The Westcliff Casino Southend Airshow usually takes place in May and is one of Europe's largest free airshows with more than half a million people lining the town's seven-mile shore over the two day spectacular.
This two-day event which usually takes place on a Sunday & Bank Holiday Monday includes a good mixture in the flying display including modern RAF & RN participation along with display teams, aerobatic aircraft, and historic aircraft. There is also plenty of entertainment taking place on the ground with various displays and demonstrations.
Most of the aircraft that display at Southend operate out of London Southend Airport at Rochford and the airport has Open Days during the Southend Airshow so that people can see the aircraft at close quarters. These Open Days attract many thousands of people to the airport and its resident Vulcan (XL426) can usually be seen on both days doing a taxi-run.
Click here to visit the Westcliff Casino Southend Airshow website.
2010 AIRSHOWS
30-31 May
Southend Airshow
The two day Festival of the Air is undoubtedly the most spectacular event in Southend's calendar. Southend was the first seaside resort in the country to stage an Airshow and it's become one of Europe's largest FREE events of its kind, regulary attracting over half a million people to the seafront over the weekend.
Whilst the skies over the Thames Estuary are filled with roaring and buzzing of fast jets as they zoom and flit at lightning speed, or formation aerobatic teams mesmerise the crowd with their manoeuvres, there's a non-stop action packed entertainment programme that stretches for two miles on the ground. Southend's Festival of the Air is a fun day out for all the family.
Regardless of whether you are a flying enthusiast or not, there will be plenty for everyone at this year's Festival of the Air. Around 40 aircraft displays will be featured from across the ages, including displays from the RAF, Army and Civilian aircraft.
A huge range of ground entertainment will be provided back on terra firma at this year's Festival of the Air. From 10:00am to 6:00pm on both days, not only will there be amazing aerial displays, but there will be the RAF, Army, Navy and Royal Marine Town Shows, trade stands, rides, simulators, giant inflatable's and a packed arena programme of entertainment, to keep all of the family amused all day long.
BBC Essex will again be bringing you Radio Airshow on 1530MW, as well as providing the live commentary along the seafront, and Southend Radio and Heart FM will be providing live entertainment both days with music Roadshows.
Provisional Participating aircraft at Southend Airshow 2010:
The Southend Airshow
30-31 May 2010
Sunday 30th May
1:30pm
RNLI Sail Past
2:00pm - 3:00pm:
Mustang
Sabre
Blades
Catalina
3:00pm - 4:00pm
Team Viper
CAP232
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Black 1 (Lynx Helicopter)
Black 1 & Swordfish
4:00pm - 5:00pm
Navy Swordfish
Wingwalk Formations
Sea King
Tutor
Tucano
5:00pm - 5:30pm
Hawk
Red Gnats
Typhoon
RAF Falcons
Monday 31st May
1:30pm
RNLI Sail Past
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Red Gnats
Blades
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
Tutor
Tucano
Click here to visit the Westcliff Casino Southend Airshow website.
Arriving by Road:
From the North via A1, M11, M25 & A127 (M25 Junction 29, 20 miles). From the South via M25, Dartford Tunnel, A13 (M25 Junction 30, 26 miles) or A127. Once in Southend follow the directional signs for Airshow Parking. Within Southend there are in excess of 10,000 parking spaces.
London Southend Airport
LONDON SOUTHEND AIRPORT WILL NOT BE HOLDING ITS USUAL OPEN DAYS AT THE TOWNS AIRSHOW THIS YEAR (2010) BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXTENSIVE BUILDING WORK THAT IS TAKING PLACE AT THE AIRPORT WITH THE NEW RAILWAY STATION, CONTROL TOWER AND TERMINAL BUILDINGS.
A huge range of ground entertainment will be provided back on terra firma at this year's Air Festival. From 10:00am to 6:00pm on both days, not only will there be amazing aerial displays, but there will be the RAF, Army, Navy and Royal Marine Town Shows, trade stands, rides, simulators, giant inflatable's and a packed arena programme of entertainment, to keep all of the family amused all day long.
BBC Essex will again be bringing you Radio Airshow on 1530MW, as well as providing the live commentary along the seafront, and Southend Radio will be providing live entertainment both days with music Roadshows.
Confirmed Exhibitors:
RAC
EA Games
LV= with their Streetwise Safety Roadshow
Sunglasses
Diabetes UK doing free diabetes tests
Perfume
Bottlegreen Drinks Company
Framed Aircraft Prints
Charity Marquee
Veterans Marquee
Boot Camp
Bar29
Ground Attractions:
Inflatables
Water Walkers
Bungee Trampolines
Simulators
BBC Bang Goes the Theory, 11:00am to 6:00pm
The team from BBC One's Bang Goes The Theory are coming to the Southend Air Festival, and they want you to get hands-on with science.
Join them as they explore, stretch and explode science live on stage in their free shows taking place each hour, and then have a go yourself in the amazing Interactive Area. They'll be taking a fresh look at how science shapes the world around us - and there's nothing that they won't put to the test. It's a "can't be missed" show for "anyone who is remotely curious about life, the universe and pretty much everything". Don't miss your chance to meet the presenters and ask them your science questions, or do some street science with Dr. Yan.
Check out the Hands-on section at www.bbc.co.uk/bang for science demos that you can do at home and more information about what the team will be up to this summer.
BBC Dig In, 11:00am to 6:00pm
The BBC campaign that gets you growing your own grub in whatever space you have is coming to Southend-on-Sea.
Come and say hello. Throughout the Air Festival weekend we will be in Prittlewell Square from 11:00am.
Drop by and you can get a free seed starter pack, meet the Blue Peter gardener Chris Collins, plant a seed then take it home, ask an expert - we'll do our best to help with your growing woes, leave tips for other growers.
Find out more by visiting www.bbc.co.uk/digin
The Westcliff Casino Southend Airshow usually takes place in May and is one of Europe's largest free airshows with more than half a million people lining the town's seven-mile shore over the two day spectacular.
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