Primary school children could be in with the chance of meeting the Red Arrows at the Bournemouth Air Festival by designing their own paper aeroplane.
The competition aims to inspire the next generation of children in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole into STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Maths).
All primary schools that enter will be invited to an online question and answer event with the Red Arrows in the lead up to the festival, which is organised by BCP Council.
One winner will be chosen to meet the pilots at the festival, which runs from 31 August – 3 September, and includes demonstrations from the Typhoon and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight planes.
Runners up will see their designs featured in the festival’s STEM marquee on the East Cliff, which will feature exciting demonstrations from local industries, such as the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Bournemouth-based Centre VR, the largest virtual reality centre in Europe.
Festival director Jon Weaver said: “With its unique focus on STEM, the Bournemouth Air Festival, is a huge opportunity to inspire children in our community to be the next generation of engineers.
“This year’s STEM marquee will feature some of the region’s high-profile companies and experts specialising in various STEM sectors, giving exciting demonstrations.
“Everyone is welcome to come along to this year’s marquee, which will be situated at the RAF Village on the East Cliff. If you’re interested in how things work and have a creative brain it is definitely for you!
“I encourage all primary schools to take part in this year’s competition for a chance to be featured inside this year’s STEM marquee and to win a chance to meet the Red Arrows.”
Squadron Leader Tom Bould, Team Leader and Red 1 of the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, said: “STEM subjects power the work of the Red Arrows and are at the core of so many roles within the RAF.
“Every time the team takes to the air, our precision shows are the result of a great deal of planning plus application of fast maths and expert engineering.
“I’d encourage young people in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area to use these exciting, dynamic aerobatic displays as aviation inspiration and be creative in their paper aeroplane designs.”
Editor’s notes
Please note, this is for primary schools in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole only. Entries must come from the school, not from individual students.
We aim to choose the winners and update schools by mid-June.
The online question and answer event with schools will take place at a date to be confirmed in July. Schools will receive an email invite and measures will be taken to ensure the event is safe and secure.
Find out more about the STEM marquee at this year’s festival.
The world-famous Red Arrows and supersonic Eurofighter Typhoon will be making a roaring return to the UK’s biggest free land, air and sea event, the Bournemouth Air Festival, this year.
The elite Royal Air Force (RAF) pilots will be joined by some of the most famous fighter aircraft used in World War Two’s Battle of Britain – the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster.
All the iconic planes will be performing over four days of the award-winning festival alongside the Tutor, an RAF plane used for University Air Squadron (UAS) elementary flying training and for flying grading.
The landmark festival, which is now in its 15th year, is scheduled to take place from Thursday, August 31, to Sunday, September 3 across 1.5 miles of beach and clifftop.
Red Arrow’s Team Leader and Red 1, Tom Bould, said: “We’re thrilled, as a team, to be returning to Bournemouth for all four days of the 2023 air festival.
“The event will be a highlight of our summer and with miles of beaches and a distinctive coastline, the location is a brilliant backdrop for a packed programme of world-class displays.
“We’re busy putting together a new aerobatic show for 2023 and are excited to bring this to Bournemouth and showcase the talented people, skills and work of the entire Royal Air Force through this display of teamwork and precision.
“What is even more fulfilling and motivating as a team is knowing that hundreds of thousands of people head to Bournemouth for the air festival.
“Not only is it humbling, and a privilege, to perform a dynamic display for everyone in-the-sky but it’s also a great opportunity to meet individuals, many of whom are young people and families, on-the-ground during the festival – including at the RAF Experience area, where there’s chance to learn more about the Service.
“Crucially, the festival in Bournemouth is a testimony to the ability of air events to bring communities together, to support local economies and to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds through the wonder of aviation and STEM.”
Regarded as one of the best air shows in the UK due to its unique position on the south coast of England, the Bournemouth Air Festival offers both land and sea viewing opportunities.
Cllr Beverly Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Vibrant Places, said: “Bournemouth Air Festival is a fantastic end to the summer and last year’s Platinum Jubilee Air Festival was no different.
“From the iconic Red Arrows to the thrilling night displays and the fabulous family atmosphere throughout, it really creates an electric atmosphere, bringing crowds from far and wide, supporting the economy and local jobs.”
BCP Council’s air festival director Jon Weaver said: “The RAF Red Arrows, Typhoon and Battle of Britain are a firm favourite among festival goers, and we look forward to welcoming them back for an incredible four days this coronation year.
“This year we are once again planning to deliver a truly memorable four days of thrills and entertainment, and we’re looking forward to making more announcements to the festival programme over the coming months.
“We have an incredible team that organises it and I can’t wait to see this year’s festival come together in what shall be a very special coronation year.”
