The countdown is officially on to the return of one of Swansea's favourite events, the Wales Airshow. Swansea Bay will be transformed as the aerial spectacular takes over the skies. As well as the action in the sky, there will be ground displays, food and drink trucks, live music, demonstrations, family activities, rides and more. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to arrive in the city to enjoy the two-day event.
The Wales Airshow has grown in popularity from 75,000 visitors in its launch year in 2009 to an audience of about 250,000. The event, organised by Swansea Council, last took place in 2019 before the pandemic caused cancellation. Get Swansea stories straight to your inbox with our newsletter.
Here, we've put together a guide of everything you need to know about this year's event, including the things you can look forward to seeing, the road closures which will be in place, where you can park your car, the best places you can position yourself to watch it all unfold and much, much more.
READ MORE: Where to see the Red Arrows in Wales in 2022
When is it taking place?
Saturday, July 2, and Sunday, July 3.
What time will the event be on?
The airshow site will open at 10am and close at 6.30pm both days. Timetables of displays are to be confirmed much closer to the event, but you'll need to download the official app to find them.
Which aircrafts will be at this years event?
The RAF Tutor Display Team, the Mustang and Spitfire will all be at this years show. Other line-up announcements so far include as follows:
The Red Arrows - The star attraction of the show. Their trademark Diamond Nine shape and combination of close formations and precision flying have made them a massive hit at the event since its inception. Based at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire the Red Arrows had flown almost 5,000 displays by the beginning of 2021, the team's 57th season.
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - It will see three Second World War aircraft in the air more than 70 years after their finest hours. The Avro Lancaster, just one of only two airworthy Lancaster bombers in the world, will delight as it flies in formation with the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane over the huge crowds lining the bay. Inaugurated on July 11, 1957, at Biggin Hill the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aims to maintain the planes that defended Britain in the Second World War in an airworthy condition in order to commemorate those who have fallen in the service of our country.
The Tigers Army Parachute Display Team - An official British Army Parachute Display Team performing parachute displays at events and shows in the UK.
Team Raven - The team will wow the crowd with a series of incredible "aerial acrobatics". The five-man team is led by Simon 'Sid' Shirley who recently acquired an RV8 after switching from his previous RV4 aircraft.
The RAF Chinook Display Team - The Chinook is described as an extremely capable and highly versatile support helicopter that can be operated from land bases or seaborne vessels into a range of diverse environments from the Arctic to the desert or jungle. The aircraft may be heavily armed and is fitted with a suite of self-defence equipment allowing it to operate across highly-contested battlespace. Chinooks are primarily used for trooping, resupply, and battlefield casualty evacuation but the crews are trained to accomplish these tasks under threat from both ground- and air-based enemies.
What else is going to be there?
A whole host of ground displays will be along the promenade, and a full range of food will be available around the cenotaph. The food range will include jacket potatoes, curry, burgers, fish and chips and crepes. Ice-cream, doughnuts and sweets stalls will also be open. Tea, coffee and soft drinks and alcohol will be available for purchase. There will be plenty of toilets and accessible toilets in the event area near the Cenotaph, the Civic Centre, in the event car parks and along Swansea Prom.
Where's the best place to watch?
Organisers say: "We recommend anywhere along Swansea Promenade, from the Civic Centre to the Cenotaph, although some displays may be viewed as far as Mumbles. The displays will be centred on the ground display area by the Cenotaph. Keen photographers among you may like to note that the sun will be in front of you from the ground display and will move towards Mumbles Head (where the lighthouse is). There’s also plenty to see and do at the event plus the main ground displays/activities near St Helen's Ground, The Civic Centre and on the Promenade near the Cenotaph.
"Spectators must stay behind the warning flag display line, which is demarked by white posts with red flags along the bay – this is to allow the aircraft to display as close as possible to the crowd line."
What road closures will be in place?
On Friday, July 1, Oystermouth Road will be closed westbound - towards Mumbles - from noon between the West Way and Brynmill Lane junctions. Diversions will be in place via Carmarthen Road. This will allow exhibitors and traders to set up on the westbound carriageway. Oystermouth Road traffic will be able to travel eastbound until Saturday morning.
Over the weekend, Oystermouth Road will be closed in both directions - between the West Way and Sketty Lane junctions - from 8am on Saturday until 5am on Monday. Access to the Marina, Singleton Park Boating Lake and Swansea University will be maintained throughout. Emergency access will be maintained at all times.
Diversions and parking facilities have been arranged - and park and ride made available - to ensure visitors can reach the event whilst keeping traffic moving around the city as much as possible. Spectators can head to the airshow for 10am on each day, when the ground displays open. The show closes at 6.30pm on both days.
As usual, a section of Oystermouth Road will be closed for the weekend to ensure a safe event environment for the many visitors. This event space - as it did in 2018 and 2019 - enables a large number of number ground displays and creates a visitor area where people can move safely without the risk of traffic. Emergency access will be maintained at all times. You can read more about the road closures by clicking here.
How much is the event?
The event is completely free and no tickets are required.
Where can I park?
Organisers are advertising various car parks where you can leave your car whilst you watch the show, which are as follows:
- Recreation Ground (Yellow car park) – SA2 0AT (£20).
- Swansea Civic Centre East (Orange car park) SA1 3SN (£20)
- Guildhall Rotunda (Brown car park) SA1 4PE (£20)
- Paxton Street (White car park) SA1 3SA (£15),
- King George V Playing Fields (Purple car park) SA2 9AU (£10)
All tickets to park are subject to a 5% booking fee and can be booked by clicking here.
READ NEXT:
- Why Red Arrows pilots clench their buttocks when they fly
- Wales Airshow 2022: RAF Chinook Display Team announced for Swansea aerial spectacular
- Wales Airshow 2022: Team Raven, the hugely popular aerobatics team, are confirmed for July event
- Wales Airshow 2022: Battle of Britain Memorial Flight confirmed for free Swansea event
- Wales Airshow 2022: Red Arrows confirmed for Swansea spectacular
