Posted by Flightline UK on 27/04/2008 under Seaside Shows | 
Sunderland International Airshow is flying high after winning an Enjoy England Award for Excellence, a national award affectionately dubbed the ‘tourism Oscar’.
The event organisers from Sunderland City Council were there to collect the prestigious award in Liverpool last night, where they fought off strong competition from other nationwide events, including Christmas at Castle Howard in Yorkshire, and Ludlow Food Festival in Shropshire.
This is the 19th year of the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, which recognise and celebrate outstanding tourism attractions across the country.
Chris Alexander, Head of Culture and Tourism said: “This award is a fantastic achievement, and true recognition of a spectacular event. Sunderland International Airshow is tremendously popular to the region, and it is testimony to the hard work of all who contribute to its success that it should achieve this acknowledgement on a national level.”
Sunderland International Airshow is the largest free airshow in Europe and one of the largest events in the North East. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the seafront at Seaburn each year to watch thrilling displays by jet fighters, vintage aircraft, helicopters and aerobatic teams, including the world famous Red Arrows.
On the ground, there’s also plenty to see and do with displays and entertainment along Sunderland’s coastline and an impressive arena programme.
Sue Henderson, Deputy Director of the Sunderland International Airshow said: “Sunderland International Airshow is a true highlight in the city’s events calendar, and one which millions of people enjoy every year. We are very pleased to accept this award, and hope that Sunderland International Airshow can continue to delight crowds in years to come.”
Sunderland City Council would like to announce that this year’s Sunderland International Airshow will take place on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th July.
Posted by Flightline UK on under Display Team News and Dates, Royal Air Force |
On the 23 Apr 2008 a King Air in the hands of Flt Lt Leon Creese (pilot) and Flt Lt Duncan Wright (co-pilot) won the CFS Wright Jubilee Trophy for the best display by a RAF training aircraft, beating the Tutor, Tucano and Hawk in its, and its crew’s, first year. The judges were AOC 22(Trg) Gp, the Director of Flying Training, the Commandant of the Central Flying School and Mr Alan Cassidy (4 times British Aerobatics Champion).
Posted by Flightline UK on 26/04/2008 under Any other business |
BERLIN, April 26 (Reuters) – A small propeller airplane crashed into a group of people at an air show near the eastern German town of Eisenach on Saturday, killing a 45-year-old woman and injuring 10 others, police said.
“A small airplane taking off came off the runway and rolled into a group of people,” a police spokeswoman said. The accident happened at the Kindel air field near Eisenach, south of Berlin.
She said three people were seriously injured and seven others, including two children aged nine and 14, suffered less serious injuries. The spokeswoman said it was not known what caused the crash.
German television network ZDF reported the plane had come to a halt in a children’s carousel near the end of the runway. It said the pilot was injured in the crash and had been pinned in the cockpit.
The network said the bright yellow plane was formerly used for crop dusting.
German media said it was a Z-37, a Czech-made single seat plane. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; writing by Erik Kirschbaum; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Posted by Flightline UK on 24/04/2008 under Museums |
The Imperial War Museum Duxford was recognised last night at the National Enjoy England Awards for Excellence awards ceremony, which was held at St George’s Hall, Liverpool. The Museum scooped Gold in the prestigious Large Visitor Attraction of the Year award category, facing stiff competition from other large attractions from across the country.
Says Richard Ashton, Director of IWM Duxford, “I am absolutely delighted that we have won the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award. We are constantly striving to enhance the visitor experience at Duxford as well as showcase, to the best of our ability, the wonderful and amazing collection in our care. To be recognised in this way for our commitment is a great honour and a testament to the hard work and dedication of my team – the staff, volunteers and partners at Duxford who do so much to make any visit to the Museum a memorable and enjoyable experience.”
The Imperial War Museum Duxford was one of three finalists in the Large Visitor Attraction category and was up against the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London for the coveted title. The awards showcase the rising quality and broad range of award-winning tourism business in England, as well as recognising a number of individuals who have been recognised for their outstanding service and contribution to English tourism.
