Bournemouth Air Festival

The Bournemouth Air Festival is an annual air show held along the coast at Bournemouth, in Dorset, England. It has featured aircraft from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, as well as civil aviation displays. Since its formation in 2008, the festival claims to have entertained over ten million people.

Bournemouth Air Show
RAF Red Arrows Aerobatic Display Team performing their cupid formation at The Bournemouth Air Festival 2009.
StatusActive
GenreAir show
Dates3-4 days in August/September
BeginsThursday Afternoon
EndsSunday
FrequencyAnnually
VenueBournemouth Beach Area, Bournemouth Gardens.
Location(s)Bournemouth
Coordinates50°43′12″N 1°52′48″W
CountryUnited Kingdom
Established2008
Previous event1-4th September, 2022
Next event31st August-3rd September, 2023
Attendance> than 600,000 (2022)
ActivityAerobatic displays
Organised byBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council
Websitewww.bournemouthair.co.uk

The festival usually takes place in late August, over four days including dusk and night air displays with live music. It is organised by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council), and is estimated to generate about £30 million of trade annually for local businesses.[1]

In 2015, the airshow saw one of the last flights before retirement from flying of the Avro Vulcan, sometimes called "the most famous aircraft in Britain".[2]

Whilst dates for the 2024 Air Festival have been announced, these have not yet been confirmed. The new BCP Council administration is assessing the financial viability of the event.[3][4]

2011 crash

A Red Arrows Hawk aircraft crashed into a field near Throop Mill, one mile from Bournemouth Airport following a display at the 2011 Bournemouth Air Festival. Flt Lt Jon Egging, pilot of Red 4 (XX179), died in the accident.[5] The investigation into the incident determined that Flt Lt Egging was incapacitated due to the effects of g-force induced loss of consciousness until very shortly before impact.[6] A memorial to Egging was originally unveiled in 2012 at East Cliff, Bournemouth, before being moved to a new location nearby in 2017 following a landslip.[7] His widow Emma Egging was made an OBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours.[8]

See also

References
  1. Durkin, Jim (5 February 2021). "Plans go ahead for this year's Bournemouth Air Festival". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. "Farewell to a legend: Vulcan's final glorious flight over Bournemouth". Daily Echo. Bournemouth. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  3. Simpson, Matt (4 September 2023). "Will Bournemouth Air Festival return next year for 2024?". Daily Echo. Bournemouth. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  4. "Talks on air show future well underway". BCP Council. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. 14 August 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  5. "Red Arrows pilot dies in Bournemouth Air Festival crash". BBC News Online. BBC. 20 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  6. "Service inquiry: accident involving Red Arrows Hawk T Mk1 XX179 near Bournemouth". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  7. "Jon Egging Red Arrows memorial moved to new location". BBC News. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  8. "Queen's Birthday honours: Red Arrows pilot trust founder appointed OBE". BBC News. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.

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