Jets, jumps…Geronimo!

May 14, 2010

Devils, Tigers and Hunter Jet, Bournemouth Air Festival line-up just gets better

With a host of new aircraft already confirmed, including the F-16 Demo Team of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), more superb teams have been added to the ever-growing and impressive display programme for this year’s much-anticipated Bournemouth Air Festival.

The list of new teams participating at the Festival now includes the Parachute Regiment Freefall Team ‘The Red Devils’, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment’s Parachute Display Team The Tigers’ and war bird Hunter Jet,‘Miss Demeanour’. Each a new and exciting addition to the annual event programme, they all promise to amaze and impress the crowds.

Jon Weaver Air Festival Director commented; “We always said this year’s challenge was to develop the aircraft line-up and with these latest confirmations we’re on course for the summer. I’m really excited and equally so for the visitors who wanted to see more. Not only are welcoming back a host of aircraft and display favorites, we also have international contributions from the Dutch F-16, it’s definitely a programme success!”

The Red Devils, the official parachute display team of both the Parachute Regiment (The Paras) and the British Army, will be jumping each day, weather permitting. The team will leave the aircraft from a jump altitude of 10,000 ft accelerating to 120 mph in the first 10 seconds and the first parachutist down will be the high performance canopies generating speeds in excess of 40 mph.

The Red Devils Parachute Team said: “Not only is it our first time to Bournemouth but it will be our first major night display of the year.

The team is looking forward to performing at Bournemouth with our illuminations much like giant sparklers that will definitely impress everyone on the seafront.”

Sponsored this year by ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, The Tigers are experienced parachutists. Dropping into the arena, smoke trailing, flags flying, performing several amazing formations both in the air and under the parachute – watch out for the Flying Dragon, 2-Stack and free fall moves including solos exits, and 2-way, 3-way and 4-way exits with diamond tracks

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The Tigers are ready with a have a host of display routines all dynamic in style with an equally exciting commentary provided by one of the team members

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Miss Demeanor an incredible Hunter Jet will be displaying all four-days of the Festival; pilot Jonathon Whaley said; “It’s the first time I will be displaying Miss Demeanour in Bournemouth and I’m really looking forward to showing her off to the hundreds of thousands of Festival-goers – I can assure you no one has seen an aircraft like Miss Demeanour!”

With a wingspan of over 10meters and capable of Supersonic Flight, the Hunter, flown by 62-year old Jonathon Whaley, an ex Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm pilot, is another powerful jet to add to the ever-growing aircraft line-up.