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UK air events calendar 2008

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  All dates in italics are provisional. If your event isn't listed, please contact us with all the details.
 
August
28-31
Bournemouth, Dorset: Bournemouth Air Festival. The inaugural Bournemouth Air Festival is set to dazzle crowds in 2008. The FREE four-day spectacular is set against the backdrop of Bournemouth’s seven miles of award-winning beaches, beautiful bay and glorious gardens. Celebrating the history of aviation, embracing the nostalgia of the early flying machines combined with the energy and excitement of flying right through to the modern day, the Air Festival is packed full of breathtaking air displays, interactive static displays, fun attractions, demonstrations and stalls, fireworks, music and live entertainment for all the family.
30-31
Shoreham, Sussex: Shoreham Airshow 2008. A growing event, turning into one of the South's more important ones - check out the 2007 show here.
31
CANCELLED Cornbury Park, Oxon: Fly to the Past. Maybe back in 2009 - check out the 2003 event here.
31
Little Gransden, Cambs: Families Day out Air and Vintage Vehicle show. Definitely the longest title of the year, the BBMF should be supporting this growing event held once again for Children in Need and other charities. Check out the 2007 show here.
 
September
6-7
Duxford, Cambs: 90th Anniversary Airshow. IWM's main event of the year. Check out the 2007 show here.
6-7
Southport, Lancs: Airshow 2008. One of the North-west's top attractions, RAF participation should be high on the agenda. Check out the 2007 show here.
7
Old Warden, Beds: Shuttleworth Pageant Air Display. Main airshow of the year, if you haven't been yet, there's no excuse...
7 Seething, Norfolk: Charity Air Day. A mix of aircraft displays, vintage vehicles, stalls and entertainment.
11
Guernsey, Channel Islands: RAFA Guernsey Battle of Britain Air Display 2007. Location: off St. Peter Port. Offshore free-to-view air display, organised as part of RAFA Guernsey's Battle of Britain Week. The event is supported by a consortium of local businesses, and 100% the donations received during the week pass to the RAFA. The display arena is one of the most picturesque in Britain, with the smaller islands of Sark and Herm as a backdrop. Why not combine a short break in Guernsey with the display?
11
Jersey, Channel Islands: Jersey International Air Display. A free event comprising of both fixed and rotary static displays and a four hour concentrated flying display over the Bay of St Aubin adjacent to the Island capital St Helier. Check out the 2007 show here.
13
RAF Leuchars, Fife: Leuchars International Airshow. Back after a break in '07, let's hope it's as good as the 2006 event - check it out here.
13-14 Newark, Notts: Newark Air Museum Battle of Britain Open Cockpits - special opening & viewing of some of the museum’s cockpits and a range of visiting displays.
13-14 Kemble, Glos: Battle of Britain Open Days incorporating the Great Vintage Flying Weekend. Admission (both days): £10 per person (Children 15 and under free!), £8 per person (in advance). Featuring: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire and Hurricane, Piston Provost, Hornet Moth, Ryan PT22, Douglas DC3 Dakota along with Vintage jets from the 1950s including Hunters, Jet Provosts, Gnat & Vampire, and a host of other vintage aircraft.
  Kemble Open Days will try to recreate the atmosphere of the old RAF 'At Home' Days that were common on most service stations up until the 1970s. There will be a small afternoon flying display of vintage aeroplanes on each day starting at 14:00 with the highlight being a display on the Sunday from the Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and a visit from the Red Arrows. Pleasure flying will be available courtesy of Air Atlantique from Coventry who will bring along a De Havilland Dove vintage piston engined aircraft from their collection of 1950s transport aircraft to take you flying. You will get the chance to visit all the flying organisations based at Kemble, including The Flying Club, Cotswold Helicopters, Fly2Help, Ultimate High, the Britannia and Buccaneer Preservation Societies, Kemble Flying Club and of course Delta Jets, and their outstanding collection of privately owned vintage jets. Refreshments will be available and the popular AV8 restaurant will be open.
  The RAF Benevolent Fund and Fly2Help, our two favourite charities, will be involved with a charity auction taking place on Saturday evening at AV8 to raise funds for these two charities. Guided flightline tours of the aircraft park will be available both days for a small fee. A welcome addition to this year's Open Day will be the attraction of aircraft that usually attend the Great Vintage Flying Weekend. Kemble Airport has secured th is events future and teamed up with them to invite their pilots to visit Kemble over the open day weekend. If all goes according to plan with the weather we should see a wonderful collection of vintage piston engine aircraft join us and to this end we have now included entry on Saturday 13th. Advance tickets on sale NOW at the tourist information offices in Cirencester, Chippenham, Stroud, Swindon & Tetbury. Or email events@kemble.com for a ticket application form. Aircraft wishing to fly in must book a slot.
20
Elmsett, Suffolk: Elmsett Open Day 2008. Many activities both on the ground and in the air, bringing back the "Barnstorming" feel to the air-side with a big emphasis on participation for all pilots. There'll be competitions such as the now infamous "breakfast patrol", flour bombing, spot landing, balloon bursting, navigation competition, defect spotting, and then there's attractions such as streamer cutting, limbo, the "Ted Devils" (parachuting Teddy Bears), and a whole host more!
20
Old Warden, Beds: Shuttleworth Twilight Sunset Air Display. Last evening show of the year.
21 Southend-on-Sea, Essex: Visit the Vulcan Days 2008. Visitors will be able to inspect ex-RAF V-Bomber Avro Vulcan XL426 at close quarters at the airport and have a guided tour of the cockpit. VRT Team members will be on hand to answer questions, and various stalls and refreshments will be available. A line-up of gleaming Triumph Stag sports cars will add to the vintage British history on show. Entry is £1.50, plus £2.00 for the cockpit tour. Gates open at 10:00 and close at 16:00. The public will be able to inspect the latest work carried out on XL426 - known as 'The Southend Vulcan' - as the '426 Return To Power!' appeal program progresses. A number of items that have been removed from the bomber for restoration will be on display. During the day the aircraft's Airborne Auxiliary Power Unit (a small Rover jet engine) will be run, allowing various systems on the bomber to be operated, such as the vast bomb doors - which once would have held Britain's nuclear deterrent, the Blue Steel nuclear missile. One very lucky member of the visiting public will be able to take the controls during this demonstration, for a fee, on a first come basis. A very unique opportunity.
 
