Bournemouth Air Festival 2016

[mafro987daboss]

Same reason Soloturk cancelled last year probably. Operational restrictions specific to Bournemouth.

[MRTT]

Same reason Soloturk cancelled last year probably. Operational restrictions specific to Bournemouth.

Ah right, that's a shame! Flying programme still looks good!

[clearstone]

None of the above. Lack of available support personnel (from the Bournemouth Air Festival Facebook page)

[CJS]

It's undoubtedly a shame but I do find this reason / excuse a bit odd. If they know this far out that there will not be the available support personnel, surely they would have known or should have found out this at the time of agreeing to come in the first place.

Or is their schedule more like the Swedish Historic Flight - more of a list of those shows which have asked them rather than those they are going to actually display at?

It's frustrating I am sure for all concerned.

[TBPhoto]

I too find this a little odd. It's going to pee me off if this happens each year with Bournemouth.

[Harvo266]

Hopefully another country will send an F16, F-18 of other fast jet

[BFA]

Bournemouth airport are not the most accommodating of hosts towards participants . The air festival relies on the good will of private companies on the airfield to host visiting participants.
If there's nobody there that are willing to look after or have insurance to cover a multi million pound international participant then they have no choice but to cancel. It's not simply just parking up the aircraft for a few days and refuelling a couple of times , some countries specify that they need hangar space , support crew and specific ground equipment. Cobham are probably the only people on the airfield with the security , space and personnel but they are usually hosts to the entire RAF contingent . Also with the loss of DS there's a lack of support for the older classic jets as they were always the hosts for that type of aircraft.

[CJS]

All of which means they should have known in advance and never said they would come at all. As you said, it's not just a case of parking your plane up for a few days and it's not as if the Swiss airforce are a bunch of amateurs who don't know what they're doing is it?

I would have thought a RIAT style approach to aircraft announcements would be better - wait til you have an act signed on the dotted line before you announce it.

[clearstone]

Bournemouth had the confirmation that the Swiss Air Force would be taking part. This was from a press release earlier this year:-

“I am delighted the Swiss Air Force will be participating at this summer’s Bournemouth Air Festival – we have heard great things about the event on the air show circuit. I hope visitors will enjoy watching the incredibly agility demonstrated by my colleagues from the Super Puma Display Team and remarkable power of the F18 Hornet which I will be piloting for you all – see you in August!”

Julien ‘Teddy’ Meister, Pilot F-18 Hornet"

Like any military participant they can cancel at any stage. RIAT never ever gets all the military participants it "confirms" because things can always change at any time. Remember what happened to Cosford last year? They did a superb job of attracting participants only to let down by factors beyond their control. Perhaps (particularly in these troubled times) you should be a bit more supportive of a civilian airshow who are trying to bring together foriegn military (and civilian) acts to enhance their event instead of rushing to condemn them.

[CJS]

I'm not condemning them, I'm suggesting that, if the reason they have cancelled is a lack of adequate support personnel, someone (the organisers or the Swiss themselves) should have known that in January if they know it in March. It's not as if they're cancelling last minute due to operational reasons or unforeseen circumstances, which IIRC is what happened with Cosford last year.

[Pringles]

which IIRC is what happened with Cosford last year.

Didn't the Swiss F18 make it to Cosford last year, being one of the only non-international cancellations?

[CJS]

Oh sorry yes my message wasn't clear - damn not being able to use intonation in non verbal communication...

I was referring to the German Orion and Ramex Delta which cancelled very last minute.

The Swiss hornet put on a blistering display

[TouchDown]

should have known that in January if they know it in March

Not neccessarily the case. When a display asset is allocated you don't know their requirements and the overseas team don't know what is available. Paperwork is sent out and it's often when that paperwork comes back you find the issues.

TD

[Harvo266]

I think that if a problem comes up then theres nothing you can do about it but I don't think Bournemouth should have confirmed it until everything was in place, meaning that accommodation, parking etc was all concrete news, so no one gets disappointed. Then the only thing that should disappoint us is if it gets cancelled due to an unforeseen circumstance.

[WG655]

The Blades are confirmed for the Friday and Saturday.

[fastandloud]

I see that their web site is still showing the F18 as one of the participants. Really poor from them as it has been mentioned that it is misleading people

[Reds Rolling]

Bournemouth is looking pretty poor this year, and not even the Vulcan to look forward to.

Might give it a miss this year if Dunsfold pulls something special out of the bag.

[itfcscott]

Not exactly show related, but part of the cliff next to the Jon Egging memorial has collapsed:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-36129169

I know that along there is a popular spot to watch the show so thought was worth posting.

[Reds Rolling]

IIRC that cliff lift is bang on display centre, and is where all the commentary is done from. Looking at the picture, I can't see that area being deemed safe to use come airshow time.

[Aviation94]

IIRC that cliff lift is bang on display centre, and is where all the commentary is done from. Looking at the picture, I can't see that area being deemed safe to use come airshow time.

You're spot on. The centre line is just to the east of the cliff railway and the commentary box sits at the top of the railway. Can't see them moving the centre line but shoving the commentary position over a bit (to the east maybe and back a bit... more on the pavement).

[Gau8]

Latest from Web page,Swiss Superpuma displaying and they have finally taken the Hornet from the list.

[Harvo266]

Aircraft at the airport news!

- Red Arrows basing in/out for all 4 days
- Schweizer 300 N7505B 'Otto' being based for shows
- Super Puma being based at the airport

No other news I'm afraid!

[MRTT]

B-17 'Sally B' confirmed for Friday, Saturday and Sunday!

[Reds Rolling]

Wondering if the new CAA regulations will have an effect on the ships and boats that congregate on the far side of the display area.

I have to say that having up to a thousand vessels of various shapes and sizes really enhances the show visually, and it would be a shame if they were all stopped from being there or pushed further out to sea.

[Geezer100]

Wondering if the new CAA regulations will have an effect on the ships and boats that congregate on the far side of the display area.

I have to say that having up to a thousand vessels of various shapes and sizes really enhances the show visually, and it would be a shame if they were all stopped from being there or pushed further out to sea.

there's normally a notice to mariners put out and they have a massive semi circle area that's kept clear. they have people on jet-skis moving any swimmers who venture into the area as well.