The Bournemouth Air Festival returns next week offering thrills and spills – and not just in the sky.

Rebranded this year as the Platinum Jubilee Bournemouth Air Festival, to mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, the event runs from September 1-4.

The festival will feature a commemorative Platinum Jubilee Souvenir Brochure – as well as the usual array of spectacular displays, attractions and more for all the family.

Here’s everything you need to know…

Bournemouth air show schedule 2022

While there is a litany of airborne acrobatics and military might on show in the skies, the Platinum Jubilee Bournemouth Air Festival also features a host of attractions on land and at sea.

Councillor Beverley Dunlop, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Vibrant Places, said: “I’m so proud that we have the biggest free air, sea and land festival right here on our beautiful south coast.

“Thousands typically descend on to Bournemouth’s beaches for the event – in fact 800,000 visitors came in 2019, which puts it is the largest single audience of any aviation event in Europe!

“It’s always wonderful to see families and children from near and far having a good time, either at the fun fair, at the STEM marquee, or being thrilled by the magnificent air displays.”

On land

Market traders, Armed Forces villages, displays, performances, funfairs and a host of delicious food and drink will be on offer to keep everyone entertained.

Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force Villages will feature a range of equipment and information on the people who defend us, as well as interactive attractions and demonstrations.

The festival will also see a variety of traders across the seafront, town centre and on East Overcliff, offering everything from local shortbread to a nifty new pair of sunglasses or even a Red Arrows cap.

There will also be plenty of funfair entertainment in the seafront area throughout the event.

With around 1.5 miles of traders and a variety of vendors, visitors are sure to find plenty to keep them well fed and watered. There is also a host of al fresco bars and restaurants along the seafront at which to enjoy food with a view.

This year, the festival will welcome the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, who will be performing on Sunday morning from 11 am to noon, and the Beat Retreat Sunset Ceremony in the Lower Gardens on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at 6.45 pm.

Also performing will be the Commando Recruiting Team, giving Unarmed Combat demonstrations on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6.20 pm.

HMS Bathtub will be back, with its Vintage Garden bar in the Lower Gardens, offering a range of beers, ales, ciders and gins, along with live music.

Meanwhile, in the evenings, The Festival Coast Live! The big screen will be back in the Lower Garden, showing some cinema classics each night at 7.45 pm. Casablanca will be showing on Thursday, Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid on Friday and the classic Some Like it Hot on Saturday.

To top it all off on Friday and Saturday nights, firework displays will take place near the pier.

On the sea

On the water, people can watch nautical displays featuring the likes of the P2000s, a class of patrol and training vessel in service with the Royal Navy.

If you fancy learning a bit more about the engineering on show, the STEM marquee, once again located near the RAF Village on the East Cliff, will showcase the science and technology involved, explained by the companies and experts specialising in various sectors.

When the Red Arrows fly at Bournemouth Air Show

Of course, what’s happening in the skies is the main attraction at the Platinum Jubilee Bournemouth Air Festival.

The Red Arrows will have a special colourful seven-aircraft formation celebrating the Platinum Jubilee every day of the event.

The key times the Red Arrows will take to the skies during the Air Festival are:

  • Thursday, September 1 at 4.30 pm
  • Friday, September 2 at 4.30 pm
  • Saturday, September 3 at 4.30 pm
  • Sunday, September 4 at 1.30 pm

Other landmark aircraft set to feature include the RAF Typhoon and the famous Lancaster bomber, Hurricane and Spitfire planes in a Battle of Britain display, while the RAF HC6A Chinook helicopter and the Wildcat HMA2 will satisfy helicopter fans.

Elsewhere, the Hawker Fury FB.11, p51 Mustang plane, T-67 Firefly and the Jet Pitts G-JPIT Muscle Bi Plane will also fly.

For fans of daredevil displays, the Blades - Extra 300 show and the Boeing Stearman wingwalkers are set to wow the crowds.

And the displays don’t stop when the sun goes down.

Dusk displays include flights by a Supermarine Spitfire MK XIX, the RAF Typhoon, the Tigers Army Parachute Display Team, the Firebirds - RV4 and ‘Otto’ The Helicopter, as well as the fireworks displays.

Jon Weaver, festival director, said: “We have the UK’s best free air, land and sea show right here on our award-winning blue-flag beaches and this year is set to be one of the best yet.

“With the news the Red Arrows will be performing every day with a very special Platinum Jubilee sequence, we are now starting to get very excited.”

“We have some more surprises up our sleeves too. With the mix of fast jets, acrobatic aircraft, parachuting teams and heritage aircraft our festival will this year give those on the ground goosebumps.”

Timings for the whole festival will be available on the Air Festival App or in the official Air Festival brochure.

Once you have purchased your ticket, you can also visit the Bournemouth Air Show website with your ticket number to view the full schedule with timings.

Where to park for Bournemouth Air Festival 2022

If you are arriving by car, the easiest way to access the festival is to use the park and ride from Kings Park. The postcode for your sat nav is BH7 7AF.

Parking is free but there is a charge to use the bus, which will drop off at Manor Road (BH1 3EZ), around a five- to 10-minute walk to the event site.

Tickets entitle up to seven people per vehicle to use the bus for a return journey.

If you haven’t yet got a ticket for the festival, the park and ride will cost £10 on Thursday and Sunday, and £12 on Friday and Saturday.

Buses run between 9 am and 11 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 9 am to 7 pm on Sunday.

If you are driving into the centre of town, there are a host of car parks available.

However, drivers are urged to check the Air Festival Traffic Restrictions plan, to see a live map of road closures and restrictions. Any vehicles parked illegally will be towed away in restricted areas.

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