Airbourne: Eastbourne International Airshow

Airbourne

13th - 16th August 2026

Red Arrows 5:4 cross at Airbourne 2025

Airbourne has again be saved by its popularity. Whilst other free seaside shows have been lost, at least temporarily, from the airshow calendar, Eastbourne's International Airshow powers on.

Support from the public, the Borough Council and local businesses generated sufficient confidence for the Council to announce at the beginning of October 2025 that Airbourne 2026 would go ahead.

Airbourne certainly deserves support, not only from airshow fans, but also from local hoteliers and businesses, who benefit from the huge influx of visitors attracted by the event.

Details of the 2026 airshow will be here when announced and the flying list will be in the table when we have it.

Airbourne

14th - 17th August 2025

Airbus A400M Atlas at Airbourne 2025

Concern for the future of Airbourne has been ongoing for some while, principally because of the huge cost, estimated at around £½ million per show. Support from the Borough Council and local businesses generated sufficient confidence for the Council to announce in November 2024 that that Airbourne 2025 would go ahead, although its future beyond 2025 remains dependent on resources.

Airbourne certainly deserves support from local hoteliers and businesses, who benefit from the huge influx of visitors attracted by the event, as well as from airshow fans.

Whilst some other shows, especially free seaside shows, are finding it hard, or even impossible, to continue, Airbourne powers on and offered a bumper show in 2025.

Airbourne was the only show in the whole of 2025 to feature the Red Arrows on four consecutive days. This year there were also displays on all four days by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, including the phenomenally popular Lancaster, and there were three days of displays by the favourite of noise-lovers: the Typhoon.

Airbourne should also have included a debut display by Melanie Astles. Born in Britain but brought up and living in France, Melanie is a five-time French aerobatics champion and has top ten rankings at European and World levels. Unfortunately, her plane had technical problems and so, at the last minute, she had to pull out of Airbourne 2025. Swiss-based 46 Aviation, with wingwalker Danielle Del Buono on the wings and husband Emiliano flying their Stearman was an early announcement back in March but also an early withdrawal.

Despite the loss of these very impressive teams, there were still 14 different displays over the 4 days, involving 28 aircraft or, counting all aircraft over all 4 days, a total of 46 displays and 99 aircraft. And all for free.

The Chinook has always been one of the most popular displays at airshows, and Airbourne is certainly no exception. Unfortunately, in 2025 there have been no traditional Chinook displays at all. There have been a few 'role demonstrations' but these have been principally at large military shows, such as at RAF Cosford and the Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.

Black Cats

Step in the Black Cats from the Royal Navy with their display by not one, but two, Leonardo AW159 Wildcat helicopters. Unfortunately, one of the two helicopters was a technical casualty on Thursday, leaving an impressive solo display, but the the team were back displaying as a pair on the remaining three days.

Whilst not as distinctive as the dual-rotor Chinook, in the hands of the Royal Navy experts the Wildcat was certainly impressive, engaging the audience with steep bows, close-formation hovers and cross-overs.

The RAF are invariably very supportive of Airbourne and 2025 was no exception. In addition to the Battle of Britain memorial Flight and the Red Arrows on all four days, the Grob Tutor also displayed every day and the Typhoon was there every day except Thursday.

The displays by the Red Arrows were all 'rolling', because airspace restrictions prevented the full-height alternative. The team were on top form and held the attention of the crowd, estimated at 750,000 over the four days, throughout the 23 minutes of formation and dynamic manoeuvres. Theirs was the last display on the daily programmes except on Sunday, when the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performed the finale.

The 'Bring on the Noise' Typhoon is another attention grabber. It is noticeable that when quieter or less well-known aircraft perform their displays, there is movement in the crowd, a little walking around, and games on the beach. But when the Red Arrows and Typhoon are in the air, the vast majority stare skywards for the duration.

