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Airbourne, Eastbourne International Airshow - Overview

Airbourne is an annual seafront show, held two weeks before the August bank holiday. It has a flying line just off the beach. There are plenty of viewing spots along the seafront and from nearby Beachy Head. Several of the displays fly over Beachy Head before or after their displays but all can be viewed from several vantage points on its slopes.

The flying line is to the west of the pier (the right as you face the sea) and centres on a Martello Tower, known locally as the 'Wish Tower'. Next to the Wish Tower are lawns which hold an arena and many static displays. The static displays are not displays of aircraft, but mostly military stands from the various services and commercial stalls.

The show usually (but not always) takes advantage of its seaside location to include a beach landing, sea-rescue or similar off-shore enactment.

The flying displays have a heavy military emphasis, usually including the Grob Tutor, Hawk, Typhoon, The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), typically including a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, and the Red Arrows. Also expect a parachute display each day - sometimes two; the Stearman wingwalkers and a prop aerobatic team.

WWII warbirds are generally well represented. As well as the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and another Spitfire, Hurricane or two, you can generally expect one or two American examples, such as a P-51 Mustang, F-86 Sabre or T-6 Texan.

The Red Arrows are typically the highlight and may fly on three or even four of the four days of the show. Each of their full, rolling and flat displays are possible, depending on weather conditions, because there are none of the height restrictions imposed by the aviation authorities at some shows. Sometimes there is also an arena appearance on one of the days, when the pilots sign autographs and hand out promotional literature.

Most of the displays are single aircraft or aircraft teams performing on their own with a few minutes between displays. Occasionally a Messerschmitt and Spitfire or Hurricane will fly together or imitate a dogfight. There are also sometimes flypasts involving both a old and a new craft, such as the Mustang with an F16 in 2010 or a Spitfire with an F16 in 2009. Apart from these welcome but brief displays, there are relatively few joint appearances and nothing like the mass flypasts much enjoyed at the early Southend shows.  

The show has a good reputation for innovation. In 2005 it was the first UK family show to include the American long-range bomber, the B1 and at the same show the Eurofighter Typhoon made one of its first family show appearances. In 2007, Eastbourne scooped the only family show appearance for the Royal Jordanian Falcons. As well as these firsts and the regulars, the show has also given visitors a chance to see close up some of the larger commercial planes in various liveries, especially from the Boeing fleet.

There have been display incidents. In 2005 one of the Falcons parachute display team had to land on an emergency parachute when his main parachute failed to open. In 2007 the Falcons jumped in quite gusty conditions which lead to some interesting landings and one unfortunately serious injury. Since then the parachute display has been provided by other services and landings have been in the sea rather than in the arena.

Commentary used to be provided from a point on top of the Wish Tower, but recently it has come from a kiosk on the promenade. Anchor commentators are joined by specialists from some of the teams - always including Red 10 from the Red Arrows.

This is a free show. There was a disastrous experiment in 2008, when visitors were charged £5 to enter the central area. The effect was not to raise income, as intended, but to deter visitors who chose to watch from less ideal, but free, positions nearby. The experiment cost huge amounts of money because of the operational expenses associated with securing and controlling the charge paid-for area and policing the event.

The planned flying timetable used to be printed in the programme, subject to the inevitable variations, but now the programme simply indicates which displays are due in each one-hour slot. Programme holders can claim a daily flying list from programme sellers and selected information points. Otherwise, listen out on the Airbourne radio station (87.7FM).

A new feature introduced in 2009 were displays at dusk, ending around 7pm. If the weather is kind, the setting sun provides ideal lighting conditions.

It would be good to see a little more variety in the Airbourne line-up, including some of the major crowd-pullers. Airbourne wouldn't be the same without the BBMF - local people reminisce and applaud - and the RAF line-up is probably a constant because of the heavy involvement of the RAF in the day as a whole. Most family shows will expect the wingwalkers. But upon that platform, it would be good to see Eastbourne continue to expand on their already good reputation for innovation. Perhaps a themed show, with a massed warbird showing or some replicas from The Great War Display Team. And the Vulcan hasn't been to Airbourne yet.

Entertainment is not limited to the skies and the arena. A bandstand is the venue for an evening concert, with an emotive sunset spitfire display followed by impressive fireworks. There are also hospitality packages available with premium viewing.

Overall a tremendous free family show and one that deserves the continuing support of local businesses, authorities and residents.