Normally at this time of year I'd be in a state of massive excitement and anticipation waiting for our 4 day airshow Airbourne. It's the highlight of my year and the moment I really live for. When, unsurprisingly, due to the Covid situation it was cancelled a couple of months ago I cried my eyes out. Rather than feeling miserable I wanted to try and make something positive out of the situation and relieve some of my favourite moments from the shows over the last few years.
To accompany this blog I've uploaded a video to YouTube of some of my favourite clips of the last decade which you can check out here -
I've written more in depth 'review' blogs for the 2013, 2014, 20152016, 2018 and 2019, which you can check out by clicking those links.
I've only been properly 'photographing' at airshows for the last few years so haven't got a huge amount of material to share but I've scoured YouTube and found some videos of my favourite memories.
The Jaguar was always one of my favourite visitors to the show.
Back when Red Bull sponsored the Sea Vixen and it was painted in this eye-catching colour scheme.
Airbourne has had some interesting visitors over the years, including this DHL 747 -
In 2005 we were treated to the incredibly rare sight of this USAF B1B Lancer that flew in from Texas each day!
This video has a compilation of the 2005 show which includes the first visit to Eastbourne from the Typhoon (much more of that later!)
The first photos I have are from the 2008 show, please excuse the quality 😂
The USAF KC135 Stratotanker
Pretty flags!
The last time we saw a Hercules at Airbourne with the RAF Falcons parachute display team.
Jet Pack Man!
No blog would be complete without some cringy photos of me so here is the first!
The last time we saw the Army Blue Eagles display team with their Gazelles and Lynx.
2009
Of course I bought the hat!
See!
We always get some interesting pairings for flypasts, here we have the Dutch F16 and Spitfire
And with a Mustang friend!
2010
This was the first airshow photo I was really pleased with!
Mum and I sheltering from the rain with our Pimms
The weather was a bit of a theme that day ......
I might be wrong (please let me know if I am) but 2010 might have been the first time we had a Vampire at the show.
With my friends Lydia and Hilary continuing the Pimms theme
If you squint really hard you'll see that the 2010 RAF Hawk had a really pretty paint scheme.
2011
On a cold, windy Thursday the Royal Navy Black Cats were the only thing that flew. Meaning that my brother and I were forced to entertain ourselves with donuts and hot chocolate ......
The return of the kings! Tornado GR4 role demo!
USAF F86 Sabre
Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire and Hurricane
Belgian F16
2012
The Dakota with it's D Day invasion colours
I had my Tornados back too!
Of course the thing that people most remember Airbourne 2012 for was the first appearance of Vulcan XH558. Ever since she returned to the airshow circuit in 2008 I'd been hoping she'd make it down to Eastbourne and finally my wish was granted!
I love the sun glinting on her
There is a fantastic video on YouTube of her in the hold waiting to display off of Beachy Head, at one point she is flying lower than our lighthouse!
2013
The SWIP team
French Flamants
The Red Bull Matadors had a tie-in with Disney's 'Planes' film and were painted as the film's two main characters Dusty and Ripslinger.
Look how beautiful Miss Demeanour is.
Kittyhawk
The Tucano had a Hurricane paint theme this year.
The Reds need no caption but they've got one anyway!
When I'm not on the seafront I watch the show from a park near my home. The same park is used by the BBMF for their turning circle which results in very low Lancaster flypasts right over our heads!
2014
Speaking of Lancasters was there a more beautiful, moving sight than the Canadian Lancaster flying with our BBMF Lancaster?
Thumper and Vera with a seagull escort.
2014 was my first year with a DSLR Camera which meant I was able to get far clearer and closer photos.
The Tutor looked great against the blue sky
The RAF Sea King and lifeboat put on a demonstration.
The Blades 'crazy flying'
The Typhoon was painted in D Day stripes to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the invasion.
The Canberra made an appearance on Sunday
This is how packed the seafront gets for the Red Arrows!
I'm still really pleased with this photo!
2015
The photos I've chosen for this year all come from the Saturday when, inspired by the 2012 video (scroll back up), we went up to Beachy Head to watch the Vulcan. I hadn't watched from Beachy Head for years and I'd forgotten how cool the views were 'from the top' .
Suitably dressed in my Vulcan top.
Also making an appearance that day was the newly restored Blenheim Bomber, seen here with a Spitfire escort over the sea.
You can get unique shots like this from up on the downs.
XH558 rudely photobombing the Royal Navy Sea King
There were 1000s of people on the downs to see XH558
Flying level with us as she ran in for her display
I've never seen so many boats in the channel.
This video shows what a fantastic sight the Vulcan was
A special mention to the RAF Hawk T2 'Team Ninja' display team featuring Eastbourne pilot Toby Keeley. who went on to join the Red Arrows the following season.
The Norwegian Airforce Historic Flight Vampires
P51 Mustang 'Ferocious Frankie'
The Blades from a different angle
Getting buzzed by the Red Arrows in a low sneak pass!
2016
Before the show opened on Thursday we had a sneak preview of the new RAF Super Puma when it gave us a couple of passes.
A Jet Provost pair in their former RAF colours
The Typhoon kicking up some vapour!
Following the previous year's successful Beachy Head outing we spent a day up on the downs and were rewarded with some great close ups from some of the warbirds.
BBMF Hurricane
BBMF Lancaster
MIG 15
B25 Mitchell
The Bronco isn't hard to miss in it's bright livery!
Nice and close to the Blenheim
Gorgeous Sea Vixen
2017
Rich Goodwin always puts the best show on in his muscle Biplane.
The star of 2017s show was most definitely the Belgian Airforce F16. It was fast, noisy and had flares, what more could you ask for?
2018
2018 was the RAF's Centenary year with some of the display teams displaying special liveries. It should also be remembered as the year than I walked a 6 mile round trip to watch the Typhoon in the rain on the Thursday afternoon .....
It was worth it!
A slightly sunnier view.
Hello Chinook!
The Red Arrows also performed their special 'Centenary Pass' which you can see in my video here (Skip to 4:26 if you're in a hurry).
2019
Hard to work out where each Blade ends and the other begins!
2019 was the debut Airbourne appearance from the Breitling Jet Team
Beautiful liveries
It was also the debut season for the Duxford-based Ultimate Warbirds team featuring a Mustang/Spitfire/Messerschmitt and Thunderbolt. The noise from them as they flew past was absolutely fantastic.
The Gazelle team
We also watched from Beachy Head again
Dakota
MIG15 and T33
The Typhoon with the Sovereign Light Tower in the background.
I also made it down to the seafront for the evening display for the first time in years. How beautiful do the Fireflies look here?
I hope you guys have enjoyed looking back at my favourite Airbourne moments with me (well done for not getting bored and clicking away halfway through!). I'm going to miss it like crazy and my camera is going to feel very neglected. Hopefully the Covid situation will calm down over the Autumn and Winter ready for the new season.
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