Rounding off the RAF contribution to Airbourne was the Grob Tutor, in which Flt Lt Bob Dewes showed potential Air Cadets, students of University Air Squadrons and RAF recruits what this elementary flying trainer can do. The display is usually carried out in a red, white and blue Tutor but fans at Airbourne were able to see Bob Dewes flying both this and the RAF Cranwell-based yellow and black one.

Red Arrows 5-4 cross on Sunday

Typhoon in its own heat and vapour haze

As well as monoplane aerobatics from the RAF's Grob Tutor, biplane civilian versions abounded, headed by two of Airbourne favourites: the Wingwalker and Richard Goodwin. The Wingwalkers usually come to Airbourne in pairs, but only one was available this year, allowing pilot Dave Barrell and wingwalker Emma Broadbent the freedom to demonstrate a routine not frequently seen on the south coast. Instead of emphasis on a series of cross-overs, the routine allows David and Emma to show more dynamic aerobatics, including passes with Emma hanging beneath the inverted Boeing Stearman.

RAF Typhoon

Stampe Formation Team

Grob Tutor

Richard's display was closer to his normal, absolutely bonkers, twists, spirals and seemingly impossible hanging in the air. His jets were not working on any of the four days but the speed and variety in the display made it difficult to tell.

Alongside these Airbourne regulars, the Stampe Formation Team made their first, and very welcome, visit to Eastbourne. There were three Stampe SV4s in the display on Thursday, because of a technical problem with one of the aircraft, but the full complement of four of these Tiger Moth-like biplanes for the remaining three days. As well as the four-ship routine, the display ended with a stunning solo by team leader Richard Ward with a wonderful demonstration of the versatility of this biplane, based on an original design by Georges Ivanoff for the Stampe and Vertongen Company and first flown by Jean Stampe over 90 years ago.

As well as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, there were two other examples of WWII-era Stalwarts: the Rolls Royce Heritage Flight's Spitfire PRXIX and a P51D Mustang.

The Spitfire is an example of the lesser-known role of this fighter aircraft. The PR designation stands for Photo Reconnaissance because this, and several other aircraft better known for other roles, were fitted with huge cameras and took photographs across the territory of the enemy and of its significant features, or of damage inflicted, to give interpreters back home an opportunity to study the terrain, the damage or the opportunities for advance.

Mustang 'Moonbeam McSwine

"Spitfire PRXIX"

Aircraft had been used for observation since the early days of wartime flying in the first world war, but the advance in technology had enabled the technique to be enhanced beyond anything the first world war pioneers could have imagined. These photo reconnaissance aircraft flew at high level, without guns or other defence, and brought home the film that guided strategists.

The Mustang had a more familiar purpose: as a fighter and to support bombers, especially on long-range escort missions. The P51D's fuel capacity was a plentiful 1,000 litres, even more with drop tanks, which gave the P51D model of the Mustang a massive range of 2,000 miles, transforming the ability of the allies to escort bombers to much more distant targets than had been feasible earlier in WWII.

Moonbeam McSwine is not the same aircraft, but represents one in which Captain Whisner became a 'Triple Ace' by achieving 15½ aerial victories in WWII. The aircraft's ‘Moonbeam McSwine’ name is based on a long-running character in a comic strip series in which 'Moonbeam' was a woman who preferred the company of pigs to people.

de Havilland Vampire FB.52

Strikemaster

Jet Provost T.5 XW324

Jets are always a favourite at Airbourne. Almost everyone loves the Typhoon and classic jets are also attention grabbers.

There were three classic jets at Airbourne: the Jet Provost displayed on the opening two days; the Strikemaster on the last two days and the Vampire on all four of the days.

The de Havilland DH100 Vampire was was the first of these three to enter RAF service. It was the second jet used by the RAF (the first was the Gloster Meteor). It first flew in 1943 and entered RAF service very soon after WWII, in late 1946. It remained active front-line service with the RAF until 1953 and as an RAF trainer until 1966. It remained with various other air forces. The Swiss Air Force was the last to keep them in active service, the last one not retiring until 1990. The example displaying at Airbourne is part of the Norwegian Air Force Historic Squadron (NAFHS) and was a single seat FB.52. The NAFHS also own and display a two-seat version, the T.55.

