Details Of Bournemouth Air Festival Released

1 April 2011, 14:21 | Updated: 1 April 2011, 14:25

The details of this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival have been released.

Since 2008, more than 2.7million people have experienced the UK's leading aviation event and this year from 18th to 21st August, local residents, holiday makers and day visitors will be encouraged to 'stay longer and see more'. This year there will be new additions to the Night Air evening programme, 1.5miles of trading between the Piers and increased support from the Armed Forces.

The Red Arrows will be making three displays Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The world-famous aerobatic team will be joined in the display programme by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (on all four days of the Festival), Hawk jet, Tucano and Tutor all ready to take to the skies.

Festival goers can also see a host of civilian aircraft, this includes The Blades, SallyB, aerobatic pilot Gerald Cooper, Breitling wingwalkers and SWIP Team twister duo.

The Royal Navy's presence is set to be bigger and better for 2011. Working jointly with the Army, expect to see more kit, more activity, more music and more people. The Royal Marine Reserve, Royal Marine Commando Display Team and Army will be conducting an amphibious assault on the beach, RFA Mounts Bay and HMS Tyne (open to visitors) will be in the bay and onshore at the joint Army and Royal Navy village area there will be more vehicles, Commando Display Team Weapons Dome and challenging climbing wall.

The Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Collingwood with be performing the Beat Retreat twice daily, in the morning and as part of the evening 'Night Air' programme, which also features The Royal Marines Commando Display Team.  There are also plans to close the Festival with a Gala Concert at the De Vere Royal Bath and daily presentations by the Royal Navy Presentation Team.

Commander Tom Herman OBE said; "The Air Festival is a truly unique event, and for us in 2011 this is the only event in the country receiving this level of Royal Navy presence - it's great for us and great for Bournemouth."

At the RAF Village, Festival goers can see a variety of interactive, informative and educational attractions assets RAF Caterers, Firefighters and Safety Equipment Fitters from RAF Odiham, a life size mock-up Chinook Helicopter, and an interactive weapons display.   New for this year will be elements of the RAF Central Band from RAF Northolt and the RAF Halton Voluntary Band.  There will also be the Royal Air Force Presentation Team who will help explain further the RAF's role. 

Group Captain Ian Tolfts OBE said; "Despite last year's weather conditions the event was a great success for The RAF and we're looking forward to this summer's Air Festival; the allocated RAF air and village assets, incredible visitor numbers and superb crowd feedback now makes this one of the key events in the RAF's summer display calendar."

Along with tremendous military support, the Air Festival organisers will be building on last year's communications and developing social media, Facebook and Twitter as well as more Air Festival TV screens throughout the site and both iphone and android mobile phone apps.

The daytime programme doesn't end with the aircraft, until 10pm Thursday - Saturday evening's there’ll be 'Night Air' entertainment in the Lower Gardens and seafront area.  This year Night Air is set to include The Royal Navy programme, a dusk air display, live music, balloon glow, street entertainers, fireworks and aviation inspired film screenings. 

Jon Weaver Air Festival Director said: "Last year was a first for a dusk time display and it was a triumph. This year I'm delighted  to announce not one but two evening displays, on Thursday and Friday nights.  There will be plenty more pyrotechnics and more superb aerobatic displays”.  

"We're delighted to be welcoming back crowd favourites, particularly the Red Arrows - we're really fortunate to have them again for three displays when we know the impact of international military operations. The Air Festival team are also working on some new aircraft and display teams, and hope to make announcements soon. We have really taken on board what we learnt last year, the importance of challenging communications, trading, social media and of course the success of the Thursday evening display. We are busy planning for every eventuality…we're just hoping for better weather!"

The official Air Festival brochure will be available from early August.