Posted by Flightline UK on 26/10/2010 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events, Museums | 
Imperial War Museum Duxford is delighted to announce that a record number of visitors – over 96,000 – attended the museum’s air shows in 2010. This compares favourably with total air show visitors of 76,444 in 2009.
In a superb year that commemorated not only the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain but also the 65th anniversary of B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B, visitors flocked to IWM Duxford to celebrate the iconic aircraft of the Second World War and to honour the bravery of the men that flew them.
Over 11,000 visitors saw IWM Duxford’s Battle of Britain commemorations get off to a flying start at the Spring Air Show on Sunday 16 May. Demonstrating the breadth and range of aircraft flown by the Royal Air Force, the Spring Air Show presented aircraft from the RAF’s inception to the present day.
On a hot and sunny Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July, Flying Legends welcomed over 27,000 visitors who experienced the glorious sight of more than 50 classic warbirds, from across the globe, performing a number of stunning displays.
The Battle of Britain Air Show on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September was the highlight of a remarkable year of 70th anniversary commemorative events. 44,000 visitors attended to pay their respects to the ‘few’ and the aircraft they flew.
In an unforgettable flying display that included appearances by the Red Arrows and the Patrouille de France, the highlight was undoubtedly the rare sight of 16 Spitfires in formation over their spiritual home.
This recreation of the summer of 1940 at RAF Duxford, combined with a minute’s silence to honour those who gave their lives in combat, produced an awe-inspiring moment which will remain a talking point of the Duxford air show season for years to come.
IWM Duxford’s 2010 air show season concluded with the Autumn Air Show, which saw 12,668 visitors celebrate the 65th birthday of B-17 Flying Fortress Sally B. A celebratory programme of American aviation saw visitors enjoy the sight of a number of iconic US aircraft.
Richard Ashton, Director, Imperial War Museum Duxford, said, “I am delighted that this year’s air show season enticed so many visitors to IWM Duxford. I’m particularly proud of this year’s programme of events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain and I’m delighted that so many visitors joined with us in those commemorations. We now look forward to next year’s air show season and hope that visitors will return to enjoy another fantastic programme of events in 2011.”
While the air show season has now concluded for 2010, plans are already in place for the 2011 events programme.
Imperial War Museum Duxford is pleased to announce dates for the 2011 air show season:
- Spring Air Show – Sunday 22 May 2011
- Flying Legends – Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 July 2011
- The Duxford Air Show – Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September 2011
- Autumn Air Show – Sunday 16 October 2011
Further information regarding themes and content for each air show will be released in due course.
Posted by Flightline UK on 25/10/2010 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events |
Having successfully established itself as a leading event in the region and the UK, the Bournemouth Air Festival has rightly won its place as a finalist at the 2010/11 South West Tourism Excellence Awards.
Taking place Monday 15th November 2010, at the Riviera International Conference Centre Torquay, Devon, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards will be presented to 15 category winners, with all Gold winners entered in to the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence with the prospect of winning nationally in April 2011.
Jon Weaver Air Festival Director said; “The awards celebrate ‘the best in the South West’ and we’re delighted to be chosen. After an extensive selection and judging process, being announced as a finalist, in the Tourism Event category, is a credit to every single person who has been involved.”
This year, the Dorset region has done particularly well with more than ten finalists across 7 categories. Finalists include RNLI Lifeboat Marketing Team for ‘Outstanding Customer Service’, Go Ape (with centres across the South West region) for ‘Best Tourism Experience and Activity’ and two finalists in ‘Taste of the South West’, Moreton Tearooms in Dorchester and The Eastbury Hotel, Sherborne.
Posted by Flightline UK on 19/10/2010 under Museums |
Remembrance Sunday at Imperial War Museum Duxford
Sunday 14 November 2010 Free admission to all
On Remembrance Sunday, Imperial War Museum Duxford will be holding a special service of remembrance. Admission to the Museum is free for all on this day and we very much hope that people will take this opportunity to explore IWM Duxford on the day when members of the Armed Forces, who have lost their lives in active service, are remembered. At 11.00am, the two-minute silence will be observed across the Museum. IWM Duxford’s Department for Learning will be hosting remembrance-themed family activities in AirSpace from 10.00am to 2.30pm. Families can read about the story of the poppy and why it has become synonymous with remembrance since the end of the First World War. Children can make their own poppies and wear them as a symbol of remembrance or add them to the Flanders Field frieze. There will be opportunities for families to handle a range of wartime artefacts and, by handling uniforms and personal kit from the collection, to compare and contrast how the experience of the Second World War soldier differed from that of a modern-day soldier. Veterans of the Royal Anglian Regiment from a range of military conflicts will be talking to visitors in Land Warfare from 11.30am to 3.30pm. A talk by the UK National Inventory of War Memorials will be held in the Marshall Auditorium in the morning, while extracts from the ‘Duxford – the Second World War Years’ DVD will be shown in the auditorium during the afternoon. The Remembrance Service will commence at 12.30pm and will be preceded by a marching display featuring Sawston Youth Group Band with local air cadets. The Band of the Royal Anglian Regiment will also be performing. There will be standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and the Burma Star Association. Join us at historic Imperial War Museum Duxford to remember those who gave their lives, in conflicts past and present, to ensure that the world continues to enjoy the freedom that it does today.
Sunday 14 November 2010
Free admission to all
On Remembrance Sunday, Imperial War Museum Duxford will be holding a special service of remembrance.
Admission to the Museum is free for all on this day and we very much hope that people will take this opportunity to explore IWM Duxford on the day when members of the Armed Forces, who have lost their lives in active service, are remembered.
At 11.00am, the two-minute silence will be observed across the Museum.
