Gyro  Air Displays and the Tigers parachute display team have been added to the line-up for this year’s free Wales Airshow, which is taking place on Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2.

A type of aircraft with freely rotating blades and a propeller, an Autogyro famously featured in 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice, starring Sean Connery.

Formed in 1986, the Tigers parachute team has performed in locations throughout the world, including Berlin, Kosovo and Cyprus.

Union Jack parachutes have featured in some of their past displays, much like the iconic opening scene from 1977 Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me, starring Roger Moore as 007.

Parachute stunts have also featured in several other James Bond movies, including Moonraker, A View to a Kill and The Living Daylights.

Swansea Council is behind the Wales Airshow, with Swansea University on board as the event’s key sponsor this year.

Frances Jenkins, the council’s Strategic Manager for Culture, Tourism, Marketing and Events, said: “This summer’s Wales Airshow is now really starting to take shape, with the Autogyro and the Tigers parachute display team adding to an event that already includes the Red Arrows, the Typhoon display team, the Sea Vixen and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

“There will be aircraft from all eras at the Airshow, helping cater for fans of nostalgia and both residents and visitors keen to see state-of-the-art technology in the skies above Swansea.

“Being held in July for the third consecutive year, this event has become a key part of our Enjoy Swansea annual programme of events and activities. It’s enormously popular with local people and airshow enthusiasts from across the UK and beyond, meaning it’s sure to once again help generate a bumper weekend of trade for our businesses.

“More confirmations will be announced in coming weeks as we finalise the details for the best free event of its kind in the country.”

A dynamic timetable of display times for the event will be fed into a Wales Airshow App a few days before the free event.

The App will also be updated in real time to reflect changes in the event schedule and timings that may be caused by the weather and other factors.

Sponsored by the Oxwich Bay Hotel and including ‘money off’ vouchers, the App is now available to download from the App Store and Google Play for £1.99.

There will be free updates for people who bought the App for last year’s Airshow.

The App also includes information and links to places to stay, things to do, and places to eat and drink. Other features include display team biographies.

Download the APP

An official Wales Airshow App is now available to download.

The dynamic timetable of display times for the Airshow will be fed into the App a few days before the free event, which is taking place in Swansea on Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2.

The App will also be updated in real time to reflect changes in the event schedule and timings that may be caused by the weather and other factors.

Swansea Council is behind the App and the Airshow, with Swansea University being the key sponsor this year.

Among the aircraft confirmed so far are the Red Arrows, the Typhoon display team, the Sea Vixen and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Get the APP

The App, which is being sponsored by the Oxwich Bay Hotel and includes ‘money off’ vouchers, is available to download from the App Store and Google Play for £1.99.

There will be FREE updates for people who bought the App for last year’s Airshow.

Frances Jenkins, Swansea Council’s Strategic Manager for Tourism, Marketing and Events, said:
“There were over 70,000 page views on the App during last year’s event so this popularity, coupled with the positive feedback we’ve received, has led us to reintroduce it for the 2017 Wales Airshow.

“It’s the only place where people will be able to get the display times, with free App updates being made available for people who bought it last year. There’s a nominal fee for a first time purchase, but this all helps to support the income streams for the event to ensure that it becomes sustainable in future years.

“With special offers from local businesses and lots of other information, the App will be an extremely handy, portable guide for the hundreds of thousands of visitors we’re again expecting to attend the free, world class Wales Airshow.

Get the APP

“Many more aircraft and the details of ground-based entertainment will be confirmed in coming weeks as we continue to make progress on organising an event that’s worth more than £1m to the Swansea economy.”

The App also includes information and links to places to stay, things to do, and places to eat and drink. Other features include display team biographies.

Get the APP

A CUTTING edge fighter jet capable of cruising at speeds of around 1,000mph without afterburners will once again be taking part in this year’s Wales National Airshow.

Swansea Council can confirm that the Eurofighter Typhoon will be returning to the event this summer! Flying out of RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, Flight Lieutenant Ryan Lawton will pilot this year’s Typhoon displays.

With a maximum speed of over 1,300mph, the Typhoon can reach an altitude of 55,000 feet. Measuring close to 16 metres in length, the aircraft has a wing span of over 11 metres.

Swansea University will be the event’s main sponsor this year, with the Red Arrows having also confirmed their participation.

Frances Jenkins, Swansea Council’s Strategic Manager for Culture, Tourism, Marketing and Events, said: “We’re delighted to announce that yet another world class display team has confirmed they’ll be taking part in this summer’s Airshow, ensuring that we meet our objective of delivering an event that continues to meet people’s expectations, year on year.

“As the council continues to work on the event’s organisation behind the scenes, residents and visitors can expect more confirmations over coming weeks.

“As well as aerial displays, ground-based entertainment will also form part of the event, which is being held this summer for the third consecutive year.”

The Wales Airshow is set to take place on the weekend of Saturday July 1 and Sunday July 2 2017.