The Jet Provost is a jet-powered development of the piston-engined Percival Provost. The Percival Provost, and its successor the Jet Provost, were both basic trainers. The Jet Provost first flew in 1954 and was in RAF service from 1955. It was still in use nearly 40 years later, not leaving the RAF until 1993 when it was replaced by the Tucano.

The Strikemaster is a development of the Jet Provost but with refinements such as a more powerful engine and better performance, to make it suitable as a light attack aircraft, rather than a trainer.

The full list of 2025 displays and pilots is in the table.

As well as the flying displays, there was plenty on the ground to keep all age groups engaged. The Western Lawns, close to the 'Wish tower', have long been the focus of ground entertainment and the same pattern was followed this year. Military exhibitions and information stands predominated the area, with representation of all services, not just those represented in the flying displays. These included a good spread of interactions, including a chance to sample some military cooking, to go inside a replica Chinook, to take an imaginary flight in a simulator or simply to discuss military life with the many representatives of the services at their own stands in the military village.

The trade stands, too, appeared more vibrant this year, with a good variety of vendors showing their wares, mementos and services in a well organised trade avenue.

It is a pity that the Carpet Gardens, often a reason for visiting the town, were in an early stage of transformation and rather immature and unattractive, and that some of the buildings, especially close to the pier, did not show Eastbourne at its best. However, the pier itself was as popular as ever and the bandstand offered a huge variety of musical entertainment.

With a rejuvenated Victoria Place (where the road works were in 2025); more mature carpet gardens, and the first class hospitality for which the town is famed, we look forward to enjoying the 32nd Airbourne in 2026.

Airbourne

15th - 18th August 2024

Red Arrows mark their 60th Anniversary

Last year there was considerable concern that Airbourne could not continue, principally because of the huge cost, estimated at around £450,000. The sterling support of the Borough Council and local businesses generated sufficient confidence that the funding could be secured and in October 2023 the Council confirmed that the 2024 show, now in its 30th year, would go ahead.

Since then, the local authority, the business community, charities, attendees, supporters and other organisations have worked extremely hard to make the event a success for the seaside town and for its visitors.

Day by Day  

All that effort deserved a chunk of good fortune but fortune forgot to smile on the opening day.

Airbourne usually provides a varied flying programme on all four afternoons. The first day, Thursday, is usually the quietest but in 2024 it should have been one of the major days, including the only display of the event by the Red Arrows and also one of only two displays by the Draken. Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way.

A combination of technical problems and the weather at the aircrafts' operational bases, halved Thursday's flying programme. The Draken was caught out by the weather at Bournemouth and the Lancaster couldn't get out of the BBMF's base at Coningsby. The Rolls Royce Heritage Flight Mustang also couldn't get to Eastbourne and the wingwalkers were cancelled because of technical problems.

The programme for Thursday, which had looked promising on paper, was therefore reduced to the Red Arrows, the Jet Provost T5 (which flew a reduced display because of the time and fuel it spent holding), Richard Goodwin's Jet Pitts (but without the jets) and the OV10 Bronco.

The reduction in the programme is not the fault of the organisers, who had arranged an attractive four-day programme, including that opening day. They and the teams who did manage to display in Thursday's very difficult conditions are to be applauded for the efforts made and the impressive flying that the crowd were able to enjoy.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday were much more successful days for the show with a lot of sunshine, modest winds, far fewer cancellations and a more plentiful line-up. The Wingwalkers were still dogged by technical problems on Friday, which prevented their popular family display, but they were there with one wingwalker on Saturday and two on Sunday. The Rolls Royce Spitfire suffered gremlins, too, but it was back flying with the Mustang at the weekend. (... continued below the picture)

The Displays

Something new

Visitors can generally depend on Airbourne for something new each year. Three teams made their debuts this time. The most striking was the first appearance of the Saab Draken from the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight. Although it was unable to display on the first day of the show because the weather prevented it leaving the airport at Bournemouth, the Draken was the show opener on Friday, its second and only other scheduled display day. Flown by display pilot Lars Martinsson, the Draken arrived with full afterburner and performed a dynamic rolling display beneath the permitted maximum height of 9,000ft. It was not possible to replace the missing Thursday display later in the weekend because the Draken had commitments back in Sweden but hopefully it will be back another year.