All of the finalists demonstrated excellence against strict criteria such as service and customer care and were selected from over 100 regional winners submitted by England’s 9 regional tourism partners by a judging panel. One of the judges – Brian Richardson, Executive Secretary of The Caravan Club, commented “Each year, we are faced with an even tougher challenge as standards continue to improve. What sets these awards apart is the fact that all the regional winners are assessed anonymously by independent inspectors according to a strict criteria of excellence and we feel that the results are an honest reflection of the very best that England has to offer.”
The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, now in their 19th year, are widely known as the “tourism Oscars” and recognise the crème de la crème of domestic tourism. They promote healthy industry competition and high standards, helping to ensure England’s place as a world-class destination.
The Imperial War Museum Duxford is open daily from 10.00 am and located just south of Cambridge at Junction 10 of the M11. Ample free parking is available. Admission is FREE for Children under 16, £16.00 for Adults, £12.80 for Senior Citizens and Students, and £9.60 for Concessions. For more details visit the Duxford website www.iwm.org.uk/duxford or call 01223 835000.
Posted by Flightline UK on 22/04/2008 under Museums |
Enthusiast Tours – An additional set of dates for the middle part of 2008 have just been released by Newark Air Museum for their popular Enthusiast Tours and these will be on the following Saturdays. Please note that the museum is open as normal on these dates
May 31, 2008
June 7, 2008
July 5, 2008
July 19, 2008
August 2, 2008
August 16, 2008
Places are only available by pre-booking and the all-inclusive entrance fee is £15 per person. Tour participants are greeted with a welcome snack before being taken in small escorted groups onto various museum aircraft including: Hastings, Shackleton, Varsity, Vulcan, Canberra & Phantom Cockpit. A special part of each tour is a behind the scenes tour to see “missing airframes” i.e. those undergoing restoration or that are in long-term storage around the site. After the tour, participants are free to wander around the extensive museum site at their leisure. Each Enthusiast Tour is limited to just 12 participants.
Web: www.newarkairmuseum.org
Posted by Flightline UK on under Warbirds and Classic Jets |
Following on from the fanstatic news that funding had been achieved for test flying, the actual tests resumed yesterday with Vulcan XH558 departing it’s home at Bruntingthorpe for a two hour test flight. The aircraft landed back at RAF Cottesmore in Rutland after completeing 80% of the tests required. A fault with the fire warning system forced the aircraft to land 15 minutes earlier than planned but the flight still represents a massive achievement and important step in getting this fantastic aircraft back on the display circuit. CEO of VTST Dr. Robert Pleming said on the TVOC Website:-
I’m pleased to say that today’s flight was another great success for the VOC.
Despite a warning light indicating a fire in the AAPP, which forced the crew to follow the standard safety procedure of returning to the ground fifteen minutes sooner that scheduled, inspection on the ground showed no evidence of fire or any other damage.
Even with the early (very smooth) landing, eighty per cent of tests were completed, meaning we’re right on course for a compass swing tomorrow.
Well keep you posted as testing progresses.
Onward and upward.
