Revival of Ayrshire air show confirmed

THE revival of Scotland’s biggest air show after a gap of 22 years was confirmed today, with World War Two aircraft to play a starring role at the Ayrshire event in September.

The air show will feature a Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. Picture: Contributed

The announcement comes eight months after Scotland on Sunday revealed the aviation showcase, which attracted up to 100,000 spectators in the 1980s, would return this autumn.

The free show, at Low Green in Ayr, will be part of a series of events from 5-7 September which also include an aviation conference, and aircraft display at Prestwick Airport.

The air show, on Saturday, 6 September, will feature a Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and a second Lancaster from Canada.

A Vulcan bomber, which once carried nuclear bombs, will also take part, along with the Blades aerobatic teams, which includes former Red Arrows pilots, and helicopters and parachutists.

The show is being organised by Danny Anderson of Ayrshire-based Zisys Events rather than George Kerevan, who had planned to launch it as a follow up to last year’s inaugural Prestwick World Festival of Flight.

Mr Anderson said: “The objective is to stage a significant aviation event based in Ayrshire which explores the theme of flight, initially through an air show and static aircraft display.

“It is designed to bring tourism, business, economic and educational benefits to Ayrshire in particular.

The conference will be on 5 September and the Prestwick display, in which people will pay to walk round aircraft, on 7 September.

Event spokesman Doug Maclean said: “A small team of aviation professionals have worked tirelessly to bring this event back to the Ayrshire skies in a new and exciting format.

“The plan is to grow this event to make it an annual calendar highlight over the next five years.”

Funding has come from South Ayrshire Council, Event Scotland and Prestwick-based Woodward International.

The original Scottish International Air Show ran from 1967 to 1992, and included a prototype Concorde in 1972.

The last annual air show at RAF Leuchars took place last year prior to the Fife base being transferred to the Army.