The second 'newcomer' to Airbourne was the D-Day Memorial Display. The individual aircraft were not new to Eastbourne but it was a novel trio, listed as the Bristol Blenheim, a Supermarine Spitfire and a North American Mustang. In practice, the Mustang was replaced by a second Spitfire, but the Blenheim flanked by a pair of contemporary fighters was nevertheless a thrill to behold. The trio, all from the Aircraft restoration Company based at IWM Duxford, were flown by John Romain MBE in the Blenheim and Jon Gowdy and Michael Collett in the Spitfires. The three aircraft entered as a group centered on the Blenheim, which broke away for its solo followed by a duo display from the Spitfires before the Spitfires presented their own solos.

Warbird aficionados will have loved the D-Day Memorial trio routine and enjoyed the pairs and separate Spitfire displays. It has to be said, however, that the Spitfire pairs routine followed by two successive displays by those same aircraft, did not manage to retain the attention of everyone, especially to the many in the crowd who may not have appreciated the differences in Spitfire Mark or flying style. The whole set, from arrival at crowd centre to final departure, lasted 25 minutes, of which 14 minutes was the Spitfire pairs and solo displays. It was noticeable that there was quite a lot of walking around on the beach and the promenade and that more of the spectators took to their phones as the displays continued.

It must be difficult for organisers to reach the right balance between pleasing the knowledgeable fans and keeping the casual spectator interested. That sequence, despite its potential and historical and local significance, may not have got that balance right for everyone. But for warbird fans, if the D-Day Memorial display didn't satisfy the appetite for fighters, there was another chance when the Rolls Royce Heritage Flight took to the aerial stage with a solo Mustang on Friday, joined by their Spitfire at the weekend.

Airbourne has a great track record for light aircraft aerobatic displays, for example Richard Goodwin has impressed the crowd at every show since 2017 and 2024 was no exception. However, 2024 was Airbourne's first display year for The Starlings, relative newcomers to the aerobatic circuit as a duo, but with 50 years aerobatic experience between them in other teams or as solo artists. For this year the team of Tom Cassells and Michael Pickin have switched from their CAP 232 and Extra NG and both now fly a matched pair of Extra NG ultra-aerobatic aircraft (... continued below the pictures).

Tom and Michael have both been British Aerobatic Champions: in fact Michael is the youngest person ever to hold that title. He is also the youngest Spitfire pilot in the UK and has flown over fifty different aircraft types. He is currently a commercial pilot on the Boeing 757/767. With all that talent and experience behind them it is no surprise that the duo gave a phenomenal very close pairs display before breaking into their solo routines.

More Displays

Equally impressive, but for different reasons, was the display by Tony de Bruyn. Not one of the three 'new' displays but a welcome returnee in his in his North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, which was scheduled for, and achieved, displays on all four days. The unmistakable, truly unique, profile of the Bronco makes it instantly recognisable. Its supreme agility gave it multiple roles in service, principally as a light attack and observation aircraft, especially in the cold war era, although this particular aircraft was produced as a target tug for use in Germany, which is why it has the German markings. During his display Tony demonstrated several typical manoeuvres including the ultra-short, steep 'Khe Sanh' approach, and surely the steepest wing-waggle on airshow the circuit, throughout the display constantly waving and clearly enjoying his ebullient performance.