Dr Robert Pleming
VTST CEO
Posted by Flightline UK on under Display Team News and Dates |
The Dutch F-16AM Display Dates have been released and show four UK dates during the display season at RIAT, Sunderland, RNAS Culdrose and RAF Leuchars:-
| May |
| 23rd |
Soesterberg (Netherlands) |
| 25th |
Practica
di Mare (Italy) |
27th-1st
June |
ILA
Berlin (Germany) |
| June |
| 8th |
Karup
(Denmark) |
| 13th |
Leeuwarden
(Netherlands) |
| 14th-15th |
Bodo
(Norway) |
| 20th-21st |
Leeuwarden
(Netherlands) |
|
29th
|
Landivisiau
(France)
|
| July |
| 5th-7th |
Florennes (Belgium) |
| 9th-14th |
RIAT,
RAF Fairford |
| 20th |
Sanicole
(Belgium) |
| 26th-27th |
Sunderland
|
| 28th |
RNAS
Culdrose |
| August |
| 8th |
Vlissingen (Netherlands) |
| 16-17th |
Kecskemet (Hungary) |
| September |
| 13th |
RAF
Leuchars |
| 20th |
Ostrava
(Czech Republic) |
| October |
| 2nd-3rd |
Volkel
(Netherlands) |
| 30th-31st |
Woensdrecht (Netherlands) |
| November |
|
8th-9th
|
Nellis
AFB (USA)
|
Posted by Flightline UK on 07/04/2008 under Red Bull Air Race |
The Red Bull Air Race World Series 2008 starts in Abu Dhabi on 10th and 11th April with the first of 10 international races which will see 12 of the worlds top pilots competing in what is expected to be the most exciting season yet. After the closest finish in sporting history last season, American Mike Mangold will be back to defend his championship title against Brit Paul Bonhomme in what has now become a truly global motorsport.
The United Arab Emirates city is the traditional start for the Red Bull Air Race World Series, and for its fourth consecutive race, a unique track will be set up over the turquoise waters of the Arabian Gulf next to the famous Corniche stretch. As at all races, spectators will enjoy amazing views of the action enabling them to really appreciate the extraordinary speed, skill and courage of these incredible sportsmen.
Racing just metres above the sea, the pilots will navigate 20 metre high inflatable pylons called Air Gates, flying at speeds reaching 400 km/h and pulling up to 10 g.
This years opening race track will be different to previous years. For the first time ever, two separate Chicanes will be incorporated and to make it even more challenging, the pilots will have to constantly adjust to the wind conditions in Abu Dhabi which are notoriously unpredictable.
In 2007, four million spectators attended the 10 races held worldwide and over 400 million watched the Red Bull Air Race World Series on television.
After the drama of last season where the World Champion was only decided at the final race, the 2008 pilots, including newcomer Glen Dell from South Africa, have been working hard on their planes and strategies in preparation for this years competition.
The Red Bull Air Race takes place in close partnership with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The picturesque blue skies and dramatic Abu Dhabi shoreline will provide a spectacular backdrop for the first round of the international motor sports championship which will be one of the Middle Easts most breathtaking events of the year.
Qualifying takes place on Thursday 10th April followed by Race Day on Friday 11th April.
Posted by Flightline UK on 03/04/2008 under Army Air Corps, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Seaside Shows |
The UK’s number one resort is masterminding the country’s largest ever celebration of HM forces veterans.
Blackpool is busy planning numerous high profile events for not only the official National Veterans’ Day on Friday 27 June 2008, but for a nine-day long event that will involve the whole town and draw in visitors from all over the UK.
Highlights of the festivities, which run 21-29 June 2008, will include a night time parachute drop onto the beach, military land, sea and air displays, the opportunity to get up close to vintage vehicles, veterans’ badge presentations, an evening parade and events for families and school groups.
The event aims to bring together veterans of all ages, backgrounds and experiences.
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June 2008 will see land, sea and air military displays and exhibitions transform the promenade near North Pier with a buzz of activity. Take a closer look at the trades and equipment used by the Armed Forces and experience a Royal Marine beach landing. Enjoy a nostalgic journey back in time as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flights’ vintage WWII flying machines – Hurricane, Spitfire and Dakota – soar through the air.
The RAF Falcons’ parachute display team will be dropping in over the weekend to say hello from 12,000 feet and helicopter search and rescue teams will demonstrate their vital skills. Also showcased will be the agile Hawk Jet. In level-flying, this plane approaches the speed of sound. Other planes to be spotted over the weekend include the Tucano and Tutor training aircraft.
Activities planned for National Veterans’ Day, on Friday 27 June 2008, include a veterans’ parade through the town, followed by a spectacular illuminated beach-landing by the Red Devils parachute display team, who are serving military from the Parachute Regiment. The finale will include a massive firework display.
