Blackpool Air Show
Day 1
Day 2
Day one review
Day two review
Blackpool Air Show will return on the 12 - 13 August with some of the world’s finest military and civilian aircraft performing over the iconic seafront.
The Red Arrows, one of the world's foremost aerial aerobatic display teams will open the Air Show on both days, performing high above the seafront opposite The Blackpool Tower.
The RAF Typhoon will provide an extraordinary finale.
The weekend show will also feature a whole host of incredible flying machines with an array of civil and military aircraft, including a display by the AeroSuperBatics Wing Walkers and the Red Devil Parachute Team.
Displays may change due to weather.
Safety Note: Please be aware that tramway will be operational, so please ensure you stay a safe distance from the tramway.
Please note that there will be live filming and photography at this event. Any pictures provided maybe used by VisitBlackpool for promotional purposes. If you do not wish to be included, please contact VisitBlackpool Web Team.
Red Arrows
The Red Arrows, officially known as the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, is the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force based at RAF Waddington. The team was formed in late 1964 as an all-RAF team, replacing a number of unofficial teams that had been sponsored by RAF commands.
https://twitter.com/rafredarrows
https://www.instagram.com/rafredarrows/
https://www.facebook.com › royalairforceredarrows
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/red-arrows/
---------------------------------------------------------------
Calidus
The AutoGyro Calidus is a German autogyro, designed and produced by AutoGyro GmbH of Hildesheim. The aircraft is supplied as a complete ready-to-fly-aircraft. The Calidus was approved in the United Kingdom in 2010 in a modified form as the RotorSport UK Calidus.
-----------------------------------------------------
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a Royal Air Force flight which provides an aerial display group usually comprising an Avro Lancaster, a Supermarine Spitfire and a Hawker Hurricane.
Founded: 1957
Bomber: Avro Lancaster B.I
Active: 11 July 1957 – present
Size: Twelve aircraft
Current commander: Squadron Leader Mark Sugden
https://www.raf.mod.uk/display-teams/battle-of-britain-memorial-flight/
-------------
L-39
The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer designed and produced in Czechoslovakia by Aero Vodochody. It is the most widely used jet trainer in the world; in addition to performing basic and advanced pilot training, it has also flown combat missions in a light-attack role.
-----------
Swordfish
The Fairey Swordfish is a biplane torpedo bomber, designed by the Fairey Aviation Company. Originating in the early 1930s, the Swordfish, nicknamed "Stringbag", was principally operated by the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.
Manufacturer: Fairey Aviation Company
Introduced: 1936
Retired: 1945
First flight: 17 April 1934
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/the-equipment/aircraft/historic/swordfish
--------------------
WASP Helicopter
The Westland Wasp is a small 1960s British turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and is based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter.
Engine type: Bristol Siddeley Nimbus
Manufacturer: Westland Helicopters
Top speed: 193 km/h
Length: 12 m
First flight: 28 October 1962
Range: 488 km
.........................................................
Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1930s–40s which was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. for service with the Royal Air Force.
Engine type: Rolls-Royce Merlin
Introduced: 1937
Wingspan: 12 m
Manufacturers: Hawker Aircraft, Hawker Siddeley, Gloster Aircraft Company, Canadian Car and Foundry
Range: 966 km
Top speed: 547 km/h
==========================
AeroSuperBatic Wingwalkers
AeroSuperBatics Ltd is a British and USA aerobatics and wingwalking team. They performed as the Breitling Wingwalkers from 2011 to 2018 following their sponsorship agreement with the Swiss watch manufacturer Breitling.
https://www.aerosuperbatics.com/
-------------
Harvard
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces, United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1970s
Engine type: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp
Cruise speed: 233 km/h
Weight: 1,886 kg
Wingspan: 13 m
First flight: 1 April 1935
Range: 1,175 km
Top speed: 335 km/h
=========
Red Devil Parachute Team
The Red Devils are the Parachute Regiment's parachute display team. The team wears the distinctive maroon beret. The Red Devils are regular serving paratroopers from the four battalions of the Parachute Regiment who have volunteered to serve on the display team.
------------
Muscle Pitts
https://www.richgoodwinairshows.com/
-------------------
The Ravens
together one of the world’s best-selling self-build aircraft and six hugely experienced pilots, and what you have is Team Raven, a formation aerobatic display team that formed in 2014 and has displayed all across Europe.
The name ‘Raven’ came from a play on the letters ‘RV’ (which makes more sense if written ‘RaVen’ as it on the team’s badge). RV refers to the aircraft they display, the amazing Vans RV-8. It’s an all-aluminium tandem two-seater, fully aerobatic with good ‘g’ limits. The RV-8’s 180hp engine has an excellent power-to-weight ratio, which combined with an efficient airframe gives the aircraft the performance and fighter-like handling that make it perfect for formation flying.
The team’ aircraft have been modified with smoke systems, greatly adding to their dynamic display which exploits the RV-8 capabilities to the full. Entirely self-funded, Team Raven are based at Swansea Airport.
The Pilots
Raven 1 – Simon ‘Sid’ Shirley
Sid, now in his 10th season as a display pilot, is a former RAF fast jet pilot with around 5,500 hours flying time having done multiple tours on the Tornado F3 (flying missions over the Balkans in 1995) as well as QFI tours on the Hawk, the Grob Tutor in the University Air Squadron & Elementary Flying Training roles & on the Grob 120TP Prefect. He now serves as a full-time Reservist QFI & AEF Flight Commander on the Universities of Wales Air Squadron at St Athan flying the Grob Tutor once more. He joined the RAF straight from school (he is NOT academic!), could fly jets before he could drive & was a front-line F3 pilot at 22, although by current Raven Team member’s standards he is a ‘late starter’ having only gone first solo at 17. Unlike the other ex-military pilots in the Team, Sid was too slow when it came to dodging ground tours & has served as Staff in HQ Air Command & in Kabul Afghanistan. 2003 saw an invitation from Chris Heames to instruct on the Yak 52 formation school at North Weald where he went on to meet some of the current members of the Team. The opportunity to display is a dream-come-true for him. A keen motorcyclist, Sid has been known to tour Europe (mainly the Pyrenees) with other bikers & is also a passionate skier. He lives in Cardiff & when not teaching University Air Squadron students to fly or displaying with the Team, he enjoys travelling, cooking (never trust a thin chef!) & amateur astronomy.
The Aircraft
The RV-8 retains the fighter-like feel of centreline seating making it perfect for formation flying. The RV8 has a fuel capacity of around 170 litres – and with its efficient airframe provide long range and high cruise speeds, so long distances can be covered easily. The speed and the excellent climb rate provide options for dealing with weather and terrain that simply aren’t available to most pilots. With a single occupant, it would take off in 250’ and climb out at 2600 fpm. All the aircraft have subtle changes within as they are home built but generally follow the same design.
-
Engine: Lycoming Superior IO-360
-
Max Speed: 220mph
-
Length: 21 ft 0 in (6.40 m)
-
Wingspan: 24 ft 0 in (7.32 m)
-
Height: 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
-
Wing area: 116 sq ft (10.8 m2)
--------------------
Typhoon