.

The Red Arrows, who have just finished their season’s training, will have a special colourful seven-aircraft formation celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The team behind the RAF Typhoon, which moves faster than the speed of sound at Mach 1.8 or 1381.08 mph – the same as the new F/A-18F Super Hornets used in Tom Cruise’s latest film – also has a classified surprise in store set to take the crowd’s breath away.

If you want to become your own Maverick, head up to the STEM marquee, which will be 50 per cent bigger this year and aims to inspire the next generation of engineers with a range of exciting stalls and speakers.

There will be lots of things on the ground to keep your mini-Mavericks entertained this year, with fun fair rides, trade and food stalls as displays from the RAF and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight planes soar overhead.

Jon Weaver, festival director, said: “Top Gun may have the glamour, but we have the UK’s best free air, land and sea show right here on our award-winning blue-flag beaches – like Slider says, there’s no points for second best.

“We have some surprises up our sleeves too. With the mix of fast jets, acrobatic aircraft, parachuting teams and heritage aircraft our festival will this year give those on the ground goosebumps.

“So, round up your wingmen and women, stick the date in your diary and watch this space!”

Typhoon Flight Lieutenant Adam O’Hare said he looked forward to showcasing the mind-blowing display of speed, power and agility of the Typhoon aircraft.

He said: “I’m delighted to say this year RAF Typhoon display team will be coming to beautiful Bournemouth. We cannot wait to see you all there!”

The new 20-minute Red Arrows display is created and choreographed by Squadron Leader Tom Bould, who is Red 1 and in his second year as Team Leader.

His team will perform one particular move the ‘Double Goose’, which sounds like Maverick’s wingman in the 80s blockbuster, where the Synchro Pair fly head-on towards five aircraft, then pull-up through a pyramid shape.

He said: “It is with great pride and privilege the Red Arrows have opportunity to join with countless individuals and communities, across the United Kingdom and further afield, to celebrate Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, by performing a display full of creativity and excitement.

“The new show features lots of loops, rolls and shapes with our trademark patriotic red, white and blue trails, marking this important year and the very best of British.

“Bournemouth Air Festival is certainly one of our favourite UK venues to perform at and we can’t wait to make a return!”

Meanwhile up in the sky, the Merlin Mk 2 helicopter from 814 Naval Air Squadron (The Flying Tigers), which is the world’s most potent submarine hunting helicopter, will be doing a flypast.

Out at sea, a Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate, which is the real work horse of the Royal Navy, will be casting an impressive sight from the ocean’s horizon throughout the event.

Cllr Beverley Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Vibrant Places, said: “We’ll never lose that loving feeling for our fantastic Bournemouth Air Festival!

“It’s always wonderful to see families and children having a good time, either at the fun fair, at the STEM marquee, or staring in wonder at the magnificent RAF planes.

“This summer it will be taking place in our Queen’s Jubilee year, so it will be extra special – we can’t wait to see you all there!”

Notes to editors:

BAF media passes: If you’d like media access to the festival, please send your name, media outlet and requirements to julia.bullas@bcpcouncil.gov.uk, titling BAF passes.

A quick, easy and efficient way to travel to Bournemouth is via South Western Railway. Trains regularly run from London Waterloo and takes as little as 1hour 46mins to reach the UK’s premier seaside resort, home to the UK’s Best Beach (TripAdvisor 2019).

Bournemouth Air Festival ramps up its search for the region and nation’s best traders

The search for a bumper crop of traders to take centre stage at this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival has ramped up.

Festival organisers are anticipating the 2022 festival will be one of the best yet, drawing in more than 800,000 visitors over four days.

Festival director Jon Weaver said they have already received excellent interest from local, regional and national talent with a steady flow of bookings coming in.

He said there was still space for producers and companies from across the country, to help deliver top-quality, exciting and unique experiences for festivalgoers along the seafront.

Mr Weaver said: “Our traders are a huge part of the festival, providing non-stop interest. We want to celebrate them and work with them to make Bournemouth Air Festival a roaring success in 2022.

“In previous years, traders have sold or promoted everything from memorabilia, food products, such as honey or sweets, home products, cars, and financial services. Bournemouth Airport and Rowse have also exhibited.

“We’ve had some fantastic testimonials from companies saying it’s the perfect location to engage with a family audience, receive a consistent footfall and raise company profiles.

“So, get your trade application in without delay and make the most of this opportunity. If you would prefer to really showcase your brand, there are sponsorship opportunities available suitable for every budget.”

This year’s landmark free festival will take place on Thursday 1 September to Sunday 4 and will feature the iconic Red Arrows alongside the mighty Typhoon and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster.

It has the largest single audience of any aviation event in Europe, presenting a wealth of trading and brand engagement opportunities.

Cllr Beverley Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Vibrant Places, said: “This year is going to be very special. There’s a real excitement amongst everyone involved.

“Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are eager to celebrate this Jubilee year, and most importantly to support businesses that have overcome untold challenges since March 2020.

“Now in its 14^th year, Bournemouth Air Festival is the biggest date in the area’s calendar, so it represents a major opportunity for traders to get in front of consumers.

“Whether it is tasting, sampling, educating, informing or relationship building, the Air Festival is a fantastic, fun, engaging and inviting event where you can make meaningful connections with people.”

A spokesperson from Bournemouth Airport said their seafront stand in previous years had ensured “great engagement with the public” with “footfall and location superb”. A Rowse spokesperson said: “The Air Festival has been the perfect location to engage with a family audience and receive a consistent footfall throughout the event.”

Traders who would like to register interest should email Ali Perrins, Event Officer, at Alison.perrins@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or apply online here.

Notes to editors:

Please note catering applications for 2022 are now closed.

bournemouthair.co.uk/commercial/

Crowd-pleasing Red Arrows will be making a roaring return to Britain’s biggest free air festival this year.

The award-winning Bournemouth Air Festival will welcome back the RAF Typhoon from the military, this time for four days.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster will also take to the skies for four performances at the landmark festival.

Jon Weaver Air Festival Director said: “We look forward to welcoming everyone’s favourite – the incredible, world-famous RAF Red Arrows this year.

“We’re so pleased to be also welcoming back the Typhoon and BBMF.

“Along with these headlining acts, this year is shaping up to be one of the best we have ever had, and we’re looking forward to making more exciting announcements to festival programme over the coming months.”

Cllr Beverley Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Vibrant Places, said: “It’s fantastic to welcome back the Air Festival in 2022.

“The Air Festival is widely loved and attracts many visitors every year. It’s wonderful to see families and children having a good time – the whole atmosphere is electric.

“We have an amazing team that organises it and it’s such an important part of our festival calendar. I can’t wait to see it all come together.”

This year’s festival is scheduled to take place from Thursday, September 1, to Sunday, September 4.

Regarded as the UK’s most successful civilian air show with brilliant entertainment in the skies, on land and in the evening, the 14th Air Festival is certainly set to be the event of the summer.

Press Information:  email Julia.bullas@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Commercial and sponsorship opportunities: email helen.wildman@bcpcouncil.gov.uk