Nearly one million people turn out for the 2012 Bournemouth Air Festival

9:16am Monday 3rd September 2012 in News By Steven Smith

Nearly one million people turn out for Bournemouth Air Festival 2012 Nearly one million people turn out for Bournemouth Air Festival 2012

BOURNEMOUTH Air Festival organisers are today celebrating their most successful weekend since the event began.

Barring two displays that fell victim to poor visibility yesterday, the event delivered a full programme and initial estimates from the team behind it reckon almost one million people visited over the four days.

Air Festival director Jon Weaver said: “It looks like the Saturday was as big as 2009.

“We’ve done crowd assessments and we think the seafront was 95 per cent full – that means we were up to the 300-350,000 mark.

“For the three days we were up to 750,000; we will not be far shy of one million this year before we get the final figures.

“Night Air has been a real success, the dusk displays are growing in popularity and there’s a demand for a Saturday night one, although we will need to find the cash for that if we can.”

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He said the music stages at Boscombe – new for this year – and Bournemouth were a “phenomenal success”.

“The dusk displays with the full moon on Thursday were a real highlight.

“It was good to see the Red Arrows back, they put on a great show and you could tell by the audience’s response that it was really positive.

“The Vulcan was a great show-stopper, as were the Tornadoes.

“It was great to see the Chinook back, it’s only doing five displays this year,” he added.

Confirming that next year’s event will take place between August 29 and September 1, Jon thanked the festival’s sponsors, patrons, the armed forces, emergency services and the public for their support.

He said: “For next year we have to see how we build on what we’ve got, build on Night Air and get a solid display programme like we did this year. We want to build on the charity aspect of it as well.”

See all our Air Festival coverage bournemouthecho.co.uk/air

 

Comments(20)

beachcomber1 says...
9:30am Mon 3 Sep 12

i thought it was excellent, especially the evening concerts. that's what i've always thought the seafront as a whole needs more of during the season - evening events. there's nothing to do in the evenings!

i think not having the Red Arrows on one of the days is a mistake. they are synonymous with the Airshow, and many people won't be thorough enough to check the plans - in fact it's often not possible to find out who is on anyway without a lot of digging around. they will just assume they're on and be surprised and disappointed to make the journey then not see them.

my one minor quibble is with the non-stop music from the PA. personally, i find it grating and annoying, and it adds nothing to the day.

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ILoveBoscombe says...
9:39am Mon 3 Sep 12

An absolutely fantastic Air Festival - I think the best yet and I've been to all of them. Well done everyone involved! I do agree about the music though...

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renea says...
10:20am Mon 3 Sep 12

had a great time, very very tired as we made a day of it for all 4 days, loved having the stage at the bournemouth pier so that something was on for those of us who grew up with Madness, Queen and The Who in the charts !!!!! well done and thanks x

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BmthNewshound says...
10:20am Mon 3 Sep 12

This year the weather was on the air festivals side and there is no doubt that this is Bournemouth's biggest annual event. However, "up to 750,000" is not nearly a million !!, but if next years event continues to attract the crowds perhaps next years event will attract a million visitors.

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Huey says...
10:42am Mon 3 Sep 12

Well done to everyone who helped this event happen!
Everything seemed positive from the crowd to the weather.
Local business and stalls looked to be doing a good trade, as did the forces recruitment and careers section.
Free events such as these generate so much interest and business in our beautiful town, and portray Bournemouth in a very positive light.

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Liberty12 says...
11:15am Mon 3 Sep 12

I had a great time. The best Air Festival yet!! Thanks to the organisers.

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Franks Tank says...
11:29am Mon 3 Sep 12

BmthNewshound wrote:
This year the weather was on the air festivals side and there is no doubt that this is Bournemouth's biggest annual event. However, "up to 750,000" is not nearly a million !!, but if next years event continues to attract the crowds perhaps next years event will attract a million visitors.
If 750,000 is "nearly a million" surely it's fair to say "just over half a million". Doesn't sound so big though does it?
Where I was stood on East Cliff on Saturday, I'd say it wasn't quite as crowed as 2 years ago in the same spot.

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Fred the gnome says...
11:44am Mon 3 Sep 12

It was a highly enjoyable event, as always. All credit to the organisers and everyone who staffed it. It's impossible to please everyone all the time, but there was almost certainly at least something for everyone (apart from the usual compulsive moaners) some of the time. The only sour note was the disrespectful damage to the plants on the Jon Egging memorial, caused by some thoughtless people trampling on them.
One minor point: It was a shame that the air festival clashed with the Dorset steam fair this year, although I appreciate that the timing of the Bank Holiday weekend probably affected the scheduling of both big events.

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stormcreator says...
11:50am Mon 3 Sep 12

Absolutely fantastic Air festival yet again on what was in some ways a difficult event after the tragic death of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging following last years display by the Red Arrows and the loss of Flight lieutenant Sean Cunningham in November.

We can only imagine the mixed feelings of Dawn Eggings and Dr Emma Eggings as well as the rest of the Red Arrows team,but being the true professionals they are,they pt in a fabulous display on the 3 days they performed.

