The National Museum of Flight says that this year’s show features “one of its strongest ever line-ups both in the air and on the ground”.
The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows will headline the summer spectacle, as they celebrate their 50th flying season. They are joined by a stellar line-up of vintage wartime aircraft, including a Hurricane, a Spitfire, and one of only two Lancasters in the world, from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. A supersonic Typhoon and a turbo-prop Tucano complete the RAF aerial line-up. On the ground, the RAF Presentation Team will be in the Concorde Hangar, and a full-size replica of a Hawk, which visitors can climb into and look around, visits the Airshow for the first time.
Other aircraft in the thrilling flight display include a newly-renovated Bronco, a vintage Tiger Moth, an autogyro, an A1 Skyraider, and a UH-1 Huey helicopter. Crowds will be wowed by the performance of the Breitling Wingwalkers and the RV8ors aerobatic team.
To commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War, the ‘First World War and Strutter 1½ Experience’ will show what life was like at the aerodrome at East Fortune at that time, with actors playing the pilots, the aircrew and the ground staff. Visitors will also be able to see a First World War fighter plane being built on site and learn first-hand what it was like to fly the Sopwith Strutter in combat.
Ground entertainment includes a Q&A with Tony Yule, ex-Concorde pilot; a multi-media musical installation by Drake Music Scotland based on the recollections of Frank Roberts, Battle of Britain veteran; a presentation by the Lytham St Anne’s Spitfire Display Team, and a performance by youth music initiative Feis Rois, as part of the National Ceilidh Trail.
A large selection of food and drink stalls will provide refreshments, while the Community Craft and Culture Marquee showcases local crafters, and the Family Entertainment Zone Marquee includes acrobatic performances and circus skills workshops from the Aviatricks Team.
Steve McLean, General Manager at the National Museum of Flight, commented: “We have a fantastic line-up for this year’s National Airshow. We hope that more visitors than ever can join us to help celebrate the 50th flying season of the Red Arrows, commemorate the First World War, and be entertained by a packed and diverse programme of aerial displays and activities.”
Located at East Fortune, a military airfield dating back to the First World War, the National Museum of Flight’s hangars will be open for visitors to explore. Highlights include Scotland’s supersonic Concorde, Fortunes of War, which tells the stories of those that served at East Fortune, and Fantastic Flight, full of interactive exhibits and family fun.
Further details can be found at www.nms.ac.uk/airshow.
Adult £20, concession £18, child £10 (under 5s free), family (two adults, two children) £50
Parking £4, Programme £4.50
Event programme correct on date of issue. Programme subject to change.