The Veterans’ Badge Challenge, taking place throughout the nine-day event will see veterans young and old collecting their badges in unusual and daring ways. This will demonstrate the transferable skills learned in the forces, including diving, climbing and abseiling. On National Veterans’ Day itself, a young veteran will make a daring dive into the shark tank at Blackpool’s Sealife Centre to claim his badge
All ex-Service personnel are entitled to apply for the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge and many veterans from all over the country will be presented with theirs on Veterans’ Day in Blackpool. The Veterans’ Badge was established in 2004 and over 550,000 have been issued to date.
A Gala Dinner on Wednesday 25th June 2008 at the stunning Empress Ballroom welcomes veterans and their friends and families to a five-course meal, including entertainment from the Lancashire Royal Artillery Band and post-dinner cabaret. Early booking is recommended and tickets are available at £16 a head on T: 01253 299 277.
Sunday 29 June 2008 is Sporting Sunday and will feature the Veterans’ Golf Tournament and Veterans’ Cricket Match, both in the town’s Stanley Park. The golf tournament will feature intergenerational teams, one of which must be a veteran, and the cricket, which runs alongside a family fun day and afternoon tea, will pit veterans of all ages against currently serving forces. To take part in the golf, contact Paul on T: 01253 478 435 or paul.latham@blackpool.gov.uk and the cricket, Julian on M: 07900 086 761.
Free activities for schools throughout the event include tree planting in memory of conflicts, a schools’ Veterans’ Day tribute, schools’ visits by veterans and a war time cinema experience, featuring archive news footage of children being fitted for gas masks, plus a light-hearted Laurel and Hardy film.
Blackpool is no newcomer to hosting veterans’ events and pioneered the country’s first festivities in 2005. It has run its own Veterans’ Week every year since then, as well as being a favourite resort for veterans’ get-togethers since WWII.
The third annual National Veterans’ Day is a chance for the nation to recognise the contribution made by veterans of all ages in conflicts both past and present.
A large number of Veterans’ Day events, ranging in size, will be taking place across the UK during the summer, although Blackpool’s contribution will be the largest and will take the national focus. Events are being organised by Blackpool Council and the Fylde Ex-Service Liaison Committee.
The Ministry of Defence has pledged to provide £25,000 towards the cost of Blackpool’s celebrations, which are supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). In June 2007 funding of £3.5 million was been approved by the NWDA to support a programme of signature events in Blackpool over a three year period.
Derek Twigg, Under Secretary of State for Defence and Veterans Minister, said: “Veterans are of all ages with a variety of different backgrounds, and they all deserve our recognition. Not only have they honoured their commitment to defend our country’s interests in Service, they have also used their skills and experiences to enrich their local communities.
“With the establishment of an annual Veterans Day, each year June 27 is our chance to recognise the achievements of those veterans who live amongst us.”
Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Robert Wynne, said: “Blackpool is absolutely delighted to have been chosen as the host for National Veterans Day 2008, it’s a great honour for the town. “Blackpool has many historical links with the Armed Forces and has a special place in the hearts of many veterans. Every year we welcome a large number of Ex-Service Associations into the resort for their annual reunions.”
“We have been holding an annual Veterans Week here in Blackpool since 2005, and plans are already well underway to make this year’s celebration even more special.”
Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the NWDA, said: “Blackpool is putting an enormous amount of effort into ensuring veterans and other visitors thoroughly enjoy National Veterans Day and the week’s festivities. The NWDA was delighted when Blackpool was announced as host of the celebrations and these exciting plans demonstrate the commitment the town has to creating a successful event.”
“Major events such as this are hugely important, both in terms of economic impact and in promoting Blackpool as a year-round resort.
Regular updates on events will be posted at www.veteransweek.co.uk, where you can also sign up for a newsletter or alternatively call 01253 478 2222
