The ever-popular Bournemouth Air Festival gets bigger, better and more popular every year – it’s free family fun, so be sure to arrive at the beach early to secure a good spot! This year, it’s an incredible four-day summer extravaganza of land, sea and air entertainment.
The 2014 event takes place August 28-31, supported by Mouchel and City Fibre Gigler, includes the Red Arrows displays, a host of land, sea and air assets from the Royal Navy, Pier to Pier county show trading stalls and the return of three fantastic evenings of Night Air entertainment.
The Royal Navy will be out at sea as usual with an impressive fleet, which includes the French Navy’s FS Sagittaire alongside the RFA Argus, HMS Westminster and HMS Mersey, in the air check out the return of the Black Cats Helicopter Display Team, Royal Navy Historic Flight and Sea Kings.
On the ground will be an impressive joint Army village area, hosting the much anticipated amphibious demonstration. Celebrating the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines, there will also be unarmed combat demonstrations and the historic Beat Retreat performed by The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood.
“2014 will be the greatest ever concentration of Naval force yet seen off Bournemouth, needless to say I am keeping some surprises back,” said Royal Navy Commodore Jamie Miller.
With a full allocation of RAF display aircraft, the Red Arrows will fly on ALL 4 days of the Festival, a first for the event, and the mighty Typhoon Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Tutor, Tucano, RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team and incredible Battle of Britain Memorial Flight also bring the nostalgia of wartime Britain to the beach.
RAF Wing Commander Alf Garnett said: “The Air Festival is a high priority event for the RAF, in terms of audience numbers it’s perfect for showcasing our aircraft and offers a first class arena for engaging with the public and showing them what we do for them on a daily basis.”
The onshore interactive Forces village areas, the Royal Navy at the heart of the Festival with the Army and Royal Marines, and the RAF located in the Waterfront at Pier Approach area, will give Festival goers a chance to find out more about each Force as well as talk to those with first-hand experience, check out displays, speak to the Careers teams, charities and have a chance to try out military equipment.
Jon Weaver, Air Festival Director added: “For us as a Festival, the organisers, teams of people behind the event and the hundreds of thousands of people who attend, it really shows how far we have come to have such superb Royal Navy and RAF support.
“This is our seventh Air Festival … we hope this will keep us on top and news still to come, as we get closer to the event, will only get better!”
The ever-popular Night Air programme is supported by the Patrons 100 Club members and their Ambassador, local hotelier David Bailey. The Wave105 Corona music stage at Boscombe Pier is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until 10pm, with the line up soon to be announced.
Top tip – bring a portable radio so you can listen to the commentary and identify each plane as they fly over.
For more information visit bournemouthair.co.uk, follow the Festival Facebook page bournemouthairfestival or follow the team on Twitter @bmthairfest.