Wales Airshow

Taking to the skies over Swansea Bay on 6 and 7 July 2024

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Airshow After Dark

April 18, 2019 By Chris Williams

A summer’s evening of music, action and airborne excitement is set to transform the sky above Swansea this July.

For the first time, hot air balloons and night-flying aerobatic teams will be gathering to party over Swansea as part of the Wales Airshow weekend.

The special event from 8.30pm on July 6, which will also feature music from 1969, is being staged to help celebrate the city’s 50th anniversary and the show is expected to be really exciting.

Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said the Wales Airshow is already one of the UK’s biggest free events but this year, we wanted to do something extra to mark the city’s 50th anniversary year.

He said: “The Wales Airshow is all about the spectacular and we know that the huge crowds it draws to the city really appreciate the aerial displays and ground events which form the main part of the event.

“We’re among the Red Arrows’ biggest fans and that’s why they made sure we were on their summer schedule for both days of the event.

“But the ‘After Dark’ event promises to add something really special for evening visitors to enjoy. Anyone who’s ever seen hot air balloons by night will know what an amazing sight they are.

“The hot air firing balloons will be spaced out and tethered along Swansea beach and we’ll also have the Fireflies Display Team – two display aircraft with fireworks firing off their wings – doing a night-time stunt show.

“Also planned is a night-time jump by the Tigers parachute display team, one of our Wales Airshow regulars.”

On the ground there will be live music nostalgically taking people back to the late 60s to celebrate some of the sounds topping the charts in the year that Swansea was first designated as a city.

Cllr Francis-Davies said: “Swansea 50 is a celebration of our city’s past, present and future and the Wales Airshow comes less than a week after the official anniversary date of July 3.

“The Wales Airshow has become part of our city’s history and modern heritage with around 250,000 visitors taking to the beach across the two days of the event. We wanted to do something a bit special for the 50th anniversary and ‘After Dark’ at the Airshow will be just that.”

‘This is just one of many events planned throughout the year to commemorate Swansea’s 50th anniversary. Residents and businesses are also being asked to join in by coming up with their own events and ideas to celebrate the unique milestone.

To find out how you can be part of Swansea 50 go to www.swansea50.co.uk

Filed Under: Airshow News, Press Releases

Wales Airshow delight as wartime classics are confirmed

April 9, 2019 By Chris Williams

Three iconic World War II aircraft will bring history to life on both days of this summer’s Wales Airshow.

Copyright: Paul Johnson/Flightline

As part of the celebrations marking Swansea’s 50 years as a city, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will showcase three of just a handful of planes still in the air more than 70 years after their finest hours.

The Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (RAFBBMF) is administratively part of the Royal Air Force No 1 Group and operates from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The Supermarine Spitfire, Hawker Hurricane and Avro Lancaster will make their mark at the Wales Airshow on July 6 and 7 in front of huge crowds.

The aircraft are regularly seen at events commemorating World War II, upon British State occasions, notably the Trooping the Colour celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and at air displays throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. They are proud to have HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as their Patron.

The free event run by Swansea Council has already announced that the RAF Red Arrows will feature in the line-up.

Robert Francis-Davies, the council’s cabinet member for investment, regeneration and tourism, said: “The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is arguably the most historic and evocative flight display in British history.

“Without the planes, the pilots, the crews and the thousands working on the ground that supported our fighters and bombers, Britain’s story could have been very different.

“To see them in flight is to bring history to life and in the 50th anniversary year of our inauguration as a city we are proud to be hosting them here in Swansea.

“Combining with modern aircraft, cutting-edge aerobatic displays and ground-based entertainment, this display is among many that many thousands of spectators will enjoy in the skies above Swansea.

“The council is working on attracting many more exciting additions to the line-up in coming weeks – on the ground as well as in the air. There will be exciting displays, state-of-the-art military aircraft and vintage planes.

Copyright: Paul Johnson/Flightline

“Last year’s Airshow saw record attendances and we’re looking to make the 2019 show bigger with even more exciting air display teams and entertainment.”

