Southport Air Show thrills record-breaking crowd

Sep 30 2009 by Nick Moreton, Formby Times

The Vulcan aircraft soars above the crowds at the Southport Airshow _460

A BREATH-TAKING aerial display thrilled the aviation enthusiasts who descended on the annual Southport Air Show over the weekend.

Organisers estimated up to 90,000 people lined the sea front on Saturday and Sunday for what is being hailed as the resort’s most successful air show ever.

Seventy years after the start of World War II, the crowds paid tribute to “The Few” during a Battle of Britain memorial flight featuring three of the most prominent military aircraft in history – the Spitfire, the Hurricane and the Dakota DC3, which stood in for the Avro Lancaster.

The 21st century’s most technically advanced fighter the Typhoon jet, otherwise known as the Eurofighter, also wowed the crowds with its awesome display of speed.

The air show, which was celebrating its 17th year as the biggest aviation display in the North West, saw thrilling sequences from the Guinot wingwalking team as well as the Royal Navy Black Cats and the Swift glider display team.

And one of the most impressive planes ever constructed, the legendary Vulcan bomber, provided a rare treat for enthusiasts when it closed the show on Sunday.

The XH558 is the only remaining airworthy Vulcan left and was flying thanks to a £7m restoration which saw it return to the skies in 2008 following retirement in 1993.

But perhaps the most eagerly anticipated performance of the weekend for the picnicking families on the sands was by the Red Arrows who roared over the beach from the east for a dramatic display.

Fran Sharples, from Leyland, was at the show celebrating her 64th birthday with her husband.

She said: “We last came about 15 years ago. But we really like the Red Arrows so we’ve come to see them.”