Weston Air Festival. 21st & 22nd June.

[High flier]

Hi all, just a heads up, that this is coming up this month. And the line up looks fantastic!
They held this over one day last year, with a handful of displays to see if it'd be worth expanding it into a Bournemouth Air Festival style event. And as it was a success, they've expanded it significantly!

Here's the list of aircraft on display and the timetable. Which can also be seen at the following link:
http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/News/Pages/Flying-hig...
I've also organised this more car related event on the Saturday/Sunday night: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Saturday 21st June
Displays
13.00 RAF Falcons Parachute Team (sponsored by Weston College)
13.25 Royal Navy Lynx Black Cat
13.38 Scottish Aviation Bulldog
13.51 Calidus Autogyro
14.04 Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (sponsored by Agilisys)
14.24 RAF Tutor
14.37 Sea King helicopter
14.47 ‘Raging Rhino’ muscle bi plane
15.00 Royal Navy Historic Flight Swordfish
15.13 Royal Navy Historic Flight Sea Fury
15.26 B17 Flying Fortress
15.45 Red 10 arrival
16.15 Army Air Corps Lynx helicopter aerobatics
16.28 RAF Tucano (sponsored by Bristol Airport)
16.45 RAF Red Arrows
17.10 The Hawker Hunter
17.25 Red 10 departure

Arena programme
11.00 Granting of Honorary Freedom of the Town to 40 Commando Royal Marines, Princess Royal Square
11.45 RAFA Band concert
12.30 Armed Forces Day flag-raising ceremony
12.40 Weston Sea Cadet Corps TS Weston Band marching display
13.00 290 Squadron ATC drill squad rifle and banner drill display
13.35 Sealed Knot black powder display - Sir Henry Tillier's Regiment of Foot will present a drill sequence and black powder demonstration
14.20 Weston Sea Cadet Corps hornpipe display
14.30 Avon Fire and Rescue display
15.10 Band and bugles of Somerset Army Cadet Force (silver bugles) band display
15.45 290 Squadron ATC Red Barrows display team
16.20 Weston Sea Cadet Corps Junior Section field-gun race
17.05 Muster of participants
17.15 Drumhead service, evening hymn and sunset

Sunday 22nd June
Displays
11.30 Royal Navy Lynx Black Cat
11.43 RAF Tutor
12.00 Calidus Autogyro
13.00 RAF Falcons Parachute Team (sponsored by Weston College)
13.25 Brietling Wing Walkers
13.38 ‘Belgian Ballerina’ Stampe bBi Plane
13.51 Trig Aerobatic Team
14.04 RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (sponsored by Agilisys)
14.24 Royal Navy Historic Flight Sea Fury
14.37 Royal Navy Historic Flight Swordfish
14.50 ‘Raging Rhino’ muscle bi-plane
15.03 Army Air Corps Lynx helicopter aerobatics
15.15 RAF Tucano (sponsored by Bristol Airport)
15.29 RV8RS aerobatic team
15.42 Sally B B17 Flying Fortress
16.15 The Hawker Hunter
16.28 English Electric Canberra
16.41 AVRO Vulcan
16.54 The Jester Autogyro
17.07 Big Jet Formation
17.20 De Havilland Sea Vixen

Arena programme
11.00 Shadows Elite Cheerleaders
12.00 George Orange, tightrope walker
13.00 Sealed Knot
14.00 George Orange, tightrope walker
15.00 Weston Brass Band
15.30 The Marionettes singing trio
16.30 Weston Brass Band
17.30 George Orange, tightrope walker

[steveeeW]

Cheers for this post! Went to the Bournemouth one last year & was excellent, so will have to pop to Weston on the Saturday! :-)

[DevonPaul]

Thanks from here too - we were actually looking at tickets for Yeovilton one, but then saw this was just up the road.

[royli82]

Thanks for this. I can't wait! Will be great to see the Reds over this part of the country again. Shame Typhoon won't be making an appearance but I guess there's the Balloon Fiesta.

[High flier]

You're all very welcome .

