27th - 28th June
Buchón Yellow 10 and Spitfire at Headcorn in 2023
Previous airshows at Headcorn, were entitled the 'Battle of Britain' Airshow, and featured representative aircraft of the Battle of Britain era, but mostly the Aero Legends' fleet. It was good to have a show in this part of the country. However, for enthusiasts, it became a bit sameish. The show, originally held over three days, was reduced to two days in 2025 but online information was frustratingly scarce and rarely up to date.
A few days after announcing a 2026 Battle of Britain Airshow, it was announced that Headcorn would instead host the Headcorn International Airshow. It appears that there had been a commercial 'falling out' between businesses at the airfield and Aero Legends, a disagreement that has been referred to legal people. In March, Aero Legends announced that there would be an Aero Legends Battle of Britain Airshow, not at Headcorn, but at RAF Woodchurch, Ashford, and that it would be held on 8th -9th August 2026.
Information about the Aero Legends Battle of Britain Airshow is elsewhere on British Airshows web site. The rest of this page refers to the new Headcorn International Airshow.
So far, the signs for the new airshow are positive. We are getting to know more about the show at this stage than we did about the Aero Legends Battle of Britain Airshow in earlier years, and the web site looks more promising. There is a menu option and page for news, and another for the flying list, which is being populated regularly.
The ground show, too, looks as if it will be interesting. Yes, there will be the trade stands but this year the content should be more varied. 'Futuristic' and ancient static aircraft have been promised.
Although the show itself is being held over two days, there is an Arrivals Day on the previous Friday (26th), with lower priced tickets than on show days. The same day, Friday 26th June, has also been earmarked 'Schools & Seniors Day', described as a community preview day to give local groups a chance to experience the airshow atmosphere before the crowds arrive, with opportunities to see flight rehearsals and aircraft movements.
Originally farmland, the site became a First World War training school in 1914 but reverted to a working farm following the war. In 1942 it was requisitioned by the Airfields Board and became Lashenden aerodrome. The Canadian Air Force moved in during August 1943, flying Spitfire 1Xb’s under the command of ‘Johnnie’ Johnson. The United States were later based here flying the North American P51D Mustang until they left in June 1945 when the airfield closed.
Flying resumed at the now-private aerodrome in 1963. Aero Legends arrived in 2014 and introduced flight experiences.
The Battle of Britain Airshow was held at Headcorn until 2025. It was replaced in 2026 by the Headcorn International Airshow.
| Expected to fly: More aircraft will be listed when known | |
|---|---|
 | Supermarine Spitfire Mk Ia G-CFGJ 'N3200' (IWM) |
| Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX TA805: Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar | |
 | P-51 Mustang 'Moonbeam McSwine' |
 | Hispano HA-1112-M4L Buchón "White 9" G-AWHH (Warbird Experiences / Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar) |
 | Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3717 'Hugh' |
 | Hawker Hurricane Mk X AE977 G-CHTK, painted as Mk 1 P2921. Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar |
 | Flying Comrades: Yakovlev Yak-18T and Yakovlev Yak-52 (x2) |
 | F86 Sabre M6 (Mistral Warbirds) (both days) |
| AH-1S Cobra (Cobra Demo Team) | |
 | 'The last Dogfight': Piper L4H (Grasshopper) G-BOXJ ' '479897' (owner Anthony Bendkowski) |
 | 'The last Dogfight': Slepcev Storch G-BZOB |
 | Fairey Swordfish Mk I G-BMGC 'W5856' (Navy Wings) |
 | Harvard G-NWHF (Navy Wings) |
 | Neboair Electric Arrows |
 | Republic P-47 Thunderbolt G-THUN 'Nellie B' (Fighter Aviation Engineering) |
 | Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina (Plane Sailing) |
| Static Displays | |
| Fokker DR.1 Triplane | |
| Many of the aircraft can also be seen from the crowdline before and after their flying displays. | |
The Aerodrome is about 15 minutes (in normal traffic) south of Junction 8 of the M20. Use Sat Nav TN27 9HX until you get close, but ignore the sat nav in favour of local directions signs as soon as you see them.
There are links to other route planners in the Travel Advice section.
Headcorn has its own railway station on the London Charing Cross to Ashford International line. A taxi from the station to the aerodrome takes about 5 minutes in normal traffic.
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.
There are six Premier Inn hotels in the Ashford and Maidstone areas within about 15 miles of the aerodrome and several more slightly further away.
Travelodge have five hotels within 16 miles; the closest is in Maidstone about 9 miles away.
Click any of the blue names to go to the corresponding web site. The links already have the location built in, but please check, and change as necessary, the dates, number of rooms and number of guests.
The Met Office 7-day forecast includes actual and "feels like" temperatures, the likelihood of rain, wind speed, wind direction, wind gusts and visibility: the latter can have an impact on the viability of displays.
The BBC's 14-day forecast has overall conditions including and hourly estimate of temperature, wind direction, wind speed and UV range.
Click the blue-text link to go to the forecast. The location is already built into the links.
Show days 27th - 28th June. Arrivals Day June 26th
For 2026 ticket details, please see the show's web site.
Details are on a Traders page
Car parking is available, mostly on grass. There is no separate charge for parking.
Postcode (for sat nav) TN27 9HX
For links to other travel and route planning web sites, click the 'Getting there' tab
Directions
