Image © Paul Johnson/Flightline UK
Sunderland is getting ready to celebrate the 30th Airshow – one of the UK’s largest outdoor events.
What began as a small scale community event in 1989 has grown in size and popularity to become a landmark event, attracting visitors and exhibitors from around the world.
This year’s event (July 27, 28 and 29) will see some crowd favourites set to return along with some new aerial and ground displays and attractions.
Sunderland City Council Head of Events, Victoria French said: “We are all looking forward to the 30th Sunderland Airshow, an event which the people of our city and the region have really taken to their hearts to help make it the success that it has become.
“Generations of families have grown up with the Sunderland Airshow with literally millions of visitors coming to our city over the last three decades to share and enjoy the spectacle.
“Everyone will have their own favourite memories of the event, and hopefully we’ll create a few more new ones this year.”
Victoria French added: “Our flying partners at the RAF are already preparing to take to the skies over our beautiful coastline in the last weekend of July. What makes our 30th Airshow event even more special is that it will also allow us to share in the 100th anniversary of the event’s greatest supporters and most popular attractions – the Royal Air Force – whose centenary it is this year.”
Crowd RAF favourites the Red Arrows, Typhoon, RAF Falcons parachute display team and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight are all scheduled to play a part in this year’s Sunderland Airshow.
A number of civilian aerial displays are also confirmed including some new attractions eager to excite the crowds at one of the country’s best known and well attended airshows.
This includes the ‘Otto’ helicopter pyrotechnic display team who will join the Fireflies and Twisters to literally light up the skies above the seafront on opening Friday night again with their airborne fireworks.
Also making their Sunderland debut the next day will be Team Raven, a six-ship formation aerobatic display team.
They join display acts such as The Blades, Bronco and the AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers with the return this year of the MIG15, Vampires, Blenheim and Peter Davies Gyrocopter.
