Airbourne (air show)
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
| Airbourne Eastbourne International Air Show |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genre | Free air show |
| Dates | August |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Eastbourne |
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Country | England |
| Activity | aerobatic displays static displays |
| Organised by | Eastbourne Borough Council |
| Website | |
| eastbourneairshow.com | |
Airbourne, also known as Eastbourne International Airshow, is a 4-day international air show run every August in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England. The event features Battle of Britain memorial flights and aircraft from the RAF and USAF, among others, and enjoys a long relationship with the Red Arrows display team.
Started in 1993,[1] the show is run by Eastbourne Borough Council, who claim it contributes to the millions of pounds which tourism bring to the town.[2]
A dedicated FM radio station, "Radio Airbourne", broadcasts on 87.7FM during the event.
Contents
Funding
In 2008, Eastbourne Borough Council controversially decided to charge a £5 admission fee, in order to meet the show's rising costs, having failed to find a major sponsor. However, with visitor numbers down on previous years, and the additional cost of security during the event, the organisers were left with a £170k operational loss, and an inquiry was ordered.[3] Five senior members of staff at Eastbourne Borough Council were made redundant in late 2009 as part of a cost-cutting exercise.[4]
The organisers remained confident that there would be an event in 2009, but admitted that lessons would have to be learnt, and the funding of the event reviewed. Council leader David Tutt said: "We will be investigating what went right, what went wrong and looking very seriously at ways of ensuring the event for future years."[5] A 2009 event did take place.
Accidents
As with any airshow, some of the stunts performed carry a risk to the pilots, and Airbourne has seen accidents of various severity over the years. On 18 August 2000 former Red Arrows pilot Ted Girdler was killed when his Aero L-29 Delfín jet failed to pull up from a diving roll and crashed into the English Channel.[6]
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
