Red carpet launch for Bournemouth Air Festival 2010 (From Bournemouth Echo)

Red carpet launch for Bournemouth Air Festival 2010

10:02am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

More stories about: Bournemouth Air Festival

By Harriet Marsh and Faith Eckersall »

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THEY launched it like a Hollywood blockbuster, complete with red carpet at the Odeon cinema in Westover Road, Bournemouth.

It wasn’t hard to see why.

Because Bournemouth Air Festival already IS a record-breaker, the biggest free event of its kind in the UK, and from August 19 to 22 this year they are promising even more.

Film footage of 2009’s spectacular previewed all the favourites which are coming back – The Red Arrows, this year flying with their first female pilot, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Eurofighter Typhoon and, hopefully, the Vulcan bomber.

Following their beach assaults last year, the Royal Marines will return, supported by a strong presence from the Royal Navy, who are bringing two ships to the bay.

Footage below of the Royal Marines beach assault during the Air Festival 2009

As Royal Marine reservists and the combined cadet force from Canford School surrounded him on the stage, Commodore Jamie Miller said: “For us in 2010 this is the only event in the country receiving this level of Royal Navy presence.”

He told the Daily Echo that the town’s warm support for the service clinched the Naval support, and pledged to get 500 visitors per day on board minehunter HMS Bangor, currently on operation in the Gulf.

In the skies above, the town will be hosting the service’s famous Black Cats helicopter display team, for the first time led by a woman.

Lt Becky Frater, of the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton, said: “I can’t wait. I’m going to give 100 per cent to this festival. I’ve got a lot to live up to after last year’s dynamic show. It’s going to be crowd focused, with lots of vertical moves to excite the public.”

Lt Frater, who enjoyed air shows as a child, added: “I love that I’m taking part now and may be inspiring children to grow up and join one day.”

Festival organisers want this year’s visitors to stay longer and see more, taking time to enjoy everything the town has to offer, from food and accommodation to the free events running as part of the Night Air programme in the Gardens.

The military “villages” will have an expanded role and a lifesize Eurofighter Typhoon will be parked on the Pier Approach, alongside the replica Chinook which delighted so many visitors last summer.

Organisers are keen to involve the business community and Patron Packages start at £200.

Bournemouth’s head of tourism Mark Smith said: “From the 1.3 million visitors we generated £30 million worth of income for the town. And the air festival has helped create an additional 650 jobs for the local economy.”

Comments(29)

Trish1 says...
10:29am Sat 20 Mar 10

Am I one of a few who thinks Bournemouth Air Show is a bit blown up? As a kid, I loved the airshows we went to. You could walk around looking at the aircraft on the ground as well as see the spectacular air displays. I guess standing in a massive crowd and watching them for free is better than nothing, but there is no ambience. Does anyone else agree?