The largest of the RAF airshows, the Waddington International Air Show took place in relatively good weather in early July. The show featured the usual mix of RAF and international military displays as well as few select civilian acts. However, the 2009 edition of the show will probably be remembered for the Vulcan’s non-appearance in the flying displays due to paperwork issues!
It is with the Vulcan that this production starts with it’s arrival and practice displays during the Press Day the Thursday before the the show weekend. Coverage of the press day is just one of many “Access All Areas” features contained within the production. There are plenty of interviews with aircrews and important personalities at RAF Waddington. The latter includes the Air Traffic Control officers during arrivals day, the organisers in the airshow office and coverage from the Pilot’s Briefing. It’s particularly pleasing to see such detail in an airshow DVD as are the amount of interviews. Rather than just a record of the show, this DVD really tries to explore some of the different aspects of running the show and background to many of the aircraft.
Narration (which can be turned off like many other airshow DVDs) is provided by Andy Pawsey for the most part. Some of the team displays are accompanied by recordings of the actual show commentary from their respective commentators. For some of these, the sound quality is such compromised by a poor microphone, but the audio is well edited and follows the on-screen action.
The filming of the displays is particularly good, particularly given that TMG do not regularly film airshows. There’s no strobing propellors or jerky camera movements and image quality is excellent. The camera locations are very varied being on the live side airfield, crowdline and little further back capturing the showground as well as the aircraft in the air. There’s also good use of on=board cameras with the likes of the Blades and Team Guinot providing a very different view of the show.
Overall, the quality production and extensive behind the scenes filming makes this a very exciting and interesting DVD for anyone who was at Waddington, or is interested in airshows in general.
The Sunderland International Air Show is one of the biggest seaside airshows in the country. 2008’s 20th Anniversary show was wiped out by persistant sea fret but 2009 saw clear conditions on both days.
The footage starts with the Red Arrows and a brief interview with 2009 team boss Jas Hawker. Staying with the Royal Air Force, the next featured act are the RAF Falcons with some nice on-board footage from their Chinook jump and and of thier drop into Sunderland. There is also some impressive on-board footage from the Blades.
RAF displays featured well as you would expect at a major seaside venue. However there are international displays from the Dutch and Belgian F-16s. One eye-catching display is the Royal Marines Commando assault involving a Sea King HC4. The Royal Navy make an impressive contribution also displaying the Merlin HM1 and the Black Cats. The Vulcan also features well.
Like the Lowestoft DVD, this is a shorter DVD than say the Biggin Hill production at just over 30 minutes. As record for the Sunderland spectator, it’s a very good reminder of two very good days of flying.
We’ve heard from a couple of display pilots that the Northern Ireland International Airshow at Portrush, Coleraine is now back on! More news as we get it!
Eastbourne Borough Council have launched Airbourne 2010 unveiling the first details of this year’s flying displays. The full line up can be seen in our detailed preview on the main site.
The official Airbourne Launch Party took place last week at Towner, Eastbourne’s award-winning art gallery, to exclusively reveal this year’s flying programme for the international airshow, which returns to the south coast from 12-15 August.
Headlining the flying schedule confirmed for this year is a special 70-year anniversary display from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the return of crowd favourite the Red Arrows, and the impressive Eurofighter Typhoon. With other aircraft including the Hawk, Tutor, Tucano, Search and Rescue, and King Air also displaying, the flying line-up is already looking action-packed and organisers Eastbourne Borough Council are offering companies the chance to benefit from this prestigious event with sponsorship opportunities available.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Susan Morris said “A Date With Airbourne, our official launch party, was a brand new idea for this year’s event and a great opportunity for us to thank those companies who worked with us last year and network with potential new sponsors.
“Last year’s Airbourne was such a huge success with a record number of sponsors and the numbers of trade stands up by 27%. We are looking to build on that this year, and with fantastic assets already confirmed for this summer, we should be in for another spectacular year.
“We have a wide range of sponsorship packages available offering companies a great opportunity to come on board and benefit not only from the huge footfall that Airbourne receives, but also to raise their company profile by being associated with such a highly regarded event.”
Following the success of last year’s airshow which was reported to have been the most visibly busy in the event’s 17-year history, airshow organisers are again looking to work with the local business community to raise funds to stage the event.
