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. | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Air show |
| Dates | 3-4 days in August/September |
| Begins | Thursday Afternoon |
| Ends | Sunday |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Bournemouth Beach Area, Bournemouth Gardens. |
| Location(s) | Bournemouth |
| Coordinates | 50°43′12″N 1°52′48″W |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Established | 2008 |
| Previous event | 1-4th September, 2022 |
| Next event | 31st August-3rd September, 2023 |
| Attendance | > than 600,000 (2022) |
| Activity | Aerobatic displays |
| Organised by | Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council |
| Website | www.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, and is estimated to generate about £30 million of trade annually for local businesses.[1]
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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4] His widow Emma Egging was made an OBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours.[5]
References
- Durkin, Jim (5 February 2021). "Plans go ahead for this year's Bournemouth Air Festival". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- "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.
- "Service inquiry: accident involving Red Arrows Hawk T Mk1 XX179 near Bournemouth". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- "Jon Egging Red Arrows memorial moved to new location". BBC News. 18 August 2017. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
- "Queen's Birthday honours: Red Arrows pilot trust founder appointed OBE". BBC News. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
External links
Media related to Bournemouth Air Festival at Wikimedia Commons