Similarly agile, but flying at a very different pace, was Jeff Bell's BAC Jet Provost T5. Most aircraft at Airbourne were flown by the same pilot each time, but this one was taken aloft by different pilots on different days: the flying being shared between David-John Gibbs and Phil Bird. XW324 had been missing from the display circuit for a few years following a tyre blow-out in 2022. The damage caused by the blow-out caused extensive damage which needed a lot of cash and time to repair. The result is not only a refurbished but also a visually enhanced example of this very successful RAF jet trainer.

The Boeing Stearman was also a military trainer in its day, but following the war and the reduction in the need for trainers, Stearmans took on many different roles, including some that were just for fun. Wingwalking was one of those but the aircraft now used for wingwalking are rather more powerful than the originals. AeroSuperbatics are the UK's biggest and best known wingwalkers and no strangers to British Airshows, including Airbourne, where they are family favourites. Although they couldn't make it on the first two days of the show, Dave Barrell was able to bring Kirsten Pobjoy on Saturday and both Stearmans made it on Sunday, so the audience were able to enjoy the full wingwalker repertoire including the crosses and close pairs flying as well as the acrobatics on the wings.

RAF Teams

This, the 30th anniversary of Airbourne, is also the 60th anniversary of the Red Arrows, who were back as a nine-ship and sporting their diamond anniversary logo. The reason they only displayed on Thursday and not the rest of the weekend is that this will be their last UK display before jetting off for their Canadian tour. They only have one more UK display this season - at Duxford in October.

The RAF also supported the show with the Typhoon and the Grob Tutor on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight had hoped to fly the Spitfire and Hurricane. However, the fatal accident involving one of their Spitfires resulted in the grounding of the BBMF fighters and the date of their return to flying has not yet been set. Their displays were therefore limited to the Lancaster, although that was a weather casualty on Thursday.

The Lancaster has to be one of the most popular of the regular Airbourne displays and has a special place in the memories of those who were residents of wartime Eastbourne. Even now a few local people wave as the Lancaster arrives over their heads towards the sea, recalling the many times they, as children then, will have seen the very same sight. For those who do not have their own recollections, there is a reminder in the form of the Bomber Command Memorial on nearby Beachy Head, the last sight of England for so many who flew across the same headland towards the channel in wartime.

Everyone has their favourites and each of the displays will have been top of the lists of many. But it was noticeable that everyone put down their phones, stopped shuffling in the sand and even stood in admiration when Turbo arrived to mash up the skies in the RAF Typhoon.

This year the Typhoon has a new livery replacing the 'Black Jack' scheme of the previous 2 seasons, and representing a 1944 era ‘Day Fighter’, in the style of a Hawker Typhoon of 257 Squadron, FM-G. On D-Day this aircraft was flown by Pilot Officer Denzel Jenkins. The 2024 Typhoon may have a similar paint scheme but there is no doubting that at Airbourne the current version was faster, noisier, and with vastly different capabilities in the hands of 'Turbo', Flight Lieutenant Turnbull, 29 Squadron RAF.

Celebrating 30 years

During the four days of Airbourne, commentator George Bacon led discussions with a series of people who had been involved in the airshow from the very earliest days and keeping it at the forefront of free airshows over those three decades. On Thursday, the discussion was with Mike Marchant, a long-time Events Manager at Eastbourne Borough Council.

Mike Marchant explained that some flying, including the Red Arrows, had been a feature of Eastbourne's Battle of Britain commemorations even before the days of Airbourne. There had also been earlier popular events, such as the Eastbourne Show in Gildredge Park, with features including show jumping and arena attractions such as a military motor cycle display team and Eddie Kidd, the motorcycle stunt rider amongst other popular personalities. There was also an RAF Town Show in the 1980s and, in the early 1990s a small one-day military recruiting exhibition with a static Gazelle, flying by the Red Arrows and a car show. That event attracted around 70,000 visitors (... continued below the table).

Learning from other resorts that also had airshows, and eager to exploit the success of the town and military shows, the Council responded to local and tourist enthusiasm for such events by promoting a full airshow, initially linked with a 'Bird Man' contest off the pier.