October
4-5
Rougham, Suffolk: Ploughs to Propellers 1940s weekend. Warbirds and period dress.
5
Old Warden, Beds: Shuttleworth Autumn Air Display. Last chance to catch those flimsy biplanes.
5
Duxford, Cambs: Autumn Air Show. Some early autumn sun can make this a fine event to attend - check out the 2007 show here.
19 Elvington, North Yorks: Air Power & Thunder 100 Day. The Centenary of British Powered Flight with the power and thunder of the museum's jets. With flypasts and other exciting displays and activities.
     
  2009  
3 May Abingdon, Oxon: Abingdon Air & Country Show. This annual Airshow/Country Show is in support of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, featuring an array of attractions including a three-hour afternoon flying display, static aircraft/fly-in, crafts, arena displays, Tank rides, hot air balloons, vintage vehicles, pleasure flights and much more. Check out the 2007 event here.  
9-10 May Kemble, Glos: Great Vintage Flying Weekend. A successful agreement has been reached with Kemble Air Services Ltd., as a result of which they now own the event and the G-VFWE brand. This takeover should, even in these uncertain times, ensure the event's future and its further development. Kemble Airfield itself has already been the venue for three previous stagings, and will prove to be a well-equipped and well-resourced base for future operations. Check out the 2007 event here.
  
24-25 May Southend-on-Sea, Essex: Southend Airshow. A chance to soak up the early summer sun by the sea and catch some entertaining flying. Check out the 2008 show here.  
7 June RAF Cosford, West Mids: At Home Day 2009. One of the RAF's main airshows this year, expect it to be busy. As usual, the museum will still be open. RAF Cosford Air Show is one of the biggest outdoor events in the Midlands' summer calendar and regularly attracts an attendance of more than 50,000. Two RAF charities are the main beneficiaries - the Royal Air Force Association and the RAF Benevolent Fund. Check out the 2008 show here.  
12-14 June Wycombe Air Park, Bucks: AeroExpo 2009. This event will showcase ALL sections of the market, including the latest Aircraft available - from light aircraft, or Pistons and Turboprops from all the major manufacturers, to Gliders and Power Gliders; AeroExpo has them covered. Demonstrations for aircraft can be booked prior to the show.  
13-14 June Newark, Notts: Newark Air Museum Cockpit-Fest 2009 & Aeroboot. Annual display of visiting cockpits from around the country & the traditional Aeroboot avionics and aviation goods sale. Check out the 2007 event here.  
21 June Kemble, Glos: Kemble Air Day. Now one of the established airshows on the calendar, check out the 2007 show here.  
27-28 June Biggin Hill, Kent: Biggin Hill International Air Fair. One of the airshow circuit's oldest events now moves to a late June slot. Check out the 2008 show here.  
4-5 July RAF Waddington, Lincs: RAF Waddington 2009. The RAF's main event of the year. Check out the 2008 show here.  
11 July RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset: International Air Day. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Naval Aviation in 1909, the Fleet Air Arm will be joined by other nations. There'll be plenty of entertainment on the ground, too, for all the family. A large display of static aircraft is planned with arena displays from the Royal Marines Band and HMS Heron's Field Gun Crew. The day will also include side shows, funfair, vintage, classic and military vehicles, service demonstrations, picnic areas, helicopter pleasure flights, simulator rides, trade stands and much more. Check out the 2007 show here.  
11-12 July Duxford, Cambs: Flying Legends Air Show. Organised by The Fighter Collection, this is the premier warbird airshow in Europe. Flying Legends features a matchless selection of classic American and European fighters - the veterans, the pilots, the aircraft and the atmosphere are all her in this wonderful two-day action and entertainment experience. Check out the 2007 show here.  
18-19 July RAF Fairford, Glos: Royal International Air Tattoo. The 'biggy' of the year, expect the airshow world to revolve around Gloucestershire this weekend. Check out the 2007 show here.  
23-24 July
Lowestoft, Suffolk: Seafront Air Festival. A new organising committee supported by the local council have saved this wonderful event, with 220,000 attending in 2008! The sun is usually right behind at this time of year giving superb photo opportunities from the cliffs. Check out the 2007 event here.
  
20 August
Dawlish, Devon: Dawlish Carnival Airshow. Thanks to organiser Kev Wills, this seaside show goes from strength to strength - he'll send us a report one day...
  
     

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