Shoreham Air Show 2011

 RAF Merlin HC Mk3
Shoreham Airport sits next to the River Adur over looked by the spectacular chapel of Lancing College

Saturday & Sunday 20th & 21st August 2011

From little acorns do mighty oaks grow and Shoreham Air Show has to be on of the finest examples of this I have seen. In 1989 Don Bean MBE and his wife decided to start a small event in a hangar at Shoreham Airport in West Sussex to raise money for the RAFA Wings Appeal. The Shoreham Air Show has grown year on year since and continues to grow. It is the only event of its' kind in the UK run entirely by volunteers.

Don and his team work flat out for the whole year planning and negotiating a varied and breath-taking display of civil, military, fixed and rotary wind aircraft. They also plan extensive ground displays and entertainment for aviation widows/widowers (those whose partners are leaft behind whilst the other oohhs and aahhs over buzzy things in the sky for over seven hours). On the ground there will be childrens' entertainment, crafts, charities, a variety of static displays and of course beer and food.

On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August the air show gates will open early with the flying display schedules to start at 10:30 AM going on until around 5:00 PM when the spectacular Avro Vulcan will make an appearance.

Justyn Gorman with his Extra 300L

During the show the Shoreham based pilot will display his awesome aerobatic skills in the Extra 300L. Justyn has developed a new display this year drawing influeneces from aerobatics champions Diana Britten and Xavier de Lapparent. Justyns display contains some thrilling manoeuvers and gyroscopic tumbles pulling high G-forces during the display without the benefit of a g-suit from which fast jet pilots benefit.

 A somewhat draughty position!

One of the highlights of the show is sure to be the utterly fearless Brietling Wingwalkers perched atop the wings of 1940s vintage Boeing Steerman biplanes. This year Shoreham is one of the few venues to see all four Steerman in the wing perform together.

Great skill and concentration is required from the pilots when flying in close formation

The list of displays may be found at the Shoreham Air Show website. Do go along and prepare to be amazed at the skill and dedication of the pilots and also raise money for a very worthy cause, the RAFA Wing Appeal.