A bumper four-days of fun, flying and fantastic displays came to an end on Sunday with the Typhoon officially closing BCP Council’s 2022 Bournemouth Air Festival.
People from all over the country and beyond visited Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over the last four days to take part in the festival, enjoying all the aviation packed entertainment on offer as well as all the land-based activities that took place in the RAF, Navy and Army villages on the ground.
Regarded as one of the best air shows in the UK due to its unique position on the south coast of England offering both land and sea viewing opportunities, residents, visitors and flying enthusiasts have been enthralled by flying displays, including the mighty Typhoon and its roarsome noise, breath taking stunts from the Jet Pitts Muscle Bi Plane, wing walkers, parachutists, the nostalgia of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and of course, the ever-popular Red Arrows.
Running for over 10 years, the air show now includes an impressive number of flying displays, armed forces entertainment, a STEM education tent (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), family entertainment, fairground rides, Pier to Pier trading, free outdoor films, live music and the ever-popular fireworks.
This year early indicators suggest a major uplift in residents and local people coming to enjoy the festival. Benefiting the local economy, on Saturday the Prom Café reported its best day of trading ever.
In a push for a more sustainable festival, residents and visitors have been encouraged to leave their cars at home wherever possible and travel by train, bus, bike, or even Beryl scooter to the festival site, to help reduce the carbon footprint. The council’s popular Park and Ride from Kings Park to Boscombe Pier removed an estimated 2000 cars from local roads and the town centre on Saturday, facilitating greater ease of travel away from the event.
Attendees were also urged to bring reusable water bottles from home and fill up at one the 150 water refill points along the seafront that have recently been installed or refreshed thanks to BCP Council’s partnership with City to Sea. Festival goers are thanked for being responsible and keeping the beaches clean, it’s noted that this year many more people have chosen to take their waste home and make use of the many bins provided along the seafront.
Jon Weaver, Air Festival Director, BCP Council commented:
“Once again, we’ve had a fantastic four days of fun and I’m incredibly proud of my team who have worked tirelessly both leading up to and over the last few weeks to ensure the success of this year’s festival. I am also very grateful to colleagues across the Council who have stepped up before and during the festival to ensure its smooth running.
“Putting together a festival of this magnitude also requires a huge amount of partnership working and my immense thanks go to everyone who been involved in this year’s festival. From the emergency services to the armed forces and RNLI, as well as hospitality partners and traders who all have given 100% to make sure we had a successful festival over the last few days.”
Councillor Beverley Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Vibrant Places, BCP Council commented:
“Bournemouth Air Festival is the highlight of the summer calendar and this year’s festival certainly did not disappoint! From the iconic Red Arrows to the thrilling night displays and the fabulous family atmosphere throughout, it’s been fantastic!
“This iconic air show certainly puts Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole on the map. It brings in the crowds from far and wide, supporting the economy and local jobs. It also gives us the opportunity to showcase the best our area to a wide audience.
“We’re now looking ahead to the arrival of the exciting Airship Orchestra and then our Arts by the Sea Festival, which has now extended through Christchurch. We also have the ever-popular Christmas Tree Wonderland, Poole Fireworks and the first ever Poole Christmas Maritime Lights Festival coming later this year. These events will highlight the very best our towns have to offer all our residents and visitors through all seasons.”
Provisional dates for next year’s air festival will be the 31 August to 3 September 2023.
Queen Elizabeth II has given her blessing to the Platinum Jubilee Bournemouth Air Festival.
Her Majesty’s good wishes come as two further surprises are announced for the four-day free event on land, sea, and air.
The American B-52 bomber is set to make an appearance on Saturday before the Red Arrows take flight with their special formation celebrating the Platinum Jubilee.
Meanwhile the iconic Spitfire, hero of World War II, will be joined in formation by the mighty modern Typhoon for several enthralling passes on Friday.
However, before the planes get ready to roar, the Mayor of Bournemouth Cllr Robert Lawton is celebrating a letter from the Queen giving her good wishes to this year’s festival.
Cllr Lawton wrote to the Queen earlier on in the year inviting her to the festival, which he said was dedicated to her Majesty and aimed to celebrate her 70 years of service.
In a letter back, the Queen’s Diary Secretary Mrs Helen Cross, said the Queen would be unable to attend, but hoped “very much that the Air Festival is a successful and enjoyable one for all those attending.”
Cllr Lawton said: “It’s an enormous privilege to receive this letter from the Queen in her historic Platinum Jubilee year.
“The Bournemouth Air Festival incorporates everything that falls under the Queen in her capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, so it’s a great honour that she’s acknowledged our mark of respect in this way and I’m very glad that we’ve been able to celebrate this significant year most fittingly.
