THE crowd-pulling Vulcan bomber will not be able to perform an extra display as it bids farewell to Bournemouth Air Festival – because it is too popular.
The Cold War jet, which is due to make its final Bournemouth appearance in its last flying season when it closes the event on Sunday, August 23, appears at the festival courtesy of Adrian Gunner of Merley House, Stephen Young, Lord of Westbury and Waxham, and the Vulcan to the Sky Team Bournemouth.
Gallery: Our favourite pictures of the Vulcan through the years
Maggie Keet, of Vulcan to the Sky Team Bournemouth, says the funding is there for a Saturday display from Vulcan XH558, but festival organisers say that, with Saturday being by far the busiest day of the event, they can’t accommodate the two biggest crowd-pullers.
Maggie told the Daily Echo: "I always wanted a two-day display, it's not for the want of trying.
"When Shoreham (whose air show is on the same weekend) announced that they have a two-day display, I picked up the phone and said 'she's just up the road'.
Get your commemorative Vulcan Bournemouth Air Festival 2015 brochure
"This is her final year and we're not going to see her again.
"What do they think will happen on the Sunday? It's ridiculous, it's absolutely crazy.
"People are upset."
Bournemouth Air Festival director, Jon Weaver, said: “We fully understand the disappointment felt about the Vulcan not displaying on Saturday.
Our dedicated Bournemouth Air Festival section is here
“Please be assured it is our intention to accommodate the Vulcan as many times as possible, but our priority is always for the safe enjoyment of people coming to the event.
“The air festival has become increasingly popular and crowds on the Saturday last year were at unprecedented levels – estimated at 440,000 people.
“As part of our debrief, we had to take further measures to ensure that crowds could both enter and leave the site with ease and without severe congestion.
“We have two major air display attractions that bring in large numbers of people – the Red Arrows and the Vulcan – and this year, for Saturday only, the decision was made that only one of these attractions could display in the afternoon.
“Saturday’s flying display programme is packed and festival-goers can expect to see the Sea Vixen, Black Cats, Red Arrows, Matadors, Chinook, Hawk T2 Role Demo Team, Blades, Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and more.
“We are honoured that XH558 is flying on the South Coast for the last time with us on Sunday, August 23, and our official souvenir programme is a commemorative edition in celebration of the Vulcan display in Bournemouth.”
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