That embryonic Airbourne was advised and encouraged, but not wholly organised, by the local authority. It was run by a local marketing group incorporating interests from hoteliers and other businesses with some revenue from sponsors and day-traders.

By 1997 the Marketing group had disbanded. At that time the Council switched from being an adviser and supporter, to becoming the main organiser. By 1998 the Council had become wholly responsible for the event and has organised it through to its 30th year.

Over those years, Airbourne has been a venue for seeing not only contemporary military and civilian air display favourites but also some rarities. Highlights in reasonably recent times have been the Vulcan in 2012 and 2015 and the first UK pairs display by the Canadian and British Lancasters for about half a century, when they debuted their pairs display at Airbourne in 2014, just days after the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum's Lancaster 'Vera' arrived in the country. In 2005 Airbourne was the first family airshow to have a flypast from the the American B1 and in 2013 there was a display by the Matadors in their Disney Planes to launch the film of that name.

These days, airshows frequently appear to be at risk, and some do, indeed, reach the end of their runs. Seaside shows are particularly vulnerable because, with the exception of Southport, they are free to attend so cannot depend on income from ticket sales. The main alternative source of funding had traditionally been local authority subsides and business sponsorships but with increasing demands on reducing budgets many councils and businesses have decided that airshows are no longer a priority for financial support.

Against this background, 30 years non-stop, other than the during forced Covid break, is a great achievement indeed.

Airbourne

17th - 20th August 2023

Rich Goodwin

There had been concern that the 2022 show would be the last. The Council said they had to raise £400,000 to keep it going. In October 2022 it was confirmed that the target had been reached and that the 2023 show would go ahead.

The 2023 flying schedule is in the table. There were some very late changes. The wingwalkers were due to display on all four days but it was announced on the Wednesday before the show that they had been cancelled because of international commitments. The Boultbee Academy Spitfire replaced the Wingwalkers on Thursday and the single Strikemaster display was upgraded to a Strikemaster pairs display on Saturday and Sunday.

Another very unusual late addition was a USAF KC-135 'Stratotanker'. On Thursday it was announced that the Stratotanker would open the show on Friday but regrettably had to cancel just as suddenly because of the weather. Although it didn't work out, credit to the show for arranging what would have been a rare treat for a free seaside show.

Weather also affected some displays, including the Red Arrows, on Thursday (see the table) and low cloud delayed the start of flying until 16.10 on Friday but displays by the Chinook, Typhoon (reserve grey jet, not Blackjack) and the Tigers Parachute Display Team did go ahead. The Red Arrows were also able to fly the first part of their display on Friday before having to abort after about 7 minutes because of poor visibility. Although their display ended early, they were still evident in the area for a while as they burnt off fuel: necessary to reduce their landing weight.

The show benefitted from clear blue skies over the weekend - a rarity at 2023 airshows, many of which have been beset with weather issues. Saturday and Sunday were the best days when most displays went ahead. The Norwegian Air Force Vampire was the exception on Saturday because of a technical issue although it was back on Sunday. The Vampire is displayed in Italian markings in 2023 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Italian Air Force.

There was another bonus on both weekend days when the Typhoon and Lancaster arrived together following the BBMF display and before Brighty performed his display in the Typhoon: again the grey reserve flew on Saturday but BlackJack was back from sick leave and was flown by Brighty in both the joint display with the Lancaster and the subsequent solo display on Sunday.

Overall crowd reaction was positive, with particular acclaim for the Red Arrows and for Rich Goodwin, flying his home-built, jet-augmented Pitts Special.

Some, especially those who tend to visit airshows more frequently, and come mainly or solely for the flying, considered that the displays were quite 'gappy', even on the fair weather days, with long intervals between batches of displays. However, this arrangement suits many visitors, especially those who visit airshows less frequently, and who welcome the opportunity to visit the ground attractions without missing any of the flying.

Airbourne 2022

The Red Arrows 'Jubilee Present' on Thursday

Following an enforced break caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Airbourne was back in 2022 to welcome the biggest crowds since the Avro Vulcan displayed in 2015. Even the unfortunately-timed rail strike couldn't stop the fans descending on Eastbourne's picturesque seafront.

