Posted by Flightline UK on 29/10/2008 under Seaside Shows | 
From Echo News:-
Southend Airshow is tired and needs a major rethink, local businesses have told Southend Council.
A report to senior councillors by tourism chiefs Anita Thornberry and Scott Dolling suggests such a revamp would lead to next year’s show being scaled down.
The move would tie in with the current thinking at the Civic Centre, which favours a series of smaller events throughout the year, along the lines of this August’s water festival.
The report suggests the new-look airshow should be rechristened the Festival of the Air The report was published the day after it was revealed Maxim’s Casino had dropped its sponsorship for the airshow.
This year’s show was hit hard by poor weather and led the council to ask local businesses about its future. Many said the event had become stale. Other comments included: l The event was too crowded to be enjoyable for visitors l Bad weather meant potential visitors no longer looked forward to the event so much l Low attendances meant local businesses made less money from the airshow l Residents had concerns about rubbish left behind by spectators l There were worries about over the environmental impact of an event which revolved around aircraft.
John Lamb, council deputy leader, said the end of the casino’s sponsorship presented an opportunity to reinvent the town’s events programme as a “Feast of Festivals”.
He added: “We aim to work in partnership with the private sector, the community and others to establish an events working party to help us jointly develop a dynamic events strategy.”
The official report also refers to the fact in the past the council has channelled “a hugely disproportionate resource” into the airshow.
“For two days of the actual event, there are nine months of preparation involved, which include many departments of the council,” it adds.
“Rather than focus on one event of this nature, the council should consider spreading the benefits across the year and across different cultural opportunities.”
Fewer civilian planes should be included in the flying schedule next year, the report suggests, as many visitors find them uninteresting.
Military fast jets, parachute display teams and the Red Arrows would still be a fixture, however.
The Royal Navy could also be invited to get move involved, with warships being docked at the end of the pier when suitable berths are available.
Posted by Flightline UK on 14/10/2008 under Red Bull Air Race |
Sunny Perth in Western Australia will host the final showdown of the Red Bull Air Race World Championship on the 1st and 2nd November where the 2008 title will be decided between Austria’s Hannes Arch and Britain’s Paul Bonhomme.
Over 300,000 people are expected to flock to the banks of Perth’s Swan River for the third year running to watch the eighth and final race of this year’s Championship. The Red Bull Air Race runway will be set up at Langley Park, which was used as Perth’s official airport back in the 1920’s. Its proximity to the Swan River will give the pilots a fantastic view of the race track from their hangars.
Australian Drew Searle, Aviation Expert at the Perth Red Bull Air Race believes that some subtle changes to last year’s track design should make for interesting and unpredictable results. “We’re splitting the quadro into two knife-edge gates and adjusting the positions of some of the Air Gates,” said Searle. “This should result in a track that’s much more about pilot judgement than just pure speed. I’m fully expecting the race to be very exciting in Perth. It’s going to be a very difficult, fast, twisting and turning track which will require a refined race line. At this time of year the weather is a big player and winds are certain to affect the track. Taking all this into account, I reckon once again there could be a very interesting set of faces on the podium.”
Last year it was France’s Nicolas Ivanoff who stunned everyone with his first ever win in Perth but it was Mangold who captured the glory coming from two points behind Bonhomme to snatch the Championship in the closest final in Red Bull Air Race history. Bonhomme seemed to be on track through the first half of this season to make up for last year’s disappointment, leading the 2008 World Championship by as many as six points at the half-way point, but he was overtaken by the consistent performance of Arch who moved ahead of Bonhomme at the last race in Porto.
Arch now has a strong 9-point lead with 54 points ahead of Bonhomme in second with 45 points and Chambliss in third with 44 points. Arch just needs one point in the final race in Perth to win the title. Bonhomme can still win the title if he comes first in Perth and Arch finishes with zero points. Arch has worked hard to stomp out speculation that it is in the bag: “For me the championship is absolutely not over yet. There’s still another race and I’ll approach it like the others. After Perth I’ll see where I am.”
The Red Bull Air Race takes place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd November, with Qualifying on Saturday and the Finals on Sunday.
Posted by Flightline UK on 04/10/2008 under Seaside Shows |
Dover 2009 – Blériot Celebration – First Details Revealed of Dover’s Weekend to Remember
Dover District Council has revealed the first details of its plans for a weekend of celebrations next July to commemorate the centenary of Louis Blériot’s epic flight across the English Channel.
Throughout the weekend of 25-26 July 2009, Dover will host a prestigious international festival in celebration of Blériot’s achievement in becoming the first person to fly across the Channel, and to commemorate the pioneering age of aviation.
The weekend, which also marks the 50th anniversary of the first hovercraft crossing of the English Channel between Calais and Dover by Sir Christopher Cockerell, aims to be an event for all the family to enjoy.
Among the attractions on show will be:
- A historic recreation of Blériot’s flight across the English Channel by the distinguished Swedish pilot, Mikael Carlson, flying one of his two Blériot XI aeroplanes
- A procession of aeroplanes flying from Calais to Dover that will form part of an Air Pageant commemorating 100 years of aviation
- Participation by the Royal Air Force featuring, amongst others, the famous Red Arrows
- The transformation of the Seafront, which will be home to a number of Anglo-French and Anglo-Italian themed activities
- A firework spectacular across the harbour on the Saturday evening, courtesy of Standard Fireworks.
Dover District Council’s Leader, Cllr Paul Watkins said: “This will be a truly memorable event that will play an important part in our continuing efforts to showcase Dover, its world class heritage, its town and its port. Dover 2009 will be an occasion for local people and also visitors from far and wide to experience the rich culture and heritage of Dover, the warmth of its hospitality, its proud history with France, its long association with the Armed Forces and its role as one of Europe’s busiest gateways. We hope that everyone will join in to make Dover 2009 a memorable event.”
To make Dover 2009 a truly international event Dover District Council is working closely with colleagues in the Communauté d’Agglomération du Calaisis (CAC) to ensure that the centenary celebrations are a prestigious showcase for Dover and Calais.
Monsieur Philippe Blet, President of the CAC said: “The centenary of Louis Blériot’s epic flight across La Manche, and the exciting plans now being developed, herald a new phase of cooperation between Calais and Dover especially as we look forward together to London 2012 and the opportunities for sustained economic growth.”