I too was looking at going to Bournemouth. I knew they were ramping it up this year, but that's a pretty stunning expansion of what was a 1 day, 12 display show last year!

Now we just have to hope that the weather holds out!

[williredale]

How busy is it likely to be? My daughter's having her birthday party at the sand sculptures on Sunday so I should get to see (and hear) some of it.

[High flier]

williredale said:

How busy is it likely to be? My daughter's having her birthday party at the sand sculptures on Sunday so I should get to see (and hear) some of it.

Very busy I'd have thought. Assuming the weather is going to be good! It was busy for last years, although as that was one day, it meant everyone came on the same day. With it spread over 2 days now, it may not be too bad!

[yorkieboy]

I'll be there, providing I can get out my estate! Bristol bike ride Roads around the centre closed from 5am FFS.

[PeetBee]

We're looking to go on the Sunday, would anyone have recommendations for where to park and what the best time is to get there?

[High flier]

PeetBee said:

We're looking to go on the Sunday, would anyone have recommendations for where to park and what the best time is to get there?

Parking could be a challenge if you don't get there earlyish. Say maybe 1-2 hours before it starts to be safe, as it was rammed for last years, and that was one day with only about 10 displays. Plus the weather was rubbish then, whereas it's looking perfect for this year!
On the site for the air show the council have listed the following car parks:

Parking
•event parking
Park all day for £7 at Royal Sands beach car park, Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 4NJ. If you’re driving to the event please enter this postcode into your satnav. There is limited disabled parking available. Follow public parking signs to Royal Sands, Marine Parade.

•town centre parking
Carlton Street Multi storey (100 yards from seafront), pay by the hour or £10 all day. Coins or notes accepted: BS23 1UA

Locking Road Long Stay (600yards from seafront), 24 hour ticket only and coin payment only.
£5.50 for cars and £7 for coaches.

And there's also the Sovereign shopping centre car park right on the sea front: BS23 1AH

[DevonPaul]

Just weighed it up - 60-odd miles each way from Exeter, 120 miles means at least 6 gallons of fuel = £35-£40, plus parking.

Or £22 for a train ticket, no hassle trying to park, and a couple of beers as well.

Time to dig out the coolbox :-)

[PeetBee]

High flier said:

Parking could be a challenge if you don't get there earlyish. Say maybe 1-2 hours before it starts to be safe

Thank you

[High flier]

DevonPaul said:

Just weighed it up - 60-odd miles each way from Exeter, 120 miles means at least 6 gallons of fuel = £35-£40, plus parking.

Or £22 for a train ticket, no hassle trying to park, and a couple of beers as well.

Time to dig out the coolbox :-)

That's a good plan! For those who don't know, the station is a 5 minute walk from the sea front!
I've also just read that they're putting on more trains to/from Weston, specifically for the air show!

[yorkieboy]

I'm gona get the train from Bristol, seems a no brainer really. Especially as the big bike ride is on and a lot of roads are closed off!! Looking forward to the Vulcan on Sunday!!!

Edited by yorkieboy on Friday 20th June 21:43

[fatboy69]

Bull dog with chase helicopter just flown low & quite fast over outskirts of Gloucester.

Gutted I'm not in WSM today - working all weekend.

Does anyone know the proposed route, & estimated times, that 558 will take tomorrow on her way to, or from WSM, as I am hoping she will fly somewhere close to Gloucester.

Only chance to see her this weekend.

[williredale]

How was it today?

The Canberra flew over my house earlier whilst I was having a water fight with my neighbours.

[yorkieboy]

Fantastic! I stood on the Pier! Red Arrows were superb as allways! Just going through my hundreds of pics I took!

[Broadoakboy]

Re, Red Arrows, amazing! B17 was the highlight for me though.

[Hammerhead]

williredale said:

The Canberra flew over my house earlier whilst I was having a water fight with my neighbours.

It flew over me too (Mendips) whilst I was cleaning my bike, great to see it. And The Reds went over too

[juice]

We took the train down yesterday, what a cracking day for it..even dipped my toe in the water.

I loved that gyrocopter, mental !