“I’m looking forward to seeing all the spectacular displays in the air, on land and at sea over the next few days and encourage everyone to come and enjoy everything the Platinum Jubilee Bournemouth Air Festival has to offer.”
Alongside the Red Arrows, Spitfire and B52, festival goers can look forward to a host of other events on land and at sea, including fairground rides, bird of prey displays, bands, fireworks, trade and food stalls throughout. The Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) tent is also back this year to inspire the next generation, with exhibitors including the RNLI, AUB and Rolls Royce.
The Sea and Sky Sprint challenge between Sunseeker’s high performance day boat, the Hawk 38, and the aerobatic plane G-JPIT Muscle Bi-Plane, manned by retired RAF pilot Richard Goodwin, will take place on Saturday September 3 and Sunday September 4.
Cllr Beverley Dunlop Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Vibrant Place said that after a few challenging years due to the pandemic the festival, which is organised by BCP Council, was very much about celebrating the local community.
She said: “We want to give our community something to celebrate, and something to be proud of and we are certainly proud of this year’s line-up.
“Now in its 14th year, it provides free entertainment over four days against a backdrop of award-winning beaches – so it’s perfect pocket-friendly entertainment for families.”
“Tourism is worth over £1billion to the local economy and supports almost 18,000 jobs. In 2021 the Air Festival brought in a total spend of £49.7m into the local economy, attracted about 800,000 visitors from all over the UK and supported about 266 full time jobs, so it is a critical event in the calendar locally.
“Aside from the excitement of the aerobatics and ground displays, a particular favourite of mine is the STEM marquee, which integrates the areas and challenges of science, technology and engineering to inspire the next generation by giving young people access to some of the region’s high-profile STEM companies.
“So, I’d like to say a huge thank you to all those that make the festival happen. Thank you to the Armed Forces, the RAF, and the Royal Navy, The Army and the Royal Marines for creating some incredible displays that always draw in the crowds.
“Thanks to those at the council working behind the scenes and the businesses and traders taking part. Thank you to our partners at Bournemouth Airport, Dorset Police, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, the HM Coastguard, the RNLI and South Western Ambulance Services along with our other multi agency partners.
“We couldn’t put on the festival without all these people, so it’s truly a collective community effort.”
The award-winning Bournemouth Air Festival is scheduled to take place from Thursday, September 1, to Sunday, September 4.
Editor’s notes:
A commemorative Platinum Jubilee Bournemouth Air Festival is now on sale to purchase.
Further festival highlights include:
A competition between the Royal Navy and the Armed Forces at the Who Dares Gyms at the Bournemouth’s East Cliff on Saturday 3 and a display of vintage cars on the same day.
There will also be performances from the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines who will be performing Sunday morning 11am-12pm and the Beat Retreat Sunset Ceremony in the Lower Gardens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6.45pm.
Liberty’s Owls will give bird of prey displays in the Lower Gardens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the festival, the STEM tent will be back aiming to inspire the next generation, and there will be fair rides, bands, fireworks, trade and food stalls throughout.
Also performing will be the Commando Recruiting Team giving Unarmed Combat demonstrations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6.20pm.
The Sea and Sky Sprint challenge between Sunseeker’s high performance day boat, the Hawk 38, and the aerobatic plane G-JPIT Muscle Bi-Plane, manned by retired RAF pilot Richard Goodwin, will take place on Saturday September 3 and Sunday September 4.
We’ll also be welcoming back the 30-metre-long Chinook HC6A helicopter, which is capable of carrying up to 55 troops or up to 10 tonnes of cargo.
The Spitfire and Typhoon will meet for some electric moments in the sky when the Spitfire, which has a top speed of about 330 mph (528 km/h) is joined by the Typhoon, which moves faster than the speed of sound at Mach 1.8 or 1381.08 mph, on Friday.
The display will come at the conclusion of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) display, which commemorates those who have fallen in the service of this country.
Download the official Bournemouth Air Festival app on Google play or on the App store for all the updates. For details visit bournemouthair.co.uk or follow the Air Festival crew on social media #bmthairfest
A Top Gear themed high-octane stunt in the air and sea has been revealed ahead of this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival.
Sunseeker’s high performance day boat, the Hawk 38, will be pitted against aerobatic plane G-JPIT, in the new Sea and Sky Sprint at the UK’s best free air, land and sea show this September.
G-JPIT is a custom built, highly modified Pitts Biplane that gives it enhanced manoeuvrability and unparalleled power-to-weight ratio.
Meanwhile the Sunseeker Hawk 38 delivers an incredible top speed of up to 70mph (62kts).
