Wings & Wheels is thrilled to announce that visitors to the airshow will get an exclusive look at the Royal Navy’s new helicopter, the Maritime Wildcat Attack Helicopter, as it performs a flypast on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
The new £26million Wildcat combat helicopter was unveiled in July 2012 and will be deployed to fight the Taliban, pirates, drug-smugglers and terrorists. The state-of-the-art multi-role chopper – so powerful it can blow a submarine out of the water – will play a vital role in military operations for the Royal Navy and Army from 2014.
The sophisticated aircraft’s primary task will be to protect soldiers on the battlefield and the Royal Navy’s fleet around the world. It is also designed to carry out a raft of other missions including cargo transport, casualty evacuation, troop carrying, surveillance and search and rescue.
Jamie McAllister, Event Director comments: “As one of the only UK airshows debuting the new Wildcat helicopter it’s a real coup for Wings & Wheels and our visitors. We have the strongest aviation line-up on the events calendar with more to announce over the coming months.”
Visitors to Wings & Wheels can also enjoy the world famous Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Typhoon, Team Breitling Wingwalkers and a host of other modern and historic aircraft during the 5 hour flying displays. For four and two wheeled fans, supercars and classic and vintage icons put on an awe inspiring display of power and speed on the Top Gear track in a 2 hour auto spectacular from Brooklands Museum.
The 9th annual Wings & Wheels will be held over the August Bank holiday weekend; Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th August 2013, at Dunsfold Park near Guildford, Surrey, and is open to spectators from 09:00 until 18:00.
Tickets start from £20 for adults, £45 for a family (2 adults and 3 children aged 5 – 15yrs), £6 for children aged between 5 and 15yrs and under 5s are free. Hospitality packages start from £65 per person, weekend passes, grandstand tickets and camping are also available. For more information visit www.wingsandwheels.net or to book standard tickets call 08712 305 572.
Wings & Wheels is promoted by Dunsfold Park Limited with proceeds going to nominated charities: Brooklands Museum Trust and Help for Heroes.
AIRSHOW NEWS: RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day wins a Bronze Award at the 2013 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence Ceremony
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton International Air Day has won a Bronze Award in the Tourism Experience of the Year category at the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2013 Ceremony.
The Bronze Award is a great achievement and recognises Excellence in Tourism in England. RNAS Yeovilton Commanding Officer and commercial partners, AHA Events Ltd were presented with their Bronze Award at a glittering Awards Ceremony which was held on 20 May 2013 at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Old Trafford, Manchester.
Commenting on the Award James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive said “The quality of the 320 applications we received this year was extremely high. Against such tough competition winning a Bronze Award is a considerable achievement. RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day is now ranked as one of the top three businesses in their category for excellence in England achieving one of the highest accolades which VisitEngland can bestow. I warmly congratulate them”.
RNAS Yeovilton received their award from Penelope Viscountess Cobham, Chair of VisitEngland.
Speaking on behalf of the Air Day team, Commanding Officer Jock Alexander said “Having received Gold at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards the recognition of a Bronze award by VisitEngland is a fantastic achievement and gives us the chance to proudly fly the flag for Somerset and the UK airshow scene. My team at RNAS Yeovilton and our commercial partners, AHA Events have worked hard during a particularly busy operational period to deliver one of the most popular military air shows in the country. Our Air Day is a fantastic family day out and gives us the chance to showcase military air capability past, present and future alongside many other exhibitions and interactive displays”.
AIRSHOW NEWS: Wildcat and Swordfish Lead Air Day’s All-Star Flypasts
Innovation and heritage will come together like never before when the Royal Navy’s cutting-edge Wildcat maritime attack helicopter flies alongside the historic Swordfish torpedo bomber at this year’s RNAS Yeovilton Air Day on 13 July. The pairing makes up just one of the spectacular and memorable flypasts being staged within Air Day’s all-action flying display.
