The Strikemaster pair in 2019
The Southport Airshow returns to a July date for 2021 for the first time since 2018. There is usually flying at dusk on Friday but show details have not yet been confirmed for 2021.
As well as the flying programme, expect be plenty of things to do on the ground including flight simulators, static aircraft, wall-climbing and assault courses.
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Due to fly | |
| All appearances are subject to technical, weather and other constraints | |
Southport, Merseyside, is on the coast of the Irish sea, not far from Liverpool. There is a very deep expanse of sand. As well as the sand, another backdrop for the displays is the very old but modernised Southport Pier, the second longest pleasure pier in Great Britain.
Southport is unusual in three respects. Firstly, because the beach is so deep there are displays over the sand, whereas at other seaside shows the aircraft would always be over water. The second novel feature is that Southport charges, so you have to buy tickets to get the best views. Southport has managed to make this work, unlike unsuccessful charging experiments at seaside shows elsewhere. Thirdly, some light aircraft land on the beach before the main displays, so there are ground aircraft movements, whereas at other seaside shows all displays would fly in and fly out.
Beach explosions during a joint display by the MiG-15 and Vampire pair
The Southport Airshow moved from its traditional September slot to the early summer for 2018.
There were no fewer than seven displays on Friday late afternoon and going into dusk, starting with the Red Arrows and ending with the Tigers Parachute Display Team, the Fireflies and Brendan O’Brien lighting the skies with pyrotechnics.
Over the weekend there was a balanced mix of civilian and military aircraft, with an emphasis on classic aircraft. Very unusually, the MiG-15 and Vampire pair displayed together in a routine with explosions on the beach.
Southport, Merseyside, is on the coast of the Irish sea, not far from Liverpool. There is a very deep expanse of sand. As well as the sand, another backdrop for the displays is the very old but modernised Southport Pier, the second longest pleasure pier in Great Britain.
Southport is unusual in three respects. Firstly, because the beach is so deep there are displays over the sand, whereas at other seaside shows the aircraft would always be over water. The second novel feature is that Southport charges, so you have to buy tickets to get the best views. Southport has managed to make this work, unlike unsuccessful charging experiments at seaside shows elsewhere. Thirdly, some light aircraft land on the beach before the main displays, so there are ground aircraft movements, whereas at other seaside shows all displays would fly in and fly out.
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Flying | |
| Red Arrows (Friday - opened the show at 19.30) | |
| Typhoon (Sunday only) | |
| Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane (BBMF) (Friday) | |
| Grob Tutor (RAF) (Sat & Sun) | |
| Spitfire pair. Paul Bonhomme and Steve Jones (Sat & Sun) | |
| Matadors (Sat & Sun) | |
| Team Raven | |
| P-51D Mustang 'Tall in the Saddle' (Fri, Sat & Sun ) | |
| Blades (Fri, Sat & Sun) | |
| Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers (Sat & Sun) | |
| Otto the helicopter - Brendan O'Brien (Fri, Sat & Sun) | |
| Fireflies (Fri, Sat & Sun) | |
| Brendan O'Brien's Piper Cub (Friday only) | |
| Turbulent Display Team (Sat & Sun) | |
| MiG-15 (Sat & Sun) | |
| Vampire pair (Sat & Sun) | |
| Tigers Parachute Display Team (Fri, Sat & Sun) | |
| Bronco (Sat & Sun) | |
| Strikemaster (Sat & Sun) | |
| CAP232 pair (Sat & Sun) | |
| Bristol Blenheim (Sat & Sun) | |
| Avro Anson (Sunday only) | |
The Strikemaster pair are due to display on Saturday and Sunday
The Southport Airshow moves back to its September slot for 2019 after trying a July date in 2018. Flying at dusk on Friday will include the Royal Navy Black Cats, who will also display during the daytime over the weekend.
The Red Arrows are regulars at Southport but they will not display in 2019 as they will be on tour in the USA and Canada at the time of the show.
The show is, nevertheless, turning out to be quite a stunner with some unusual and very exciting displays including both the Viggen and the Tunnan from the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight, the T-33 'Shooting Star' from the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron, the Strikemaster pair, Richard Goodwin and a generous contribution from the RAF comprising the Typhoon, Tutor and Tucano and the BBMF Dakota, Spitfire and Hurricane. The Royal Navy Black Cat solo display will also be at Southport, one of only six shows in the UK to have their display in 2019. The flying displays are summarised in the table.
As well as the flying programme, there will be plenty of things to do on the ground including flight simulators, static aircraft, wall-climbing, assault courses and a diving tank.