The 2022 flying display list got off to the best possible start when the show announced in the spring that the Red Arrows would display on all four days. The Arrows were reduced from the normal nine aircraft to seven for the 2022 season and flew a slightly shorter display but the crowds were as pleased as ever to see the national team fly both their formation and dynamic routines over the channel. These included the most popular 'Tornado' and the new-for-2022 'Jubilee Present', forming a red, white and blue trail across the horizon.

The Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight were also scheduled every day, although the Lancaster had to miss the display on Sunday because of a bird strike before its arrival and the Hurricane missed the last three days because it had to return to base for maintenance. The RAF Typhoon Team did honour their schedule, displaying on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, albeit with a change of aircraft to the standard livery ZJ942 on Friday and Sunday because the Union Flag liveried 'Blackjack' needed attention.

The Chinook also joined the RAF's impressive contribution to the show, although a technical problem with the aircraft prevented a display on Thursday and Friday. This was fixed for the rest of the weekend. Airbourne was one of only ten venues to get the Chinook helicopter display team in 2022 and one of just a few where the Chinook was escorted onto the display line by The Blades, who then performed a break, leading into their display, whilst the Chinook held off over the horizon until it was time for theirs. The formation arrival was to recognise the RAF Benevolent Fund, which supports both teams.

The most surprising and eagerly awaited display amongst airshow buffs would have been the Hawker Tempest. Unfortunately, the Tempest was not ready in time for the show. Hawker Tempest Mk II MW763 (G-TEMT) has been undergoing renovation by Anglia Aircraft Restorations and had yet to display anywhere, but Anglia Aircraft Restorations and Eastbourne were hopeful that it would be ready by mid-August. Evidently it was not to be.

A message in Airbourne's publicity suggested that the Thunderbolt would fly instead, and that it would arrive in formation with the Hawker Fury. Again, this did not happen.

Another major disappointment was the cancellation, announced on the Sunday before the show, of the Belgian F-16. Some issues were dealt with but efforts to resolve a remaining problem were unsuccessful, so the cancellation of the display was confirmed.

The Belgian F-16 has been popular at earlier Airbourne airshows, so the organisers are probably aware of the requirements of the aircraft and its team but clearly, although the booking appeared to have been made long enough in advance for the logistics to be sorted out, something went wrong this time.

In addition to the cancellations and unexplained 'no-show', a few technical issues reduced the number and size of some of the other displays. Unusually, one of the Being Stearman aircraft of the Aerosuperbatics Wingwalker Team also missed the first two days, resulting in a solo on Thursday and Friday, but both were in the air for the weekend. Even Richard Goodwin's blue G-JPIT suffered a malfunction on Saturday, causing his display to be curtailed, but thankfully he was able to return to stun the crowds with his mind-blowing aerobatics on Sunday in the Union flag decorated G-EWIZ. The Rolls Royce Heritage Trust's Spitfire didn't escape either, falling foul of the dreaded gremlins on Friday and Saturday but it did display on the third of its scheduled three days on Sunday.

It was the weather, rather than a technical problem, that prevented a display by the 'Tigers' Army Parachute Display Team on Friday but they did complete their spectacular drops onto the beach on the other three show days, joined by some members of the Royal Logistics Corps Silver Stars. The Tigers' descents included traditional solo drops with some massive flags, tandem drops and 'TRI-Bi-Side' demonstrations (three members of the team linked side-by-side until a last-moment break to land individually).

This does seem like a long list of omissions from the schedule but most were caused by technical issues that can happen at any airshow and that can neither be predicted nor prevented, especially when many of the aircraft are older than most of the spectators. However, problems affecting the two displays most eagerly awaited by enthusiasts: the very early, somewhat optimistic and widely promoted debut of the Tempest, and the 'logistical' problems that prevented the display of the F-16, may be more difficult to explain.