Figures show the Wales Airshow attracted 250,000 people last year and was estimated to be worth £9.7m to the local economy.

David Bailey, customer service manager of rail company GWR, the Wales Airshow’s official rail travel partner, said:

“Great Western Railway will help bring more people than ever to Swansea this year with our new Intercity Express Trains providing almost a quarter more seats on every service than the trains they have replaced.

“GWR is proud to sponsor the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight at this year’s Wales Airshow.

“Over the years we have been honoured to name some of our trains after those who served including Battle of Britain pilot Squadron Leader Harold Starr and veteran of the Dambuster raid, Johnny Johnson – forever linking our railway to the regions we serve.”

This summer marks the fifth consecutive year for the Wales Airshow in Swansea.

Filed Under: Airshow News, Press Releases

Amazing turnout for Wales Airshow

July 4, 2018 By Chris Williams

SWANSEA’S Wales Airshow has had another brilliant year with hundreds of thousands of people descending on the city to enjoy the country’s biggest free show.

Two days of flying featuring The Red Arrows, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and fighter planes from World War I proved irresistible to visitors from all over the UK.

Across the weekend, huge crowds turned up to enjoy a whole range of shows on the ground as well as in the air.

Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Innovation, Regeneration and Tourism, said: “It was yet another fantastic weekend for Swansea.

“The Airshow contributes more than £8.4m to local businesses and local economy every year. It’s been a brilliant Airshow.

“Thanks to the clear skies, we had our best ever Saturday with tens of thousands of people on the beach soaking up the sunshine and the show. We’re still evaluating Sunday’s figures after the rain but it has been a truly amazing weekend. Despite the showers, Sunday’s show still went ahead and we only had to cancel two of the 18 flying displays.”

For safety and security reasons this year’s show saw road closures on Oystermouth Road, but this also meant that visitors had more space to enjoy increased ground displays including a rare appearance on the ground of a RAF Red Arrow.

Cllr Francis-Davies said: “This year the RAF is celebrating its 100th anniversary, we’re commemorating the centenary of the end of World War I and Saturday was Armed Forces Day.

“The Wales Airshow was the perfect platform for all these occasions – a mix of old favourites as well as new recruits such as live music featuring local bands on the ground and the Bremont Great War Team including British SE5 biplanes and a German Junkers CL1.

Cllr Francis-Davies said: “The real stars of the show, apart from those in the skies, were the hundreds of thousands of people who come to enjoy a day out or a weekend in Swansea. The family atmosphere they helped generate resulted in one of the best weekends the city has seen.

“Following so closely on from BBC Music’s Biggest Weekend in Singleton Park and seven days after The Killers took the Liberty Stadium by storm, it just proved that Swansea has got the biggest and best stage for summer events.”

“I also want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the tremendous effort put in by council staff, South Wales Police and by our other partners to make the event such a brilliant showcase. I’d also like to thank our sponsors who help to support the sustainability of the Show.

“We’re confident that the thousands of visitors who enjoyed themselves this year will return to Swansea Bay again soon. We are already looking forward to the rest of this year’s events calendar, giving more people even more reasons to visit this year.”

Filed Under: Airshow News, Press Releases

Guinness World Record attempt set for the 2018 Wales Airshow

June 21, 2018 By Chris Williams

Fun at the Wales Air Show isn’t just in the air!

Today an appeal is launched to people coming to the Wales Air Show to do much more than watch. On the Sunday afternoon (July 1) an attempt will be made to break the Guinness World Record for the largest 3 legged race of all time. The current record is 679 held by the Isle of Man but with such a large crowd expected event organisers White Rock Events are appealing for people to get involved.

The record attempt will support the UK’s oldest military charity that covers all branches of the Armed Forces – SSAFA. Andrew Jones from White Rock Events said “We have worked closely with SSAFA over the past few years and they do an amazing job supporting current and former members of the Armed Forces and their families. With the Air Show also taking place on Armed Forces Day (30 June) they were the obvious charity to work with”.