Photo Credit: Sunseeker International
The Sea and Sky Sprint will take place on Saturday September 3 and Sunday September 4 of the four-day festival.
Bryan Jones, Marketing Manager at Sunseeker International, said: “We are delighted to have helped put together this incredible stunt which will see the Hawk 38 being driven at its limits across a 1km slalom course just in front of the beach, while the plane will be following both a horizontal and vertical flight path in an attempt to cross the finishing line first.
“Given the agility and performance of both machines, it’s going to be an exceedingly tight race.”
Jon Weaver, Air Festival Director said: “We are delighted that renowned aerobatics pilot Rich Goodwin has agreed to take on this exciting Sea and Sky Sprint challenge. He has had a regular presence at the Bournemouth Air Festival for a number of years performing mind-blowing aerobatic stunts in his muscle biplanes.
“The Air Festival provides a great platform to showcase the prominent international status of local brands including Sunseeker International, based in Poole. We are looking forward to our partnership going from strength to strength and we cannot wait to see this spectacular demonstration play out on sea and in the air.”
Cllr Beverley Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Vibrant Places, said: “Now in its 14th year, Bournemouth Air Festival is the biggest date in the area’s calendar.
“This Platinum Jubilee year, the festival is not only a chance for residents and visitors alike to celebrate, it also represents a major opportunity to showcase local businesses and for traders to get in front of consumers.
“In 2019 Air Festival made a major contribution of £32m to the local economy attracting over 600,000 visitors, retaining its reputation as an important attractor event for the region.
“With stunts like this Sunseeker and muscle bi-plane on the display programme to draw in the crowds, we hope this year will be another huge success.”
Retired RAF pilot Richard Goodwin, who will be flying the Sabio Group-sponsored Muscle Biplane, G-JPIT, will be pulling off some dare-devil loop-the-loops and barrel rolls at between 200ft and 1,800ft as part of another individual display during the air show.
He said: “I am very excited by the challenge of doing something a little bit different at the Bournemouth Air Festival; an event which is a real highlight in the UK Air show calendar and one that I look forward to each year.
“We aim to push the boundaries of science, technology, engineering and mathematics to create a unique experience and I am passionate about inspiring our future STEM aviators and engineers.
“Taking on the incredible Sunseeker Hawk 38 at Bournemouth Air Festival is a great opportunity to push the boundaries of aerobatic flying once more. It’s shaping up to be a wonderful occasion!”
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.
The Bournemouth Air Festival will run from September 1 and September 4. Follow #SeaSkySprint on social media for more.
Editor’s notes:
There’s still time to apply to trade at the Bournemouth Air Festival this year. Traders who would like to register interest should email Ali Perrins, Event Officer, at Alison.perrins@bcpcouncil.gov.uk or apply online here.
The Hawk 38 has four racing seats with shock absorbing mitigation, combined with inflatable Hypalon 866 STAB® tubes and a pair of Mercury 400R engines.
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!”
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 14th 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.
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
This year’s much anticipated Bournemouth Air Festival is set to engage with a new audience as confirmation of a new STEM area, sponsored by Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK), is taking residence on the East Overcliff. STEM is an approach to learning and development that integrates the areas and challenges of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Located next to the RAF Village area the Atlas Elektronik UK STEM marquee will see a number of high profile local, regional and multinational companies and experts specialising in various STEM sectors gathered in one place. They will be on hand and ready to introduce and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, researchers, IT specialists, games developers and more.
Lisa Bowyer, Head of HR from AEUK said; “The Air Festival is the perfect platform to showcase careers specialising in a STEM education. The opportunities are vast, exciting and dynamic, there’s so much possibility. We’re delighted to be supporting this new area, to engage, offer advice and hopefully inspire children and young adults to choose a fulfilling and motivating STEM career.
Participating and on hand to talk to will be expert advice and representation from AIM Altitude, AEUK, Babcock International Group, BAE Systems, Bournemouth & Poole College, Bournemouth University, Cobham Mission Systems, Curtiss-Wright, Draken, EXplora Science Technology and Discovery Centre, RNLI, Spherea Test & Services Ltd, Ultra Electronics and Signature Technicair.
Jon Weaver Air Festival Director added: “It’s great to work with such leading STEM representation from the local and regional area. It represents something new in the festival along with other changes we’re making to introduce maritime. The bigger air-displays have already been announced – and there’s more to come.
Councillor Mohan Iyengar, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Culture said: “It’s more great news for the air festival – along with last week’s RAF announcements. As always, we’ll keep our preparations rolling forward while staying attuned to any further developments and government announcements.
Regarded as the UK’s most successful civilian air show with brilliant day and night-time entertainment in the skies, on land and in the evening, the 2021 Air Festival takes place
2nd – 5th September.
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