Thankfully, the schedule had a lot more to offer and delivered on the promise of a spectacular return for Airbourne.

As well as the disappointments there were some special treats and Airbourne debuts. At the top of the 'treats' list must come a special single flypast by an RAF Puma HC.2, on its way to a deployment away from its base at RAF Benson. Amongst the debuts none was more welcome than the Hawker Fury FB.11 from Ultimate Warbirds, albeit without the once-anticipated Hawker Tempest or replacement partner, the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. Andy Durston pushed the Fury through a vigorous routine, the impact increased even more because of its greater size and louder engine noise than most of the near-contemporaries more frequently seen at Eastbourne and other seaside airshows.

Less unusual, but no less welcome, were the North American P-51D Mustang, owned by the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, but flown as part of the Rolls Royce Heritage Flight, and the same Flight's Mk PR XIX Spitfire: regrettably not as a pair but in separate routines.

Another Spitfire display had a special local interest. The 'NHS Spitfire', Aircraft Restoration Company's Mk XI PL983, was privately sponsored and was flown by the owning company's founder and director, John Romain MBE, in memory of Clive Lambert-Beeson, an Airbourne volunteer and friend of the show, who had died in 2021. The 'NHS Spitfire' toured the country during the pandemic, overflying hospitals as a tribute and with gratitude to NHS staff.

A Spitfire display with a difference was provided by the BBMF when their Spitfire Mk IIa P7350 performed a flypast with the RAF Typhoon before the Typhoon's solo display. This 'synchro' formation has only been flown at a few airshows in 2022 and, as a bonus, Airbourne saw two varieties: with the reserve grey Typhoon when the prime display Typhoon was grounded on Friday and with 'Blackjack' on Saturday.

The age gap between the warbirds and the Typhoon was bridged by two classic jets. The BAC Strikemaster MK.82a based in North Wales, flown by Ian Brett, and the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron's Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI. This used to fly in Russian colours but as that would be inappropriate in contemporary circumstances, it wore USAF scheme, representing a MiG-15 of the People's Republic of North Korea captured by the Americans when its pilot Kom Suk No defected.

Away from the warbirds and cold war jet, a much calmer mood accompanied the impeccable display by Rod Dean, a widely-experienced pilot celebrating 50 years at the controls of a huge variety of display aircraft. He has been a Hawker Hunter display pilot and has flown a range of warbirds, classic jets and other aircraft at airshows over that time. His mount on all four days at Airbourne was a more sedate Slingsby T67M Firefly.

Pipistrel Velis Electro

Chinook

There are always plenty of things to look at on the 'Western Lawns', in the centre of the flying line. The attractions are generally dominated by military exhibitions and recruiting stands but one private aircraft stood out from the norm.

The world’s first certified electric aircraft, the Pipistrel Velis Electro, was on view in the STEM (Science, Technology, Electronics and Maths) zone, where Essex-based Fly About Aviation, who distribute the aircraft, and NEBOAir were keen to share its credentials and local training opportunities, including learning to fly and to qualify for a Private Pilots Licence in it.

Amongst the military exhibits, the enduring favourite is always the chance to see inside a Chinook helicopter, which generated eager queues throughout the day.

Yes, there were a few hiccoughs at Airbourne 2022 but the show can usually be depended upon to provide a full a varied flying display over the weekend that keeps close to its billing. The Airbourne machine will be well-oiled for 2023 and will, no doubt, provide its usual mix of spectacle, excitement and nostalgia. Who knows, there may even be a Hawker Tempest and Belgian F-16.

The full 2022 flying list is in the table.

Reviews of Airbourne prior to 2022

Getting to Airbourne

Accommodation near the show

It is best to book as far as possible in advance. This is not only because nearby hotels and guest houses tend get booked up well before the date of an airshow but also because prices can be better when you book early online.

The location is already built in to the link but please check, and change as necessary, the dates, number of rooms and number of guests.

Some Options

Weather for the Airbourne area

2026 Show Basics