My favourite childhood memory is being stood on the seafront watching the Red Arrows roaring across the sky in front of me with their colours of red, white and blue trailing behind them and my love of aircraft has stayed with me ever since.
Without fail, every year we make sure we see the Red Arrows displaying if they are local, from Lyme Regis to Lymington and we ensure we get there early to get the best spots, but it is the air shows with a variety of aircraft that we really enjoy. We normally head to Bournemouth Airfest as it is closest to us but this year we are away and have decided to travel to Sussex to see what AirBourne has to offer instead.
Airbourne won Tourism Event of the Year 2015/16 at the Beautiful South Awards, Highly Commended in the 2016 VisitEngland Award and voted the UK’s Best FREE Airshow by Airscene – Airbourne celebrates 24 years of airshow excellence in 2016!
The incredible four-day airshow on Eastbourne’s stunning seafront runs between 11-14 August 2016 from 10am each day, featuring some of the best RAF and international flying display teams, including some of our favourites, the Chinook, RAF Typhoon, The Blades, Brietling Wingwalkers and the Battle of Britain Memorial display.
There are also many displays we have not seen before including the Hangar 11 P51 Mustang, OV-10B Bronco, B25 Mitchell and many more.
Airbourne is not just about all the things to see in the air. The Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army and the Royal Air Force are all represented over the Airbourne weekend and visitors can meet the Recruiting Teams to get some career advice and ask questions, take on the Royal Marines Commando Challenge and see how long it takes to lift the power bags around the course.
The Army also have an inflatable assault course for you to test out your fitness and agility along with a Gazelle helicopter on display, Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank and flight simulator.
In the evening there is also a great live entertainment line-up at the free four-day event with a music stage on the beach with live bands playing into the early evening.
The prime position to watch the air displays is on the seafront which is also host to plenty of trade stands to peruse in between displays or if you want to stay away from the crowds, head to the Park n’ View car park at Dencher, Beachy Head which has excellent views of the flying over Eastbourne.
I do quite fancy the Helicopter pleasure flights over Beachy Head that are available over Airbourne and at £40pp they won’t break the bank either.
Have you been to Airbourne before – what is your favourite thing to see?
Looks like there was lots to see and do. Isaac looks like he’s having a lot of fun.
This looks amazing, I always loved airshows as a kid too. Hoping we can take the kids to see one soon 🙂
A childhood memory I have is watching the Red Arrows at an airshow. I’d forgotten about that until now! Glad you had fun:-)
Great photos – you can’t beat an airshow and one on the beach sounds awesome. You had great weather too! x
I love air shows. When I was little I used to live near Farnborough and would watch the aircraft flying into the airshow, now living near Goodwood we get Spitfires flying over our house and airplanes doing loop the loop over the harbour, we are very spoilt! My husband grew up near Eastbourne and has fond memories of the airshow there, he’s always badgering us to come, but I’m waiting till the children are old enough to appreciate it!
I have never been but boy would I love to go, I love aircraft old and new and to be at the beach too would just be fantastic. It looks like and sounds like you had an amazing day and I may have to speak to hubby about maybe coming down for the weekend. Thank you for sharing 🙂
I’ve never been to an airshow but this one looks like lots of fun. I’d be rubbish at the assault course but would happily pay £40 for the helicopter.
My Husband is covering the Farnbrough air show – I know completely different show but Ii just made think. I was thinking about going up to see it this year as my husband goes on and on about it. But this year it more of a trade show then public so I’m told.
Anyway look like you got a little solider on your hand. 😉 xx
p.s: When I say my husband is covering, I mean he the official photographer for the air show. xx
We go to Sunderland Airshow every year which sounds really similar and we love it! It’s like a family tradition now 😉
There is something magical about airshows. The boys love to visit Sunderland every year.
This looks like a great event too
Wow this looks like a great event. It must be great watching from the beach x
We live near Southend on Sea, which was famous for its airshow (and having the world’s longest pleasure pier!), but sadly it was stopped a few years back. We’ve really missed it and the seafront feels like it really lacks atmosphere and personality without it. Eastbourne is less than two hours from us, so I’m seriously considering making the trip for the next one!
I have never been to an air show but it looks like it was lot’s of fun! I know my little man would be in his element!
I hadn’t heard of this before but it sounds like a great day out!
Looks like such a fab day out. Love the photos x
This looks great fun. We were in my hand garden last week and the red arrows flew over. It was amazing to see. Love the pics x
This sounds like a great family event – the Mr and Jamster in particular would enjoy this! x
Oh wow I bet it was amazing and the kids would love it. The last time I saw something like this was the Duxford Battle of the Proms which was fantastic 🙂
This looks such a great event – I have never been to an airshow. I do remember seeing the Red Arrows once fly over Tenby. Kaz x
We used to go to lots of airshows when we were kids and our favourites were always the red arrows. I am really looking forward to seeing them at Chatsworth in September x
We have an airshow very close to us and I have never been. I know my kids would love it though. Maybe next year!
I hadn’t heard of this before but it sounds like a great day out!
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