IWM Duxford’s Department for Learning will be hosting remembrance-themed family activities in AirSpace from 10.00am to 2.30pm.
Families can read about the story of the poppy and why it has become synonymous with remembrance since the end of the First World War.
Children can make their own poppies and wear them as a symbol of remembrance or add them to the Flanders Field frieze.
There will be opportunities for families to handle a range of wartime artefacts and, by handling uniforms and personal kit from the collection, to compare and contrast how the experience of the Second World War soldier differed from that of a modern-day soldier.
Veterans of the Royal Anglian Regiment from a range of military conflicts will be talking to visitors in Land Warfare from 11.30am to 3.30pm.
A talk by the UK National Inventory of War Memorials will be held in the Marshall Auditorium in the morning, while extracts from the ‘Duxford * the Second World War Years’ DVD will be shown in the auditorium during the afternoon.
The Remembrance Service will commence at 12.30pm and will be preceded by a marching display featuring Sawston Youth Group Band with local air cadets. The Band of the Royal Anglian Regiment will also be performing.
There will be standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and the Burma Star Association.
Join us at historic Imperial War Museum Duxford to remember those who gave their lives, in conflicts past and present, to ensure that the world continues to enjoy the freedom that it does today.
Posted by Flightline UK on 10/10/2010 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events, Warbirds and Classic Jets |
Imperial War Museum Duxford have announced their 2011 air show calendar at today’s Autumn Air Show.
Duxford Spring Air Show – Sunday 22nd May
Flying Legends 2011 – Saturday 9th – Sunday 10th July
Duxford Air Show – Saturday 3rd – Sunday 4th September
Duxford Autumn Air Show – 16th October
Posted by Flightline UK on 08/10/2010 under Flightline UK Articles, Flightline UK Websites |
Flightline UK is now compiling the 2011 Airshow Calendar. Once again we will have a very detailed calendar covering all UK air show dates that we are aware of with short descriptions of each event, website links and a postcode for car SAT NAV systems.
For 2011, we have also introduced a European Calendar for the first time as more and more continental events are appearing in our reviews, plus clashes between UK and European events can be just as difficult for organisers and enthusiasts alike. Where possible each entry is linked to each shows official website.
To make the Flightline UK Airshow Calendars the best on the internet, we need your help. If you know of or run an event that is missing from the calendars, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Adding an event is completly free! (We welcome extra details such as participation/attractions for the UK Airshow Calendar too!)
Posted by Flightline UK on 07/10/2010 under Civilian Organised Airshows and Trade Events |
A new format of an Open House Air Day at Biggin Hill Airport is to replace the traditional International Air Fair with a date set for the first event on Saturday 10th September 2011.
The change will modernise the purpose and performance of the annual air show to reflect the emerging role of Biggin Hill as a Business & General Aviation Aerospace Centre with an increasingly global reach. A special Youth Day activity is also planned, linking with the projected Aerospace Academy and focussing on the range of new jobs available with the growing number of specialist companies based at the airport.
The world-renowned heritage of RAF Biggin Hill will be fully recognised and symbolised with displays by WWII aircraft and appropriate military participation. The outline programme, still in the early planning stages, will incorporate the best of 21st century aviation by putting the daily life of the airport on show balanced with music, heritage flying and special performances by the flying Services. The occasion will be fully open to the public.
In the longer term, airport management are planning the establishment of a WWII Heritage Centre alongside the 1940 blast pens that provided protection for Hurricane and Spitfire fighters when the airfield was under enemy attack. An original WWII pilot’s crew room at the site is to be refurbished with the help of RAF volunteers and this, together with other historic items, is planned for launch in September 2012 at the Open House Air Day that will follow the London Olympics of that year.
Air Days at Biggin Hill will be managed by the airport team with external contractors providing specialist services such as public enclosure facilities and traffic management.
Andrew Walters, Chairman of Biggin Hill Airport, says that the new format will enable a more direct relationship with the local community on an annual basis while at the same time sustaining the valued heritage of RAF Biggin Hill that is known and recognised around the world.
“Jock Maitland, his son Jim and Colin Hitchins in more recent years, have promoted and presided over a magnificent air show for almost half a century. But now is time for change, putting the community first and giving us the opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to them” he says.
An Open House Air Day will enhance the fellowship of companies working at the airport and provide an opportunity for them to project to the public. It is also planned to attract young people to the airport as a source of recruitment for worthwhile careers in the exciting and rewarding business of aviation” Mr Walters adds.
Detailed arrangements for the first of the new series of Air Days, now set for September 2011, will be worked up during this autumn and further announcements made as plans develop.
Posted by Flightline UK on 04/10/2010 under Aerobatics and Competitions, Display Team News and Dates |
Translated from AFP
Local officials have confirmed that the 2009 world aerobatic champion, Renaud Ecalle, was killed on Sunday in Southern France following a plane crash along with his wife and their two children.
Renauld and his family were flying a Jodel DR-1050. Aircraft wreckage was found on Monday to the northwest of the city of Lodève after the aircraft went missing at 1730 GMT on Sunday evening when air traffic controllers at Montpellier lost contact with it.
Renaud Ecalle was returning from an airshow in Jonzac to his base at Salon-de-Provence, where he had conducted an aerobatic demonstration,
The causes of the accident is not known, but the Herault area where the plane crashed was on a weather alert during Sunday due to forecast heavy rainfall and gusty winds.
Renauld was a pilot with ”L’equipe Voltiage” of the French Air Force and former fighter pilot on Mirage F1. Renaud Ecalle was crowned world champion aerobatic champion in 2009 at Silverstone and was also European champion in 2010.
