THE first Bournemouth Air Festival in 2008 was a huge success that paved the way for the event becoming an established annual extravaganza.

It was the historic RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which started the whole event. The Vulcan, scheduled to be a showpiece, couldn't fly. 

Council chiefs were hoping for 1 million visitors over the four days and a boost of £1.75m to the towns economy.

Bournemouth Echo:

There were many highlights, but for most it would have been the return of the mighty Red Arrows to the town that will live long in the memory.

Bournemouth Echo:

The team performed on three days of the event and more than 200,000 people packed the beaches for their first display on Friday, August 29, 2008.

Bournemouth Echo:

Hundreds of boats were anchored off the beach as the team began its display with a commemorative flypast with a Folland Gnat, the aircraft used before the Hawk took over, which had been painstakingly restored.

Bournemouth Echo:

Onlookers speaking to the Daily Echo after the first Red Arrows display said they couldn't believe how many people had packed the beaches.

A big thumbs-up was certainly given to the event. In all, the first air festival attracted in excess of 750,000 people and council leaders vowed to do it all again.

Bournemouth Echo:

The rest, as they say, is history.

What do you remember from the last six years? Email us at digital@bournemouthecho.co.uk - include a picture if you like - and we'll include you in our Readers Remember piece on August 25.

This year's official Air Festival brochure is available now! See the full list of stockists