Now being evaluated at RNAS Yeovilton both by the Royal Navy’s 700W Naval Air Squadron and the Army Air Corps’ Wildcat Fielding Team, the AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat is a highly-modified version of the well-established and very successful Westland Lynx, featuring upgraded engines, a brand new tail, avionics enhancements and more. 28 Wildcats are due to enter service in 2015 – almost 80 years after the Fairey Swordfish joined the Royal Navy in 1936. Nearly eight decades of naval might will thus be represented when the Wildcat and the Swordfish unite, while the Army’s own heritage will be showcased when their Wildcat variant flies past with its direct predecessor in Army Air Corps service – the Lynx AH9.
Owned and operated by the Royal Navy Historic Flight, the Fairey Swordfish is best known for its attacks on the German battleship Bismarck and the Italian fleet in Taranto Harbour and especially for its long involvement in the Battle of the Atlantic, which reached peak intensity levels in May 1943: 70 years ago. Other historic naval aircraft taking part in Air Day will include at least one of the Flight’s Hawker Sea Furies, along with Kennet Aviation’s Douglas Skyraider and its Supermarine Seafire – the navalised version of the Spitfire. Currently at the end of a major engineering programme, if the Historic Flight’s Sea Fury FB.11 is ready in time, it will link up with the Flight’s Sea Fury T.20, the Skyraider and the Seafire to create a powerful naval quartet.
Also participating in Air Day 2013 is the RAF’s Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Flight’s signature three-ship Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane flypast never fails to evoke a deep sense of nostalgia among Air Day’s visitors and we’re especially pleased to have the Lancaster involved, amidst this year’s Dambusters 70th anniversary celebrations.
Air Day 2013′s other highlights include sensational debuts from the Czech Air Force Gripen and Swiss Air Force Hornet, yet more fast jet action from the RAF Typhoon and Belgian Air Force F-16, the RAF Red Arrows and the explosive Commando Assault finale.
Throughout the day there will be plenty of family attractions including performances from the Royal Marines Band and the Military Wives Choir Yeovilton, a fairground, vehicle exhibition, service demonstrations, field gun competition, picnic areas, helicopter pleasure flights, simulator rides, trade stands and much, much more.
Two of the world’s best fast jet displays will make their Air Day debuts at RNAS Yeovilton on 13 July 2013. Not currently scheduled to perform at any other UK airshows this year, the Swiss Air Force F/A-18C Hornet and the Czech Air Force JAS-39 Gripen lead an all-star fast jet cast that also features the RAF Typhoon FGR4 and the Belgian Air Component F-16AM.
The Hornet’s involvement marks a welcome return by the Swiss Air Force, whose Patrouille Suisse team were a huge attraction at Air Day 2007. Equipped with folding wings and a reinforced undercarriage, the twin-engined, twin-tailed Hornet is a naval fighter through-and-through but also equips several land-based air arms including the Swiss Air Force. This powerful aircraft is capable of speeds of Mach 1.8 and climb at a staggering rate of 50,000 feet a minute. Drawing on these qualities, Captain Bernhard “Beni” Kocher’s routine will blend noise, power and agility into an awesome demonstration, including several spectacular and extremely photogenic flare releases.
The Czech Air Force’s Gripens are all ex-Swedish Air Force aircraft leased from Sweden. A lightweight, singled-engined multirole design, the Gripen is the latest addition to a long line of Swedish fighter excellence that also included the Draken and the Viggen. Extremely manoeuvrable, it too has a top speed of Mach 1.8 and a 50,000 foot rate-of-climb. In the hands of its pilot, the Czech Air Force Gripen will demonstrate its darting speed and supreme manoeuvrability.
Other fast jets displaying at Air Day will include the RAF’s cutting-edge Typhoon and the Belgian Air Component’s F-16. With an all-new 2013 routine, the RAF Typhoon is returning to Air Day for the first time in several years while the Belgian F-16 is a regular and always-impressive participant, especially when firing flares into the Somerset sky. An additional attraction in Air Day’s static display will be the transport aircraft used to bring some of these aircraft’s support crew and equipment to the show. These will include a Belgian Air Component C-130H Hercules and a Czech Air Force EADS CASA C-295, neither have which have participated in Air Day before.
