Bournemouth Air Festival goes international!

March 31, 2010

Royal Netherlands Air Force confirmed in growing four-day line-up

Air Festival organisers are thrilled to announce the F-16 Demo Team of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) will be displaying all four days of this summer’s most anticipated seafront aviation event, 19^th – 22^nd August.

Demo Pilot Captain Tobias ‘Hitec’ Schutte, will be roaring over the skies of Bournemouth in the familiar bright orange paint scheme, the colour of the Dutch Royal Family, with the country’s national symbol, ‘The Lion’. Like the RAF display pilots, the F-16 Team have honed their skills during combat missions, most recently this has been in Afghanistan with coalition forces.

Captain Schutte said; “As an international team, we have heard of Bournemouth’s incredible success and status achieved in two very short years and have been interested in displaying – however, it was a recent presentation by Air Festival organisers at the European Air Show Convention provided a compelling offer that the RNLAF had to seriously consider. We are really looking forward to the summer and displaying to many hundreds of thousands of people – we hope they will be as excited as we are.”

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon has a maximum speed of more than 900 miles per hour and a 9.8m wingspan, Captain Schutte will be demonstrating some incredible manoeuvres in the Dutch multi-role jet fighter aircraft including the ‘Barrell Roll’, ‘Cuban Eight’, ‘Dirty Roll’ and ‘High Speed Pass’ at an impressive Mach 0.95.

Jon Weaver Air Festival Director said; “To have international aircraft for 2010 is an incredible addition to our flying display programme for all four days and is thanks to the hard work and ongoing support the town gives to the Festival, giving it the reputation it has.”

 

This year Air Festival Festival-goers will be encouraged to ‘stay longer and see more’ with more planned aircraft, increased support from the Armed Forces and new additions to the evening programme.

The Bournemouth Air Festival is the only event in the country receiving such an impressive level of presence from the Royal Navy as they are set to be bigger and better, demonstrating naval capabilities both out at sea and onshore.  From the RAF, the much anticipated Red Arrows will be making three displays Friday, Saturday and Sunday and will be supported by the adrenaline-pumping Eurofighter Typhoon, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Hawk jet, Tucano and Tutor.

The daytime programme and 1.5 miles of Pier-to-Pier trading space doesn’t end with the aircraft; until 10pm Thursday – Saturday evening’s Festival-goers can enjoy ‘Night Air’ entertainment.  For 2010 this includes the Royal Navy programme, (Royal Marines Combat Display Team and Beat Retreat) live music, balloon glow, street entertainers, fireworks and aviation inspired film screenings.

Added Jon; “The achievements of the last two years – especially last summer’s record breaking numbers, are a lot for everyone involved to live up to, but with increased support from the Navy and RAF and the Dutch F-16 display team confirmed for all four days, the line-up is looking fantastic…I think we’re on track for another triumph!”