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Southport Air Show 2016
Extravaganza
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BETWEEN the 2 World Wars, during the 20th
Century, air shows became extremely popular, and on occasions very daring. Now
in the 21st Century, we might not have space craft flying in formation, but who
needs them when you have the Euro Fighter's deafening roar... The Southport Air
Show is a fantastic continuation to those earlier intrepid airmen’s displays
from the early days of aviation shows. The Southport Air Show now offers
aviation enthusiast 1 of the UK’s best air displays, thanks to a stunning
assortment of aircraft.
Sadly this year, someone did not pass the note on to the weatherman that it was
the events 25th Anniversary and that it was to host the 1st night flight
display. The result was Friday night’s much anticipated night flight had to be
cancelled, but the rest of the event still went ahead. Annoyingly bad weather
over Friday night meant the light aircraft could not land as planned throughout
the show. The only aircraft to land and take off over the weekend, on the beach,
where the Red Arrow's Squirrel, Eurocopter and the Tigers Free Fall Team's Bell
Jetranger. That small issue was quickly made up for by the brilliant aerobatics
taking place in the sky above, on both the Saturday and the Sunday. That is not
forgetting to mention the many other attractions on offer, on the ground. These
attractions incorporated what could have been the most popular highlight for
many visitors, of all ages, a chance to drive a mini-tank on the beach!
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For aviation fans, highlights included watching both the P-40M Kittyhawk and the
Royal Navy Historic Flight's Fairy Swordfish fly, parachute jumps by the Tigers,
the Blades, along with watching a local stunt pilot, Peter Davies, in his
autogyro, a RotorSport Calidus, designed and produced by AutoGyro GmbH of
Hildesheim. We have to say that all the pilots, including the local model
aircraft pilots kept many of the spectators spellbound.
In short… The crowds appeared to have been enthralled by the commentators and of
course by the parachutists along with the very well planned aerial performances made by
both the military and civilian pilots.
An inordinate amount of planning and practice has to be done behind the scenes
each year to deliver this amazing show, so we would like to say a big well done to
all who took part. All of you who where involved with the running of this event
are a credit to the area. We
just hope our photographic coverage pays justice to what was a fantastic event.
Click on
HERE to see our
full photographic coverage from this event.
Tickets for the 2017 event will go on sale early next year and what is planned
will make it the most exciting and amazing aviation event in the North West for
2017!
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