Among Air Day 2013′s other highlights are Avro Vulcan B2 XH558, the Czech Air Force’s awesome Mil Mi-24 Hind attack helicopter, the Royal Navy’s brand-new Wildcat maritime helicopter and many items linked to the show’s ‘Teamwork’ theme, including the RAF Red Arrows, the Royal Jordanian Falcons and the spine-tingling Commando Assault finale.
Throughout the day there will be plenty of family attractions including performances from the Royal Marines Band and the Military Wives Choir Yeovilton, a fairground, vehicle exhibition, service demonstrations, field gun competition, picnic areas, helicopter pleasure flights, simulator rides, trade stands and much, much more.
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton International Air Day has been named as a finalist in the Tourism Experience of the Year category of the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2013.
As a finalist RNAS Yeovilton Air Day now goes forward to the glittering Awards Ceremony which is being held on 20 May 2013 at The Point, Lancashire County Cricket Club, Old Trafford, Manchester.
RNAS Yeovilton and commercial partners AHA Events will have to wait until then to find out which award their event will receive. All finalists are guaranteed to receive either a Gold, Silver, Bronze or Highly Commended Award.
Commenting on the finalists James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive said “I would like to congratulate all those nominated as VisitEngland Awards for Excellence finalists this year. We received 320 applications and the quality of submissions was higher than ever. It is therefore no small achievement for RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day to become a finalist and justifiably take credit and pride in earning a coveted place in the top five in their category in England. I wish everyone all the best for the final in May”.
The Executive Officer of RNAS Yeovilton, Commander Terry Tyack said “Having received Gold at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards it is excellent news to be nominated for the National award. This is our opportunity to give something back to the community and demonstrate our continued commitment to organising and supporting one of the most popular military air shows in the country. Our Air Day is a fantastic family day out and gives us the chance to showcase military air capability past, present and future alongside many other exhibitions and interactive displays. At RNAS Yeovilton we appreciate the opportunity to be considered for this prestigious award”.
AIRSHOW NEWS: Royal Navy Black Cats Display Dates 2012
The Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display Team have published their 2012 display dates on their Facebook page. They are as follows:
26 – 27 May Southend Air Festival
8 Jun Dawlish Air Show
17 Jun RAF Cosford Air Show (Solo Display)
23 Jun RNAS Yeovilton Air Day
30 Jun – 1 Jul RAF Waddington Air Show
20 – 22 Jul Sunderland Air Show
1 Aug Weymouth Bay Festival
25 – 26 Aug Chris Evans’ CarFest
20 – 31 Aug Dartmouth Regatta
31 Aug – 2 Sep Bournemouth Air Festival
8 – 9 Sep Southport Air Show
12 – 14 Sep Guernsey & Jersey Air Shows
14 Oct Duxford Autumn Air Show
Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has announced that it will not be holding its annual Air Day in 2012. Planned resurfacing works to the Culdrose runway leave the base unable to host large numbers of visiting aircraft during the summer. This factor, combined with Operational commitments across the globe and at home with the 2012 Olympics, means it will not be feasible for the base to man the event. The Air Day Team has however already started to prepare for the next Air Day event, planned for the summer of 2013.
Commanding Officer of Culdrose, Captain Willie Entwisle said: “As a Military Air Station, with Squadrons supporting the Royal Navy worldwide, Operational commitments have forced the decision that it will not be possible for Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose to deliver an Air Day in 2012. This is due to several factors, but mainly the fact that from Easter to October this year we have to resurface the taxiways to our main runway. Also, during the summer, a great many of our personnel will be deployed on frontline operations across the globe and of course providing support to the London 2012 Olympic Games.”
“Air Day is a very important event in the Culdrose calendar, therefore the decision has involved much deliberation and we appreciate that many will be disappointed with this news. Our relationship with the local community is very important to us, and we hope that we will still be able to meet many local residents at the various other Cornish events that we are involved in. In the meantime, my team has started working towards developing an Air Day for the summer of 2013.”
