The RAF Red Arrows will taking to the skies in a spectacular display of aerial entertainment this weekend - and it won't be too far from Bristol. The air force will be performing at the Weston Air Show Saturday (June 25) and Sunday (June 26) at Weston-Super-Mare - less than an hour's drive from Bristol.
The free to attend air show is set to coincide with Armed Forces Day on Sunday, where they will be joined by other world class performers to celebrate the national event. The two-day show starts on Saturday and will be the first time the event has run since 2019. Thousands of people are expected to flock to Weston-Super-Mare's seafront to watch all the stellar aerial entertainment, Somerset Live reports.
As well as a weekend of incredible entertainment in the sky, Weston Air Festival offers attendees the chance to enjoy a whole host of family-friendly fun along the seafront and incorporates the town’s Armed Forces Day celebrations. There will be good old-fashioned seaside fun and activities along Weston's Bay, including fairground rides and stalls selling food, drink and merchandise.
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Here is the full run-down of the aircraft displays taking place:
Great War Display Team: This group of highly experienced pilots display replica World War One aircraft, exactly how they were flown during the Great War over the trenches of Northern France and Belgium. They'll be performing between 1.00pm – 2.00pm.
Yakovlev Yak-3: The Yakovlev Yak-3 is a single-engine, single-seat World War II Soviet fighter. One of the smallest and lightest combat fighters, it produced an excellent performance and proved to be a formidable dogfighter. They'll be performing between 1.00pm – 2.00pm.
RAF Tutor T1: The Grob 115E, known as the Tutor T.Mk 1 in RAF service, was built and equipped especially for the RAF in Bavaria, Germany between 1999 and 2002. They'll be performing between 1.00pm – 2.00pm.
Cheeky Champ Display: The Cheeky Champ demonstration will display for the first year at the event, towing its 550ft colourful ribbon across the skies. They'll be performing between 1.00pm – 2.00pm.
Airborne Pyrotechnics – Grob 109B: The Grob 109b was built in Germany. It flies with multicoloured smoke trailing from the wings, providing a graceful display of aerobatics. Although it has an engine, once airborne the engine can be turned off, the propeller feathered and the aircraft becomes a conventional glider using thermals to soar. They'll be performing between 2.00pm – 3.00pm.
Calidus Autogyro: The innovative Calidus is unique and groundbreaking in design and engineering. This lightweight, two-seat aircraft was designed to take in scenery to the maximum from its transparent cockpit. They'll be performing between 2.00pm – 3.00pm.
Aerosuperatics Wingwalkers: The world-renowned Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers has performed in over 20 countries with their breathtaking acrobatics and handstands and they are flying into Weston-super-Mare this year. They'll be performing between 2.00pm – 3.00pm.
Pitts Special S1-S: Australian born Ian Smith brings his Platinum Jubilee inspired Red, White and Blue to Weston for the first time. This is also Ian’s display season, putting the Pitts through its paces and using his 600+ hours of aerobatics flying to good use. The Pitts Special is purpose-designed Aerobatic Bi-Plane, first developed in the mid-1940s and has been a favourite in the Aerobatics world ever since. They'll be performing between 2.00pm – 3.00pm.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight : Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is a symbol of the Royal Air Force’s finest hour. The Hurricane and Spitfire are two of the most iconic aircraft in world aviation history. They'll be performing between 3.00pm – 4.00pm.
Gazelle Squadron: The Gazelle Squadron is a 4 aircraft flying display, with four five-seat helicopters developed for light transport, training, and light attack duties flying in unison. They'll be performing between 3.00pm – 4.00pm.
Team Raven: Team Raven is a formation aerobatic display team flying self-build RV8 aircraft, painting shapes across the skies in their wake. They'll be performing between 3.00pm – 4.00pm.
Slingsby T67 Firefly: The Slingsby T67 Firefly is a two-seat aerobatic training aircraft, built by Slingsby Aviation in Kirkbymoorside in Yorkshire, utilised as a training aircraft by multiple air forces for three decades. They'll be performing between 4.00pm – 5.00pm.
The Blades: The Blades are a leading display team, world-famous for flying close-formation aerobatics to the highest level. They'll be performing between 4.00pm – 5.00pm.
Red Arrows: The Red Arrows will close the show on Sunday.
Weston Air Festival started as a one-day show before becoming a whole weekend event on Weston Seafront in 2014. Since then it has attracted thousands of spectators to watch incredible air displays over Weston Bay. The event is organised by North Somerset Council, Weston Super Mare Town Council and Culture Weston.
For more information, visit the Weston Air Show website.
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