Organisers are looking to attract 1,000 pairs of participants. Each pair will receive a full briefing, race numbers to be worn and a specially made tie to bind their legs together. Each pair will be asked for a £5 donation with all profits going to the charity. People will be able to sign up at the SSAFA stand on both the Saturday and Sunday prior to the record attempt.

Andrew Jones continued “Guinness World Records have provided very detailed guidelines as to what we have to do for the record to be ratified and local accountants Bevan and Buckland have stepped forward to ensure that all rules are compiled with.”
 

Richard Smith from White Rock Events said “The last time most people would have had the chance to take part in a 3 legged race was school sports day. This will be a lot of fun and will be an amazing sight to see. We are sorry that people can’t sign up before the day because the number that count for the record is based on those that finish not how many sign up. ”
 

James Grant, Head of Corporate Fundraising & Events at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity: “We are delighted to be working on another event with White Rock Events, who also organise the successful Ride To The Somme with us. The record attempt is a fun way to engage the public to an important cause – and the funds raised will help us to continue supporting the Armed Forces family”.
 

White Rock Events are very grateful to the City and County of Swansea for all their help with this record and to Bevan and Buckland for agreeing to act as independent witnesses.
 

The Air Show marks the start of a busy couple of weeks for White Rock Events who are the team behind this year’s Gower Bike Ride which takes place on Sunday 15 July.
 

*SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. Every year their staff and team of volunteers help more than 67,000 people, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts.

* For more information visit www.ssafa.org.uk and follow them on Twitter: @SSAFA

 

For more information contact Andrew Jones 07882 562405. info@whiterockevents.co.uk

Filed Under: Airshow News, Press Releases

Lauren Wilson confirmed

June 20, 2018 By Chris Williams

ONE of Britain’s top aerial acrobats will be making her debut at this year’s Wales Airshow with a dazzling display of near-impossible manoeuvres.

Lauren Wilson was crowned Britain’s top female aerobat in 2012, aged 26, and is now a passionate airshow display enthusiast.

Flying a Pitts Special S1-S – G-BKDR biplane, Lauren spends so much of her time flying upside down that she’s written her name upside down on the leading edge of the plane’s upper wing.

Her spectacular show includes rolls, flick rolls, loops and any number of unique manoeuvres honed in a plane that’s less than half the weight of an average Citroen C1 runabout.

Lauren is just one of an increasing array of new attractions at the Wales Airshow which promises to be the biggest and best ever this year. Now entering its fourth year in a row, Robert Francis-Davies, Cabinet Member for Innovation, Regeneration and Tourism, said the Lauren’s display promises to be a breath-taking spectacle.

He said: “This year we’ve got lots to celebrate with the centenaries of the formation of the RAF and the end of World War I as well as 100 years since women were allowed to vote for the first time.

“All of these anniversaries are going to be commemorated at the Wales Airshow and in some style. Lauren Wilson is the latest in a long line of female pioneers of flight, whose exploits can sometimes be overlooked.

“We should all remember the likes of Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic as well as Amy Johnson, the first female to fly alone from Britain to Australia, who was born 114 years ago on July 1.

“She died in 1941 serving her country while a member of the Air Transport Auxiliary; the largely-unsung heroes whose job it was to transport RAF aircraft around the country, thereby freeing-up male pilots for the front line.”

This year’s Wales Airshow takes place on June 30 and July 1and it’s expected the crowd could break last year’s 250,000 record.

Filed Under: Airshow News, Press Releases

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqhpH5CK6g

Returning to the skies above Swansea Bay 1 and 2 July 2023!

Featuring breathtaking aerobatic displays, state-of-the-art military aircraft and vintage planes from the past, tens of thousands of visitors enjoy the Wales Airshow in Swansea Bay every year. Expect to see exciting air displays, incredible ground displays, entertainment and much more. For updates, sign up to our mailing list and be sure to follow us on social media.

What does the Wales Airshow look like?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqhpH5CK6g

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