A FREE air festival which organisers say will rival the best aviation shows in the world is being planned to take place in Portsmouth next summer.
The world’s only aerobatic wingwalking team, the Breitling Wingwalkers, Second World War Spitfire planes and an old Royal Navy Sea Vixen fighter jet are just some of the star attractions being lined up for a seven-hour extravaganza of soaring displays over Southsea Common on Saturday, August 18, 2012.
Organisers of the first-ever Portsmouth Air Festival have pledged the event will be free to the public and expect more than 50,000 people to attend.
The festival will be funded by sponsorship deals and it is hoped it can raise more than £250,000 for charitable causes including the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
The festival’s chief executive, Chichester-based businessman Steve Lawrence, told The News: ‘This will be one of the biggest things to happen in Portsmouth for quite some time.
‘The whole idea behind the air festival is to do something for Portsmouth. The company is not-for-profit – all the money we make will be put back in the business for the next year’s show and we want to make a lot of money for charity. It’s commercially driven. We’ve not asked the council for any money because we aim to cover our own costs.
‘We decided as an event it should be free and of benefit to the community. It’s about putting Portsmouth on the map.’
The full programme is being drawn up in the coming months and the organisers are meeting officials from the Civil Aviation Authority on Tuesday to confirm air space clearance on the day.
Organisers say the festival will also see Southsea Common packed with things for people to do while the aircraft zoom overhead.
There will be static aircraft displays, craft activity tents, and a festival village with food and bars. It will all end with fireworks at 11pm.
Businesses have already begun pledging financial support for the festival, including the global aircraft giant Vector Aerospace which has its UK base in Gosport.
Ken Doig, business development manager for Vector, said: ‘This will be a fantastic event for Portsmouth.
‘As a company we work with the military on a daily basis so we are always looking at ways of supporting military charities. It will also raise awareness of the aerospace industry in Portsmouth.’
Portsmouth City Council is expected to give approval soon for the common to be used. The Lord Mayor, Cllr Cheryl Buggy, said: ‘I was very pleased to learn of the plans for the air festival for August 2012 and I am pleased to add my support to those plans.’
Leading figures from the UK aviation and airshow industries met in Gloucestershire this month to launch the British Air Display Association (BADA).
The association, which announced an initial membership of 82, aims to be the focal point for developing and encouraging safe practices as well as promoting the industry to those involved in staging airshows, including display pilots, organisers, and authorities such as the Civil Aviation Authority and the Military Aviation Authority.
Held at the headquarters of the Royal International Air Tattoo in Fairford, the inaugural meeting saw the election of a committee to run the association. It comprises: Acting Chairman Ian Sheeley; Acting Vice Chairman George Bacon; Secretary Robert Windsor; Treasurer Colin Hitchins and committee members Geoff Brindle, Rod Dean, Dave Walton, John Davies, Rick Peacock-Edwards and Glen Moreman.
Ian Sheeley said: “the inaugural meeting was a great way to launch this new national association with an encouraging number of members present. The new committee provides a wealth of experience that will help BADA get off to a flying start”.
He added: “The key thing now is to maintain the momentum, and the first issue we’ll be looking at relates to airspace restrictions associated with the London Olympics next year and their effect on the airshow business – that’ll be receiving a great deal of our attention. The launch of BADA is an exciting development for the UK airshow industry and I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the committee and our members to build for the future.”
Live Twitter coverage from the Royal International Air Tattoo
Flightline UK will be tweeting live from the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford (RIAT.) The tweets can be accessed at the following web address: http://www.airshows.org.uk/2010/airshows/royal-international-air-tattoo-fairford-riat-twitter.html
Wings & Wheels is thrilled to announce that visitors to the airshow will get an exclusive look at the Royal Navy’s new helicopter, the Maritime Wildcat Attack Helicopter, as it performs a flypast on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th August at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton International Air Day has been named as a finalist in the Tourism Experience of the Year category of the prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2013.
