The Bournemouth Air Festival started in 2008 and attracts more than five million people each year to its four day extravaganza. The festival is one of the largest free air shows in world the is based along Bournemouth sea front between the Boscombe and Bournemouth piers. There are food, charity and other stalls along the cliff top and promenade as well as several carnival rides down on the beach. On Friday and Saturday nights there are concerts on the beach with well known artists and evening air displays as well.
My highlight of the day was the Red arrows display, this year they're celebrating 50th year performing! There are nine jets in the group of acrobatic Hawks, the pilots are all the best of the best from the Royal Air Force. These experienced fighter jet flyers go through a rigorous selection process to a part of this team of precision flyers and fulfill a three year stint of performances.
These hawks are a distinctive red and perform stunts for about half an hour doing formations and acrobatics using red, white & blue jet streams to add to their display.
During the air show three years ago the red arrows lost an amazing team member. This Memorial is on the cliff top so all will remember the pilot that died. His name was John Egging known as Eggman, he died when his hawk tragically crashed after the show August 20, 2011. His loved ones have started a charity called Blue Skies to help youths realise their potential and in memory of this Air Force legend.
The Chinook helicopter doing the roller coaster and other tricks during its demonstration was very impressive! It weighs 13 tons and to watch it rotate, dip and dive midair was neat, they even had a crew member stand on the back platform and wave to the spectators! It can carry 10 tons in weight and fly- there are 4 hooks to carry vehicles- one on each hook! Impressive!!
There are constantly different air crafts flying and putting on different types of demonstrations, some so fast you can't photograph easily, and others who just do a fly by as the announcers explain the history about the plane and its pilots, whom some are international pilots with amazing histories from war experience, weapons specialists, and other notable accolades. This airplane is known as the Flying Fortress.
Along the beach there are ships, tanks and other military vehicles on display for tours, education and close up viewing. One of the largest ships moored off the coastline was used as a Hospital Ship. The tanks and trucks came in different sizes from a landing tank, challenger tank, recovery vehicles, and artillery tanks.
This Challenger 2 tank entered service in 1998 replacing Challenger 1, which cost about £4million each. It weighs 64.5 tonnes, which is about 80 mini coopers combined! the challenger has operated in Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq and takes at least 4 crew to operate- commander, loader, gunner & driver.
If you're in town over the Festival weekend it is well worth your time to experience this entertaining and educational day out!
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