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Red carpet launch for Bournemouth Air Festival 2010 (From Dorset Beaches)
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Red carpet launch for Bournemouth Air Festival 2010
10:02am Saturday 20th March 2010
More stories about: Bournemouth Air Festival
THEY launched it like a Hollywood blockbuster, complete with red carpet at the Odeon cinema in Westover Road, Bournemouth.
It wasn’t hard to see why.
Because Bournemouth Air Festival already IS a record-breaker, the biggest free event of its kind in the UK, and from August 19 to 22 this year they are promising even more.
Film footage of 2009’s spectacular previewed all the favourites which are coming back – The Red Arrows, this year flying with their first female pilot, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the Eurofighter Typhoon and, hopefully, the Vulcan bomber.
Following their beach assaults last year, the Royal Marines will return, supported by a strong presence from the Royal Navy, who are bringing two ships to the bay.
Footage below of the Royal Marines beach assault during the Air Festival 2009
As Royal Marine reservists and the combined cadet force from Canford School surrounded him on the stage, Commodore Jamie Miller said: “For us in 2010 this is the only event in the country receiving this level of Royal Navy presence.”
He told the Daily Echo that the town’s warm support for the service clinched the Naval support, and pledged to get 500 visitors per day on board minehunter HMS Bangor, currently on operation in the Gulf.
In the skies above, the town will be hosting the service’s famous Black Cats helicopter display team, for the first time led by a woman.
Lt Becky Frater, of the Royal Naval Air Station at Yeovilton, said: “I can’t wait. I’m going to give 100 per cent to this festival. I’ve got a lot to live up to after last year’s dynamic show. It’s going to be crowd focused, with lots of vertical moves to excite the public.”
Lt Frater, who enjoyed air shows as a child, added: “I love that I’m taking part now and may be inspiring children to grow up and join one day.”
Festival organisers want this year’s visitors to stay longer and see more, taking time to enjoy everything the town has to offer, from food and accommodation to the free events running as part of the Night Air programme in the Gardens.
The military “villages” will have an expanded role and a lifesize Eurofighter Typhoon will be parked on the Pier Approach, alongside the replica Chinook which delighted so many visitors last summer.
Organisers are keen to involve the business community and Patron Packages start at £200.
Bournemouth’s head of tourism Mark Smith said: “From the 1.3 million visitors we generated £30 million worth of income for the town. And the air festival has helped create an additional 650 jobs for the local economy.”
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Your Say YourDorset
dancingdog, Bournemouth says...
12:27pm Sat 20 Mar 10
In fact I am going to write to my local council and ask them for a reduction in my Council Tax due to the noise and general inconvenience caused by the sudden influx of thousands of extra cars into my home area, which severely affect my quality of life.
It's a pity the organisers of the show totally fail to consider how their 'extravaganza' affects the residents. Of course, it's all about the WORSHIP of MONEY. That has far more of an appeal to them than respecting those of us who live here.
dancingdog, Bournemouth says...
12:32pm Sat 20 Mar 10
What's wrong with that? British companies exhibiting British technology for the destruction of war planes. It's very patriotic.
sollie, says...
12:37pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Mind you if you believe the figures (1.3 million visitors generating £30m) it's making someone happy!
Pro bono publico, says...
1:06pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Even political parties don't use the same venue every year, so to relieve the strain on local people.
Take your money making exhibit somewhere else. Many don't want it on their doorstep.
Benji1902, Bournemouth says...
1:32pm Sat 20 Mar 10
alukeonlife, bomo says...
1:41pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Want it different?
Get out and do something about it, build an indoor attraction... set up your own festival... run for MP... just please stop moaning, it's so tiresome.
BOURNE RED, Bournemouth says...
1:58pm Sat 20 Mar 10
It's like when AFCB built there new stadium a few years back the local people around complained about it what do you expect if you buy a place near a football stadium or if you buy near the airport/railway track are people so stupid that one day these thing will redevelop.
constructive critism is what we need not because its not to your taste....
amrob100, Bournemouth says...
2:26pm Sat 20 Mar 10
glennzilla, bournemouth says...