Many local businesses from across the south east attended the Launch Party at Towner on Thursday evening last week to find out about the sponsorship packages available this year and receive an early bird discount on programme adverts.
Securing a record 25 sponsors in 2009 including TravelInsured.co.uk, Eastbourne Borough Council are again starting sponsorship packages from as little as £250 right up to a headline sponsor at £75k, with the option for companies to tailor make packages to suit their budget and needs.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, trade space and corporate hospitality available at Airbourne visit www.eastbourneairshow.com
Francois Brevot reports from the European Airshow Council Convention on Twitter that the Polish Air Force MiG-29 will return to the RAF Leuchars Airshow in 2010. The solo display has been a popular addition to the flying display in 2006 and 2009 and Poland is one of the last countries displaying the powerful Russian fighter.
The Vulcan to the Sky trust has received an anonomous donation of £458,000 securing the short term future of the project. The donation has meant the £800,000 target of funding by the end of march has been exceeded allowing work to return XH558 back to the air for the 2010 airshow season to move forward. The trust now have to collect the thousands pledged over the last few months
This year sees XH558 celebrate it’s 50th birthday. Marshalls of Cambridge will be undertaking some life extension work on the aircraft which should see it remain airworthy beyond the 2010 airshow season.
The letter from Dr Robert Pleming this morning read as follows:-
There can now be no doubt that XH558 has a guardian angel looking after her: I can now confirm some really good news that vastly changes the status of our current Appeal.
Shortly, the Results Graph on our appeal site will show a massive increase due to a fantastic confirmed donation of £458,000! The donor has asked to remain anonymous, but I can reassure you that he is fully aware of the significance of this contribution.
As the result, I have pleasure in confirming that the Board of Trustees has decided that VTST now has sufficient funding in place to go forward with the planned engineering programme, and onward to the 2010 Display Season.
We have to temper this great news with the fact that our Public Appeal has been waning compared with previous years, probably as a result of the poor economic conditions and the weariness of boom and bust cycles.
Our main drive this year will be to finally put XH558 onto a firm business footing, with many new income generation schemes: Educational Lectures, New Merchandise, Regional Sponsorship, Competitions, and of course, an ongoing Annual Appeal. We must acknowledge we will continue to need public support, but gear the appeal over the whole year.
We will now focus our campaign on the 50th Birthday Appeal, which will also be marketed through our World Record attempt for signatures on XH558’s Birthday Card, until we launch our fresh campaign in May, aimed at taking XH558 on into 2011.
Very soon, those who have pledged will be receiving their “redemption” letters. Please await their arrival before making payment, so we can accurately record details and apply Gift Aid if applicable.
Your continuing support is much appreciated by everyone who appreciates what XH558 represents and by all those who have helped XH558 over the years. She is adored and appreciated by people all over the world. She is quite simply – the one and only!
Each and every one of us owes a deep debt of gratitude to every individual who contributed, no matter how small their donation, for keeping the dream alive.
The Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter DIsplay Team have released their provisional display calendar for the 2010 airshow season. They can be found at their own website: http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2412
Our first airshow review of the year has been published today. Mike Rivett reports on the Al Ain Aerobatics Show from the heart of the UAE desert. The show saw some stunning displays from the like of the UK’s Jonathon Whalley flying the Hunter F58 “Miss Demeanour” ans South Africa’s “Goodyear Eagles.” The review can be found here.
Swansea City and County Council has decided not to stage a repeat of last year’s Wales National Airshow in 2010 but, instead, to make it a biennial event. So we look forward to a spectacular return of the event to Swansea Bay in the summer of 2011.
2010 sees 100 years since the FIRST International Flight Meeting held in Scotland, only the 2nd aviation event ever staged in the UK. Adding to that the Perth800 celebrations, a number of other important Scottish Aviation Anniversaries along with the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a 2 day aviation Spectacular is to be staged at Perth Airport to CELEBRATE in Style and pay tribute to the best of Scottish Aviation and help raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund and other charities!
