{"id":40557,"date":"2024-07-30T10:52:46","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T09:52:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dream-cottages.co.uk\/blog\/?p=40557"},"modified":"2025-07-04T11:23:02","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T10:23:02","slug":"bournemouth-air-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dream-cottages.co.uk\/blog\/bournemouth-air-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Bournemouth Air Festival: Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

*NOTE: The Bournemouth Air Festival has been cancelled for 2025; Keep your eyes peeled for 2026 dates!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Looking for an event by the sea that all of the family will enjoy? Look no further than Bournemouth Air Festival, the largest of its kind in the UK.<\/p>\n

Running annually since 2008, this free festival offers various displays and activities, guaranteeing something for everyone to enjoy!<\/p>\n

Ready to head to the danger zone? Here’s everything you need to know about the Bournemouth Air Festival…<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Skip Ahead to:<\/h2>\n

Bournemouth Air Festival FAQs<\/a>
\nWhat is Flying at the Bournemouth Air Show?<\/a>
\nGetting to the Bournemouth Air Festival<\/a>
\nWhere to Stay Near the Bournemouth Air Festival<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n

Bournemouth Air Festival FAQs<\/h2>\n

\"Bournemouth<\/p>\n

When is the Bournemouth Air Festival?<\/h3>\n

The Bournemouth Air Festival<\/a> is a free entry event that normally takes place over three days at the end of August.<\/p>\n

How Many People Attend the Bournemouth Air Festival?<\/h3>\n

Over 10 million people have attended this award-winning festival from all over the world since 2008; approximately 600,000 visitors were expected last year<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What Can I See and Do at the Bournemouth Air Festival?<\/h3>\n

The festival stretches approximately 1.5 miles, between Bournemouth<\/a> and Boscombe Piers, offering plenty of places to sit and enjoy the show. Why not bring a picnic and enjoy the displays on the sand with a tasty lunch to tuck into? Alternatively, choose from a wide range of food and drink stands dotted along this stretch of coastline.<\/p>\n

On land, you’ll find a wealth of attractions from Armed Forces villages, with interactive attractions and demonstrations and an array of current British Army equipment.<\/p>\n

You will also find funfairs and entertainment for the kids, a vision cinema to watch a movie right on Bournemouth Beach and a firework display which will be taking place on Friday and Saturday night in the bay after 10pm.<\/p>\n

You will also find Royal Navy Vessels out to sea during the event, so keep your eyes peeled!<\/p>\n

What Time Does the Bournemouth Air Show start?<\/h3>\n

The festival opens at 10am every day<\/strong>, with the first flights starting in the early afternoon, usually from around 1pm. Thursday night ends around 9pm and both Friday and Saturday night finish around 10pm with a firework display.<\/p>\n

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What is Flying at the Bournemouth Air Show?<\/h2>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

A wide variety of aircraft will be heading over the Bournemouth coastline over the three-day event, with the roaring sounds of thunder a given! This is a perfect opportunity to see some of the finest planes ever created.<\/p>\n

Plenty more announcements will be given closer to the event but the lineup so far includes planes and helicopters such as the Westland Wasp HAS1<\/strong>, this helicopter is a fantastic example of the Historic Royal Navy Aviation. Another helicopter that will be on display for the full 3 days will be the Leonardo AW159 Wildcat Maritime Attack<\/strong> helicopter. There will be two helicopters taking part in the Royal Navy Black Cats display, these machines can reach max speeds of 180mph! So keep an eye out for them.<\/p>\n

Also on display is the RAF Tutor Display Team<\/strong>, showing off their aerobatic skills and fantastic aerial manoeuvres across the full three-day event and the AeroSuperBatics Wingwalkers<\/strong>, with some incredible daredevil moments!<\/p>\n

The powerhouse of the RAF Typhoon Display Team<\/strong> will also be showcasing their skills over the 3 days of the 2024 festival. This will include daytime and dusktime displays so you can see them highlighting their flight skills during different times of the day! Make sure you have your camera ready, if you are quick enough of course!<\/p>\n

\"Boeing<\/p>\n

Another historic aircraft making a triumphant return is the B-17 SallyB Flying Fortress<\/strong>, the American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft has not taken part in the festival since 2018. Developed in the 1930s and was used in the Second World War. There are now only six airworthy B-17s left in the world.<\/p>\n

Displaying on Thursday and Friday in what will be an Air Festival first is the incredible Swedish Air Force Historic Flight’s Saab Viggen<\/strong>. This aircraft will do joint displays with a plane that has also not been to the Bournemouth Air Festival since 2019, the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight’s Saab Draken J 35J.<\/strong> This is a display you will not want to miss!<\/p>\n

Another display back for the first time since 2019 is The Red Devils Army Parachute Display Team<\/strong>, which will be appearing across all 3 days! The Red Devils Army Parachute Display Team is an elite unit of the British Army Parachute Regiment, the Red Devils perform over 350 tandem skydives and 60 parachute displays every year!<\/p>\n

\"Lancaster<\/p>\n

And of course, a British Air Festival could not be complete without a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight<\/strong>. The full Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) “Lest We Forget” will include the heroes of World War II, with the Lancaster<\/strong>, the Hurricane<\/strong> and the Spitfire<\/strong>. They will be taking to the skies of Bournemouth in 2024 in what is the 80th Anniversary Year of D-Day, commemorating those brave individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.<\/p>\n

Flying times vary throughout the day, there will be afternoon and dusk displays so make sure you check the full flying program brochures available on the day to purchase.<\/p>\n

Although this festival is suitable for all ages, it may be rather loud during the fly passes and displays so it may be worth bringing ear defenders along with you or they can be purchased on-site if required.<\/p>\n

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Getting to the Bournemouth Air Festival<\/h2>\n

\"RAF<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, you can’t head to the event as easily as the pilots do for the air displays but there are still several options for you to choose from when arriving at the festival.<\/p>\n

By Car<\/h3>\n

Cars parks will be super busy during this event around town but if you are looking at driving to the event, car parks such as Avenue Road and Richmond Hill are just a small walk from the beach!<\/p>\n