The Bournemouth Air Festival was an annual air show held along the coast at Bournemouth, in Dorset, England. It featured aircraft from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, as well as civil aviation displays. Since its formation in 2008, the festival claimed to have entertained over ten million people.
The festival usually took place in late August, over four days including dusk and night air displays with live music. It was organised by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council), and was estimated to generate about £30 million of trade annually for local businesses.
The 2024 show was the last to be organised and funded by BCP Council, at a cost of £248,000. The event did not take place in 2025 and 2026, with no definite future plans though the council is open to receiving applications for restarting it.
Event layout The festival was free to visit with a 1.5 miles festival site between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers. The RAF Village was on the East Overcliff. The Royal Navy village, with the British Army and Royal Marines, was on the beach, with vehicles, have-a-go equipment and personnel to speak to.
History The festival started in 2008, being held from Thursday 28 August to Sunday 31 August. +YearDatesEstimated Attendance (all days)Notes200828–31 August750,000The first display to perform at the festival was the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. The Vulcan was scheduled to fly, however, didn't. The Red Arrows performed on three days of the event, with more than 200,000 people on the Bournemouth beaches to watch their first display on the Friday of the event. The display started with a commemorative flypast between the Red Arrows and a restored Folland Gnat, the previous aircraft the Red Arrows used from 1964 – 1979, before moving to the BAE Systems Hawk T1A, which they still use today. The first festival attracted 750,000 people.200920–23 August1.3million201019–22 AugustUnknownThe festival was the first air show to have flying during the hours of dusk, with air displays featuring LEDs and fireworks.201118–21 AugustUnknownDuring the 2011 Air Festival, Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, a Royal Air Force pilot on the Red Arrows aerobatics display team, died after crashing into a field in Throop, Dorset after a display at the festival.201230 August – 2 September964,000201329 August – 1 SeptemberUnknown201428–31 August812,000201520–23 August750,000Due to bad weather conditions on the first day of the festival, flying was cancelled on the first day. When flying did take place, the airshow saw one of the last flights of the Avro Vulcan, sometimes called "the most famous aircraft in Britain".201618–21 August700,000201730 August – 2 SeptemberUnknownFlying was cancelled on the final day of the festival due to adverse weather of 'strong cross-winds, low visibility and forecast rain'.201830 August – 2 September1million201929 August – 1 September812,000202021–23 AugustNADue to the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual festival did not occur, however, a virtual version did, featuring presentations, music and footage from past air displays.20212–5 September800,000The festival was the only event in the world where The Red Arrows performed over four consecutive days. Flying was suspended after a biplane involved in the airshow crashed into Poole Harbour.20221–4 September600,000202331 August – 3 September600,000Flying between 14:00 and 16:00 BST on the first day of the festival was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. All the displays in the evening were later further cancelled.202429–31 August500,000The 2024 edition of the festival was shortened to 3 days and benefitted from good weather. The Red Arrows did not display on any of the days due to their Canadian tour.
Aircraft A number of aircraft have been involved over various displays, including: +ActAircraftRegistrationInformationPhoto AeroSuperBatics WingwalkersBoeing–Stearman A75N1 (PT17)N707TJThey were previously branded Breitling 'Swiss Chronographs' (performing as The Breitling Wingwalkers, 2011 to 2018) in accordance with their sponsorship agreement with the Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling. They are the worlds only formation wingwalking team.Avro VulcanB.2 XH558 The Spirit of Great BritainG-VLCNA jet-powered, tailless, delta-wing, high-altitude, strategic bomber, which was operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1956 until 1984. After retirement by the RAF, one example, B.2 XH558, named The Spirit of Great Britain, was restored for use in display flights and air shows. B.2 XH558 flew for the last time in October 2015 and is also being kept in taxiable conditionB-17G 'Sally B'Boeing B-17G Flying FortressG-BEDFAt 78 years old, G-BEDF is the only airworthy B-17 based in Europe, as well as one of three B-17s preserved in the United Kingdom. The aircraft is presently based at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, in eastern England. Sally B flies at airshows in the UK and across Europe as well as serving as an airborne memorial to the United States Army Air Forces airmen who lost their lives in the European theatre during World War II.North American B-25 MitchellNorth American B-25 MitchellAn American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Brigadier General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades.Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Dakota, Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane Supermarine Spitfire Hawker Hurricane Mk IIc PZ865The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group usually comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane. The flight is administratively part of No. 1 Group RAF, operating out of RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.Wildcat Demo Team (Black Cats)AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 The Wildcat Demo Team (Black Cats) are the Royal Navy's helicopter display team. The team is composed of two AgustaWestland Wildcat HMA.2 anti-submarine and anti-shipping helicopters, with the aircraft and crews drawn from 825 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset.Breitling Jet TeamAero L-39 AlbatrosThe Breitling Jet Team was the largest civilian aerobatic display team in Europe. Based in Dijon, France, it flew seven Aero L-39 Albatros jets. The team flew a display lasting 18–20 minutes that included formation flying, opposition passes, solo routines, and synchronized maneuvers.Bristol BlenheimA British light bomber designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company, which was used extensively in the first two years of the Second World War, with examples still being used as trainers until the end of the war.Canadair T-33 Silver StarLockheed T-33A Canadian license-built version of the Lockheed T-33, the Canadian version is powered by the Rolls-Royce Nene 10 turbojet, whereas the Lockheed production used the Allison J33.Chinook Display TeamBoeing CH-47 ChinookThe Chinook Display Team is an aerobatics display team in the Royal Air Force based at RAF Odiham. The team flies the UK variant Boeing CH-47 Chinook, and is composed of volunteers from front-line aircrew who train and execute air show performances between day-to-day primary military operations.Eurofighter Typhoon Display TeamEurofighter TyphoonThe Eurofighter Typhoon is a European multinational twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed originally as an air-superiority fighterFairey SwordfishThe Fairey Swordfish is a biplane torpedo bomber, designed by the Fairey Aviation Company. Originating in the early 1930s, the Swordfish, nicknamed "Stringbag", was principally operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. It was also used by the Royal Air Force (RAF), as well as several overseas operators, including the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Royal Netherlands Navy. It was initially operated primarily as a fleet attack aircraft. During its later years, the Swordfish was increasingly used as an anti-submarine and training platform. The type was in frontline service throughout the Second World War.FirefliesGerald Cooper Xtreme Air XA41XtremeAir Sbach 300The XtremeAir Sbach 300 is a German aerobatic aircraft, designed by Philippe Steinbach and produced by XtremeAir, of Cochstedt. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft.Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011–12, page 170. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. Hawker HurricaneHawker Hurricane Mk X Hawker Sea Fury T.20The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–40s which was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). The Hawker Sea Fury is a British fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by Hawker Aircraft. It was the last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, and one of the fastest production single reciprocating engine aircraft ever built. Developed during the Second World War, the Sea Fury entered service two years after the war ended. It proved to be a popular aircraft with a number of overseas militaries and was used during the Korean War in the early 1950s, and by the Cuban air force during the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion.HispanoHispano Buchón 'Black 8' Hispano HA-1112-M4L Buchón 'White 9'G-AWHH (Hispano HA-1112-M4L Buchón 'White 9')J-3 Cub (with fireworks)The Piper J-3 Cub is an American light aircraft that was built between 1938 and 1947 by Piper Aircraft. The aircraft has a simple, lightweight design which gives it good low-speed handling properties and short-field performance. The Cub is Piper Aircraft's most-produced model, with nearly 20,000 built in the United States. Its simplicity, affordability and popularity invokes comparisons to the Ford Model T automobile.Jet Provost T.5The BAC Jet Provost is a British jet trainer aircraft that was in use with the Royal Air Force (RAF) from 1955 to 1993.MiG-15The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 is a jet fighter aircraft developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich for the Soviet Union. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful jet fighters to incorporate swept wings to achieve high transonic speeds. In aerial combat during the Korean War, it outclassed straight-winged jet day fighters, which were largely relegated to ground-attack roles. In response to the MiG-15's appearance and in order to counter it, the United States Air Force rushed the North American F-86 Sabre to Korea.Otto the HelicopterSchweizer S300A light utility helicopter originally produced by Hughes Helicopters, as a development of the Hughes 269. The single, three-bladed main rotor and piston-powered S300 is mostly used as a cost-effective platform for training and agriculture.P-51 MustangNorth American P-51 Mustang 'Contrary Mary' P-51D Mustang 'Miss Helen'The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. Following combat experience the P-51D series introduced a "teardrop", or "bubble", canopy to rectify problems with poor visibility to the rear of the aircraft.Boeing P-8A PoseidonBoeing P-8A PoseidonThe Boeing P-8 Poseidon is an American maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and derived from the civilian Boeing 737-800. It was developed for the United States Navy (USN) and is used by a number of countries armed forces. The P-8 operates in anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles. It is armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons, can drop and monitor sonobuoys, and can operate in conjunction with other assets, including the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).