Morris Leslie, ACS Flight Training and the Scottish Aero Club have teamed up with Arbroath based Squadron Prints Ltd to stage a unique event which is hoped both local and International aviators will take part and attract people from far and wide to enjoy a great weekend of ‘in flight’ entertainment. Ground and Static displays, with transport and engineering past and present as the theme, will entertain both young and old alike! Pleasure flights will also be available in the Classic Flight Collection’s DH Rapide, “Loop the Loop” their Chipmunk or “Hover in a Chopper”.
In August 1910 the FIRST Scottish International Flight Meeting was held at Lanark using aircraft like the Bleriot, the Farman and engines like the Gnome, Wright and ENV. Some 100 years later a centenary committee was re-formed in Lanark to endeavour to recreate a tribute event but the lack of facilities at Lanark made it impossible so their plans were sadly laid to rest. Gill Howie of Squadron Prints was deeply disappointed to hear that nothing would be done to mark this important anniversary so contacted Lanark. After several discussions a Centenary Event will be held on the 5th and 6th June, 2010 at Perth. 1910 saw over 230,000 people watch these Pioneers of Aviation take to the clear skies of Scotland – some 22 entrants from 7 countries took part. Gill has invited an aircraft from each of the representative countries – the UK of course, the USA, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, Italy and Peru. Each country has acknowledged the importance of the Lanark event by trying support the show, which will be staged in association with the Lanark Aviation Centenary Committee.
Sadly the skies above Perth will not be graced with the sight and sound of the Famous Bleriot aircraft as flown at Lanark but what WILL be attending the Perth Event will be the equally iconic Spitfire and Hurricane to mark the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Scotland’s Squadrons played a vital role in World War Two, 612 (City of Aberdeen) Squadron was involved in many roles and the fighter pilots from 602(City of Glasgow) Squadron and 603(City of Edinburgh) Squadron both claiming the earliest of enemy hits over the River Forth, but also taking part in the Battle of Britain. The last remaining Fighter Squadron currently serving in Scotland is 111 (F) Squadron currently based at RAF Leuchars. “Treble One” is now in its final year of operation with the mighty Tornado F3 Fighter and remains on constant stand-by 24 hours a day 7 days a week to launch a Quick Reaction Alert against any unknown aircraft. They too took part in the Battle of Britain and the Hurricane coming to Perth actually served on the squadron. A selection of aircraft portraying Scotland’s Aviation Heritage and current days operations will be on show at the event and updates will be announced on the website – http://www.perthairshow.co.uk
Trade Stalls and Hospitality Packages are also available from the website!
It was a record year for the Lowestoft Air Festival with 400,000 gathering for a very varied flying display. The weather too was very varied with excellent weather on the first day complimented by some dramatic summer storms on the final day. Unusually for a seaside based display, the show featured a number of private warbirds and classic jets as well as some interesting international military displays from France, the Netherlands and the United States.
The DVD is narrated by Lowestoft commentator Tim Calloway. Tim’s approach is somewhat different being much more like an airshow commentary than a voice-over. Seaside shows make for interesting venues for filming with some very intresting backdrops and Lowestoft is no different with the pretty promenade constrasting with the huge “Gulliver” wind turbine sat at the end of the display line.
The filming is first class with some particualrly dramatic shots of the HH-60G Nighthawk from RAF Laekenheath displaying against the lightning in the background. Sadly, there are no interviews but the film does include some good scene setting shots capturing the spirit of the event. One slight annoyance is the odd spelling mistake in the captions, particular the Glocester (sic) Meteor!
At just over half an hour, this is a rather short but sweet production -- an ideal reminder of one of the UK’s more interesting airshows.
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Eastbourne Borough Council have launched Airbourne 2010 unveiling the first details of this year’s flying displays. The full line up can be seen in our 
Our first airshow review of the year has been published today. Mike Rivett reports on the Al Ain Aerobatics Show from the heart of the UAE desert. The show saw some stunning displays from the like of the UK’s Jonathon Whalley flying the Hunter F58 “Miss Demeanour” ans South Africa’s “Goodyear Eagles.” 
2010 sees 100 years since the FIRST International Flight Meeting held in Scotland, only the 2nd aviation event ever staged in the UK. Adding to that the Perth800 celebrations, a number of other important Scottish Aviation Anniversaries along with the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain, a 2 day aviation Spectacular is to be staged at Perth Airport to CELEBRATE in Style and pay tribute to the best of Scottish Aviation and help raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund and other charities!
