Bournemouth Air Festival

The Bournemouth Air Festival is an annual air show held along the coast at Bournemouth, in Dorset, England. It has featured aircraft from the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy, as well as civil aviation displays. Since its formation in 2008, the festival claims to have entertained over ten million people.

The festival usually takes place in late August, over four days including dusk and night air displays with live music. It is organised by Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council), and is estimated to generate about £30 million of trade annually for local businesses.

Whilst dates for the 2024 Air Festival have been announced, these have not yet been confirmed. The new BCP Council administration is assessing the financial viability of the event.

History
The festival started in 2008, being held from Thursday 28 August to Sunday 31 August.

Event layout
The festival is free to visit and the festival site is 1.5 miles long between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers. The RAF Village is on the East Overcliff. The Royal Navy village, with the Army and Royal Marines, is on the beach in Zone2. There are vehicles, have-a-go equipment and personnel to speak to.

Aircraft
A number of aircraft have been involved over various displays, including:

2011 flash flooding
The first day of the 2011 festival was cancelled due to severe flooding, where 50mm of rain fell. Between 10:00 and 11:00 BST, 35mm of rain fell.

2011 Red Arrows crash
During the 2011 Air Festival, Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, a Royal Air Force pilot on the Red Arrows aerobatics display team, died after crashing into a field in Throop, Dorset. The incident occurred after a display at festival when the Red Arrows were returning to Bournemouth International Airport. It was determined that Flt Lt Egging was incapacitated due to the effects of g-force induced loss of consciousness until very shortly before impact.Egging was the first Red Arrows pilot to die in an aircraft crash in the 21st century, since Flt Lt Neil Duncan MacLachlan, in 1988.

2018 'jet suit' ditching
During a demonstration of a jet suit made by Gravity Industries, the pilot, Dr Angelo Grubisic landed in the sea, having only just taken off. He was not injured but brought to shore by lifeguards.

2021 Boeing A75N1 (PT17) Stearman biplane crash
During the 2021 festival, a Boeing A75N1 (PT17) Stearman biplane, that had performed as part of the AeroSuperBatics wing-walking display at the festival, crashed into the sea in Poole Harbour. The aircraft suffered a loss of power during the display, causing the pilot, David Barrell, to abort the performance and fly away from the festival site, before ditching into the sea. The pilot and Kirsten Pobjoy, who was wing-walking, suffered minor injuries. The footage of the crash was captured on CCTV from the nearby Haven Hotel. It was discovered the cause of the accident was oil being prevented from reaching the engine by metal strap supporting an oil pipe failing. AeroSuperBatics returned to fly during the 2022 festival.

2022 drone seizures
During the first day of the 2022 festival, Dorset Police seized three drones after they were flown in restricted airspace.Restricted airspace is governed by the Civilian Aviation Authority ( CAA ) Air Navigation Order 2016, specifically Article 241 (endangering the safety of any person or property).

2023 nearby murder investigation
Prior to the 2023 festival, Dorset Police launched an unrelated murder investigation after human remains were found nearby to the festival site. As a result of enquiries, two people were arrested and as of January 2024, they are awaiting trial. An access route to the beach was cordoned off as part of the investigation. Organisers of the festival liaised with Dorset Police regarding the investigation, stating they would make 'any minor changes to our organisational arrangements' if they were required. The original cordon remained in place throughout the festival and the festival was unaffected.