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Bourne free – Navy past and present represented at three-day Dorset air show
29 August 2024
If you’re looking for something to do over the next three days, you can watch the Navy by land, sea and air for free in Bournemouth.
The Senior Service is joining the RAF and Army in one of Britain’s biggest – and longest-standing – free air shows, which begins today on the South Coast.
The flying programme runs from 1.30pm until last light (just after 8pm), with today’s Royal Navy represented in Dorset skies by the Wildcat HMA2s of the Black Cats display team (celebrating their 20th year on the display circuit) from RNAS Yeovilton.
Navy Wings – guardians of the Fleet Air Arm’s flying heritage – have lined up a vintage Wasp helicopter and the legendary Swordfish torpedo bomber to perform.
Other machines appearing during the three-day event include iconic WW2 Lancaster and Flying Fortress bombers, Spitfire and Mustang fighters, a clutch of aerobatic teams, parachute display teams and RAF Typhoons.
On the beach there’s a Royal Navy ‘village’ where Royal Marines will encourage members of the public to try some of their gym kit and take on their ‘hang-tough’ challenge.
They’ll also explain their work around the globe: commandos are currently deployed in Korea and the USA on training exercises, in the Caribbean on drug-busting/disaster relief missions, and in the Middle East conducting maritime security and training with regional allies.
And up on the East Overcliff area of the seafront, Royal Navy Divers and bomb disposal experts will be showing off their remote-controlled robots and equipment as well as the dive tank.
The Bournemouth Air Festival continues to be a hugely important entry in the Royal Navy engagement calendar that provides a fantastic opportunity for our sailors and Royal Marines to interact with the communities we serve.
Offshore, P2000 fast patrol boats HMS Express and Ranger from the Portsmouth-based Coastal Forces Squadron are operating from nearby Poole Harbour, taking affiliates and visitors to Bournemouth Bay as part of their engagement duties over the weekend.
As day turns to night, the Band of His Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood will be performing a Beating Retreat in the Bournemouth’s Lower Gardens nightly at 6.40pm, following an un-armed combat display from the Commando Recruitment team in the same location from 6.20pm.
And finally, if you can’t hang around till evening, the RM Band will perform a one-off concert in the Lower Gardens on Saturday at 11am.
“The Bournemouth Air Festival continues to be a hugely important entry in the Royal Navy engagement calendar that provides a fantastic opportunity for our sailors and Royal Marines to interact with the communities we serve,” said Brigadier Jock Fraser Royal Marines, Naval Regional Commander for Wales, Western England and the Channel Islands.
“I’d encourage anyone visiting Bournemouth this year to make their way to the Royal Navy village on the beach and on East Overcliff, where the public can get up close with some of the equipment we use and chat with our teams about what it is like to serve around the globe today.
“It will once again be a real privilege for the Senior Service to open the festival’s evening programme with an unarmed combat display from Royal Marine Commandos followed by a Beating Retreat performance in the Lower Gardens from His Majesty’s Royal Marines Band Collingwood.”