Thankyou to all those that organised the event and we would like to make a special thankyou to the members of the "bournemouth memorial to Fight lieutenant Jon Egging" facebook page for your kind posts and great photos.

Thankyou.

http://www.facebook.
com/pages/Bournemout
h-memorial-for-Fligh
t-Lieutenant-Jon-Egg
ing/248482311850447

Can we also ask people to consider joining the "jon Egging trust" facebook page who are doing some fantastic work helping youngsters in memory of Jon Egging

http://www.facebook.
com/JonEggingTrust

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xclairebear87 says...
12:10pm Mon 3 Sep 12

definitely want another concert each night at bournemouth pier for next year. preferably with the queen tribute again as they were great!

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Huey says...
1:01pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Franks Tank wrote:
BmthNewshound wrote:
This year the weather was on the air festivals side and there is no doubt that this is Bournemouth's biggest annual event. However, "up to 750,000" is not nearly a million !!, but if next years event continues to attract the crowds perhaps next years event will attract a million visitors.
If 750,000 is "nearly a million" surely it's fair to say "just over half a million". Doesn't sound so big though does it?
Where I was stood on East Cliff on Saturday, I'd say it wasn't quite as crowed as 2 years ago in the same spot.
Highly doubtful as it was rained off in 2010 and hardly any flying took place.

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Franks Tank says...
1:30pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Huey wrote:
Franks Tank wrote:
BmthNewshound wrote:
This year the weather was on the air festivals side and there is no doubt that this is Bournemouth's biggest annual event. However, "up to 750,000" is not nearly a million !!, but if next years event continues to attract the crowds perhaps next years event will attract a million visitors.
If 750,000 is "nearly a million" surely it's fair to say "just over half a million". Doesn't sound so big though does it?
Where I was stood on East Cliff on Saturday, I'd say it wasn't quite as crowed as 2 years ago in the same spot.
Highly doubtful as it was rained off in 2010 and hardly any flying took place.
Your right Huey, I'm loosing track of the years, they just fly by these days....
I must be thinking 3 years ago. Lovely sunny day it was....
2 years ago I had the place to myself and last year I was in the smoke.
Enjoyed this Saturday mind.
Regards FT.

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Derf says...
1:33pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Me and the kids had a great time on the beach yesterday. Think they missed an opportunity having a Catalina and a large expanse of water, but not having it land and take off on the water. (seeing the Chinook dip it's bum in the water would have been impressive as well)

That aside, a great event with a great atmosphere.

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ModGuy1 says...
2:34pm Mon 3 Sep 12

My wife & I and 2 kids went and thoroughly enjoyed the Thu/Fri/Sun that we went. It was a real moment when the Battle of Britain planes went over.One quibble though..who closed the central RAF stands so early after the last flight? Plenty of folk around and trying to get in? With everything else carrying on around it, a bit short sighted I think.. Great show though!

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Mark_Jordan says...
3:54pm Mon 3 Sep 12

Franks Tank wrote:
BmthNewshound wrote:
This year the weather was on the air festivals side and there is no doubt that this is Bournemouth's biggest annual event. However, "up to 750,000" is not nearly a million !!, but if next years event continues to attract the crowds perhaps next years event will attract a million visitors.
If 750,000 is "nearly a million" surely it's fair to say "just over half a million". Doesn't sound so big though does it?
Where I was stood on East Cliff on Saturday, I'd say it wasn't quite as crowed as 2 years ago in the same spot.
It is 750 for 3 days with the final day?

So either you have read it wrong or I have.

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oneshortleg says...
5:56pm Mon 3 Sep 12

He said: “For next year we have to see how we build on what we’ve got, build on Night Air and get a solid display programme like we did this year. We want to build on the charity aspect of it as well.”
First thing sort your website out you advertised night air and flying on Saturday night i am sure i was not the only person that saw the website, went down and was dissapointed.
Secondly it has been mentioned to the council many times before to include local charity stalls that could go in the lower gardens and prom!

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manyogie says...
6:58pm Mon 3 Sep 12

We enjoyed every minute, well done the organisers and those that made it work.
Well done to the bus service too.
Booking a beach hut again next yer, great time!

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beachcomber1 says...
7:35pm Mon 3 Sep 12

the seafront seems so dull, boring and empty this evening :-\

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Planenut says...
10:01am Tue 4 Sep 12

Thank you Bournemouth, fabulous weekend, terrific atmosphere, superb Saturday fireworks, booked next year off already.

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Franks Tank says...
10:29am Tue 4 Sep 12

Mark_Jordan wrote:
Franks Tank wrote:
BmthNewshound wrote:
This year the weather was on the air festivals side and there is no doubt that this is Bournemouth's biggest annual event. However, "up to 750,000" is not nearly a million !!, but if next years event continues to attract the crowds perhaps next years event will attract a million visitors.
If 750,000 is "nearly a million" surely it's fair to say "just over half a million". Doesn't sound so big though does it?
Where I was stood on East Cliff on Saturday, I'd say it wasn't quite as crowed as 2 years ago in the same spot.
It is 750 for 3 days with the final day?

So either you have read it wrong or I have.
Probably!

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