3:46pm Sat 20 Mar 10
If it is really that bothersome then you have been given ample opportunity to organise a weekends idyll away from here.
oneshortleg, kinson says...
5:09pm Sat 20 Mar 10
peter beneather benifit cheater, says...
6:56pm Sat 20 Mar 10
rook, wimborne says...
8:09pm Sat 20 Mar 10
I believe Bolton doesn't suffer from a big influx of visitors in the Summer and property's quite cheap.
Give it a try you whingers. Bring on the Vulcan and Eurofighter!
Tictock, Trier Germany says...
11:01pm Sat 20 Mar 10
BH10et, Bournemouth says...
11:02pm Sat 20 Mar 10
Pro bono publico, says...
11:27pm Sat 20 Mar 10
poolebabe, poole says...
7:32am Sun 21 Mar 10
Fire_fly, Bournemouth says...
8:35am Sun 21 Mar 10
However I have in the past known people complain to the Airport about the noise of the Red Arrows! Just incredible.
rook, wimborne says...
9:21am Sun 21 Mar 10
(Obviously this doesn't apply to all those who've moved to Bolton to escape the bloody visitors in the Summer).
jobsworthwatch, Bournemouth says...
9:30am Sun 21 Mar 10
eyesropen, bournemouth says...
12:47pm Sun 21 Mar 10
It would be nice if this year a free programme of events was available (putting it online costs nothing), and that the big glossy programme was available outside of the town centre.
BH10et, Bournemouth says...
3:10pm Sun 21 Mar 10
peter beneather benifit cheater, says...
4:08pm Sun 21 Mar 10
peter beneather benifit cheater, says...
4:44pm Sun 21 Mar 10
Puj, Bournemouth says...
12:32am Mon 22 Mar 10
Apart from bringing financial input to business's and the town in general.. it is part of British heritage. It's laid on free for the on-lookers. Or do you prefer to pay watch it ? (That can be easily arranged - if need be).
Quit moaning and get over it !!
The Air Festival is here to stay - due to public responses from last 2 years.
More noise this year I hope from Tiffie and Vulcan... :))
fedupwithjobsworths, Moordown says...
7:44am Mon 22 Mar 10
jobsworthwatch wrote:Get the Vulcan to take out the Town Hall at the same time :-)
Save the council and us council tax payers a few bob if the organisers could arrange for the Royal Marines to do an assault with demolition charges on the Imax!
boardstiff, Boscombe Spa says...
7:56am Mon 22 Mar 10
Pro bono publico wrote:Completely wrong. The £30 million quoted is the amount the council claims goes to local businesses through tourism etc.
BH10et, the £30 million goes to a local businessman, the show organiser, not the council. No doubt he's an inspired individual and won't keep it for himself - NOT!
One of the sad facts is that the out-of-town fast-food, mobile bars and so on that pitch up on the seafront for the festival deprive many of those local businesses - which provide local employment and pay rates to the council all year - of so much of those potential earnings.
s-pb2, Boscombe says...
12:12pm Mon 22 Mar 10
fedupwithjobsworths wrote:Yeah, then our adults who need care and children in need will suffer. Yeah, nice one!
jobsworthwatch wrote: Save the council and us council tax payers a few bob if the organisers could arrange for the Royal Marines to do an assault with demolition charges on the Imax!Get the Vulcan to take out the Town Hall at the same time :-)
stinky, southbourne says...
1:33am Tue 23 Mar 10
there would be both people and animals that would suffer from the noise that is generated by the vulcan and therefore it should keep its routine off shore,the rest of the exhibits are not really offensive,but what is offensive is the selfish arrogant comments of people here, who like to attack those who maybe do not enjoy this kind of thing and simply wish to voice their opinion/concerns on this issue.For
myself I get bored with gazing at aircraft and dont mind either way.
You really should consider others/locals etc and not just yourselves. live let live.........
FLASHBACK: The Red Arrows
The Vulcan bomber
COUNTDOWN: The Bournemouth Air Festival 2010 is officially launched at the Odeon in Westover Road. Picture by Sally Adams. ID:10090125
Trish1, Poole says...
10:29am Sat 20 Mar 10