I always love a birthday party and this year I got to attend my beloved Airbourne's 30th anniversary celebrations. It was a great party with some of my favourite aircraft, friends, family, fireworks and shockingly only one day of iffy weather 😨 read on for my highlights of each day.
Thursday
I headed down early (although guttingly not early enough to see the two Typhoons that came through in the morning *autistic grumble*) to have a nose around the displays and stalls before settling on the beach with my favourite airshow buddy.
The Red Arrows kicked off the 30th birthday in style with their final UK display of the summer (they left for Canada at 10am the next morning!). They came in lower than I've ever seen them and were fantastic as always and brightened up the grey sky with their red, white and blue.
Note the seagulls getting out of the way as they run in 😂
My favourite move of this year's display
Tornado
Red Arrows on Instax
Although it was dry it was really windy which put paid to the warbird displays (safety is the most important thing) and also the Draken as the weather was too bad for it to take off from it's base.
We still had displays from the Bronco, Jet Provost and Pitts but they were a little limited due to the wind and serviceability in the Jet Provost's case.
Jet Provost
Bronco
Here are Thursday's highlights -
Friday
Friday dawned sunny and with only a slight breeze, the perfect day for Auntie and I to sit and watch some planes.
The day's flying was kicked off by the aircraft top of my spotting bucket list - the SAAB Draken and it was everything I expected it to be. It looked like something out of Star Wars and sounded great.
Friday saw the emotional return of the Lancaster to the seafront, roaring in from crowd-rear (check out my video) and being her beautiful self.
Welcome back beautiful lady
Friday also meant ..... Phoon time! There were afterburners, vapour and rattled eardrums all round!
The rest of Friday's highlights (including the incredible Lancaster arrival) -
Saturday -
Saturday started on a very civilised note with lunch in town with Helen before Amanda, Phil and I headed to the seafront.
A week before Airbourne my wonderful Mum passed away from cancer and we drank Pimms in her honour. I love you Mum and I miss you so much.
The show was opened by The Starlings who were great. I really enjoyed their display.
Really tight formations.
Showing the crowd some love
Saturday was the first day of the Aircraft Restoration Company's D Day formation of it's Blenheim and 2 Spitfires.
Blenheim
The full formation
Rolls Royce Mustang
The Typhoon closed the show again -
Vapour!
Thanks for sharing me in your story, the noise was certainly brung 😂
Here are some more Saturday highlights -
Sunday -
The final day of the show saw some more great displays.
Hilary, Lydia, Luke and me
Having a G&T with the Lancaster
The Starlings on the break
Blenheim & Spitfires
Whilst we're on the subject of warbirds the Rolls Royce Heritage Flight Spitfire & Mustang looked beautiful over the sea -
Jet Provost
Another highlight of all 4 days wasRich Goodwin with his Pitts -
Thanks for the instagram shout out!
The Typhoon closing the show
Highlights from Sunday's display -
Rather than going home in my normal depressed slump after the final plane (Autumn always starts for me as the final plane departs) it was off to The View Hotelfor restorative coffee.
We stayed for their carvery and then watched the fantastic end of show fireworks from the balcony.
Best seat in the house!
It was another fantastic 4 days that also took my mind off what's been a pretty rubbish few weeks. You can also check out loads more of my photos from the 4 days on my Instagram
Here's hoping for another 30 years!
Love Jen
XxxX
PS if you're able to then please consider supporting the show by donating to keep Airbourne flyinghere
I can't believe that Airbourneis already almost upon us celebrating it's 30th anniversary and thus making me feel old 😂. My favourite 4 days of the year are just a week away and as is tradition I thought I'd highlight some of the displays I'm most looking forward to.
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows are celebrating their 60th display season this year and we're really lucky this year that they've managed to squeeze Thursday's show onto the end of their UK display season before they head across the pond to Canada.
60th anniversary livery at RIAT last month
As you may have read in my RIAT Blog this year's display sees the team back up to their full 9 ship and performing moves not seen in years.
Diamond 9
Close passes
This is their display at RIAT -
RAF Tutor Display
Another RAF team comes courtesy of the Grob Tutor a basic trainer. It may look unassuming but it's incredibly maneuverable. These photos are from last year's show.
Battle Of Britain Memorial Flight Lancaster
The airshow world was shocked at the end of May by the tragic death of Mark Long in a BBMF Spitfire. As such the team has not performed at any shows this year and I don't believe their Hurricane or Spitfires will appear this season. Their beautiful Lancaster bomber gained it's Public Display Authority last week and will hopefully appear next week. This photo and video are from last year's show.
Rolls Royce Heritage Flight Spitfire & Mustang
Continuing with the warbird theme Airbourne is welcoming back the Rolls Royce Heritage Flight after their debut at last year's show (you can read my review of last year's show here). Showcasing their Merlin powered Mustang and Griffon powered Spitfire.
Glinting beautifully in last year's sunshine
D Day formation - Blenheim, Spitfire & Mustang
As part of the 80th anniversary D Day commemorations this unique formation from the Aircraft Restoration Company will be flying on Saturday & Sunday. I saw them briefly at Duxfordback in June and I'm particularly looking forward to seeing a Blenheim here in Eastbourne for the first time in a number of years.
Taken from Beachy Head in 2016
A beautiful topside pass at Duxford
Spitfire PL983 was known for a couple of years as the NHS Spitfire when it took part in airshows and flypasts around the country paying tribute to the NHS staff's bravery during the Covid19 pandemic. It has new paintwork featuring D Day invasion stripes.
At the 2022 show
Completing the line up is P51 Mustang Miss Helen has been a regular visitor to us and her displays are always so graceful. Listen out for the unique 'Mustang whistle' caused by the air passing over the machine gun turrets.
Making her Airbourne debut in 2017
Bronco Demo Team
Another aircraft making a welcome return to Eastbourne's skies is the Bonco Demo Team. I saw them at Bournemouth Airshow last year (review blog here) and it's a really fun dynamic display.
Their last visit in 2016
Bournemouth last year -
Jet Provost
The Jet Provost is a British jet trainer from the 1950s. Another aircraft not seen here since 2016.
The red paintwork standing out against the grey skies in 2016
Jet Pitts
Another jet powered aircraft that's on the completely different end of the display spectrum is Rich Goodwin's Jet Pitts. His displays get crazier and crazier each year and the addition of the jet engine to the aircraft allows for an even more dynamic display. These photos are from last year -
Last year's display
Swedish Historic Flight Draken
Making it's Airbourne debut, much to my excitement, is the Swedish Historic Flight's Draken. I've always wanted to see a Draken display, the nearest I got was at RIAT 2022 when Dad and I saw one arrive at the end of the Friday display. I'm over the moon it's appearing on the Thursday & Friday of the show so I can finally see one in action.
Landing at RIAT 2022
RAF Typhoon
Last but not least is the mighty RAF Typhoon. Guaranteed to be heard all over the town this year's airframe is painted in the colours of a Hawker Typhoon complete with D Day invasion stripes. It put on a fantastic display at RIAT and I can't wait to see and hear it roaring over the sea.
Full afterburner take off at RIAT (yes it was as loud as it looks)
You can find details of the full line up on the Airbourne Website. Whilst you're there, if you're able to, please consider a small donation to keep the show flying next year (you can do it here). My Red Arrows tattoo and I will love you forever 😂💗.
Love Jen
XxxX
PS If you're really bored you can read my previous Airbourne blogs here -