| Expected Times | |
|---|---|
| Friday | |
| 19.00 | BBMF |
| 19.20 | Tucano |
| 19:30 | Black Cats |
| 19:38 | Typhoon |
| 19:49 | Tigers |
| 20:07 | Fireflies |
| 20:20 | OTTO |
| Saturday | |
| 13:00 | Tigers Army Parachute Display Team |
| 13:25 | Richard Goodwin Pitts |
| 13:38 | Black Cats |
| 13:47 | Strikemaster Pair |
| 14:01 | Fireflies Aerobatic Team |
| 14:13 | The Blades |
| 14:31 | Otto The Helicopter |
| 14:42 | Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers |
| 15:00 | BBMF |
| 15:20 | Tutor |
| 15:29 | Tucano |
| 15:39 | Gazelle Squadron |
| 15:51 | T-33 Shooting Star |
| 16:01 | Saab Tunnan |
| 16:11 | Saab Viggen |
| 16:21 | P-47 Thunderbolt |
| 16:34 | Typhoon |
| Sunday | |
| 13:00 | Tigers Army Parachute Display Team |
| 13:27 | Richard Goodwin Pitts |
| 13:40 | OTTO The Helicopter |
| 13:50 | P-47 Thunderbolt |
| 14:00 | BBMF |
| 14:20 | Fireflies Aerobatic Team |
| 14:32 | The Blades |
| 14:50 | Black Cats |
| 14:59 | Saab Tunnan |
| 15:09 | Saab Viggen |
| 15:19 | Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers |
| 15:36 | Tutor |
| 15:45 | Tucano |
| 15:55 | Gazelle Squadron |
| 16:07 | T-33 Shooting Star |
| 16:17 | Strikemaster Pair |
| 16:30 | Typhoon |
| All appearances are subject to technical, weather and other constraints | |
| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Flying | |
| Eurofighter Typhoon (RAF) (Fri, Sat, Sun) | |
| Dakota (BBMF) (Fri, Sat, Sun) | |
| Spitfire & Hurricane (BBMF) (Fri, Sat, Sun) | |
| Black Cat (solo) (RN) (Fri, Sat, Sun) | |
| Grob Tutor (RAF) (Sat & Sun) | |
| RAF Tucano (Fri, Sat, Sun) | |
| BBMF Spitfire & Hurricane (Fri, Sat, Sun) | |
| The Blades (Sat, Sun) | |
| Strikemaster pair, G-SOAF and G-RSAF (Sat, Sun) | |
| T-33 Shooting Star (Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron) | |
| Fireflies (Fri, Sat, Sun) | |
| Saab J35 Draken (Swedish Air Force Historic Flight) (Sat & Sun) Cancelled | |
| Saab J29 Tunnan (Swedish Air Force Historic Flight) (Sat & Sun) (replaces Draken) | |
| SAAB AJS37 Viggen (Swedish Air Force Historic Flight) (Sat & Sun) | |
| Tigers Parachute Display Team (Fri, Sat & Sun) | |
| Gazelle Helicopter pair (Sat & Sun) | |
 | Republic P47 Thunderbolt 'Nellie' (Sat & Sun) |
| Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers (Sat & Sun) | |
| Brendan O'Brien & Otto the helicopter (Fri, Sat & Sun) | |
| All appearances are subject to technical, weather and other constraints | |
The Buchón will fly in formation with The Old Flying Machine Company's Spitfire
This will be the 26th Southport Airshow, which has been an annual event since 1991. The displays represent the normal seaside mix of military and civilian aircraft including warbirds, light aircraft, aerobatics and jets. On the ground enjoy static aircraft, children's entertainment, simulators, trade and military displays.
There is also due to be an evening programme on Friday 15th. The planned Friday dusk programme in 2016 had to be cancelled because of atrocious weather, so this will be a first for Southport.
The Red Arrows will not be able to display this year because they will be on an overseas tour but the RAF are otherwise attending in strength with the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Tutor display team, who have returned to the airshow circuit after a break in 2016. It was feared at one stage that the BBMF would not be able to display because of a problem with their Merlin-engined aircraft, but these, including the Lancaster, are now being returned to flight and the Lancaster is expected at the show.
Another highlight would have been the Sea Vixen but 'Foxy Lady' was damaged in a wheel-up landing at Yeovilton following a display at Duxford in May and is unlikely to fly again before 2019. Family favourites, a Breitling Wingwalker, will be there, however, and look out for spectacular night entertainment on Friday with the Tigers Parachute Display Team and aircraft lit with LEDs, releasing fireworks in flight.
| Aircraft due to fly (tap / hover over icon for more detail) | |
|---|---|
| Friday, Saturday and Sunday | |
| Typhoon | |
| BBMF Lancaster, Spitfire, Hurricane. | |
| Blades | |
| Fireflies | |
| Tigers | |
| Otto | |
| Saturday and Sunday | |
| Tutor | |
| B-17G 'Sally B' | |
| Wingwalker | |
| MiG-15 | |
| Vampire pair | |
| Turbulent Team | |
| Hispano Buchón and Spitfire in formation | |
| Huey | |
| Mustang 'Tall in the Saddle' (Hangar 11) | |
| Strikemaster | |
| Bronco | |
| Team Raven | |
| Cancelled or withdrawn | |
| Sea Vixen (damaged) | |
| All appearances are subject to technical, weather and other constraints | |
Use the postcode PR8 1RY until you get close enough to pick up the airshow direction signs. Follow the signs in preference to the sat nav once you see them, as there may be traffic diversions in place.
There are links to other route planners in the Travel Advice column if you prefer to plan ahead or don't have sat nav.
Northern Rail operate direct services to Southport from Manchester city and airport, Bolton and Wigan. Merseyrail go direct to Liverpool airport and city. From Manchester and Liverpool there are connecting services nationwide.
The variety of rail tickets and fares can be very confusing. Trainline and Raileasy web sites list all ticket and fare options for the time and day of travel you choose but they both levy an admin fee. Click either of the blue ticket agency names to go to their web site.
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.
There are plenty of booking agencies. We find that many of the well known ones are better at finding hotels from international or larger UK chains and may suggest hotels in main towns or cities quite a distance from the show site.
Expedia list a good selection of smaller, as well as bigger, hotels and will find accommodation in villages and small towns as well as the main centres. They also give, and take, Nectar points.
Premier Inn have one hotel in Southport itself, another just outside, in Ormskirk and more in Liverpool and Preston.
The International Hotels Group have Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels in Liverpool, Preston and Wigan, mostly between 14 and 18 miles from the show.
Travelodge have one hotel in Southport itself and more in Lytham St Annes and Blackpool.
Click any of the blue names to go to the corresponding web site. Most of the links already have the location built in, but please check, and change as necessary, the dates, number of rooms and number of guests.
A full 7 day Southport weather forecast from the UK Met Office
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.
July 3rd & 4th
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Sat Nav PR8 1RY
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