The Sunderland International Airshow started as a small one-day event in 1988.
It's now the biggest free airshow in Europe. The event attracts over one million
spectators.
Locally known as The Airshow, this is Sunderland's biggest and most high-profile
event and thrills crowds with spectacular entertainment in the air and on the
ground. It attracts regional, national and international visitors, who make
their way to Sunderland's beautiful coastline resorts of Seaburn and Roker for
the two-day event. 2006 was one of the most successful ever with glorious
weather, an impressive flying programme and entertainment on the ground.
Hundreds of thousands of people were treated to a magnificent flying display
with highlights including The Red Arrows, the Eurofighter Typhoon, Sea Harrier,
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team, The
Blades, Sea Fury, Merlin plus international participants from the Belgian Air
Component. The Belgian Air Component provided the Pilatus PC -7 solo display and
a rare Search and Rescue display by one of the Leeuwarden-based AB 412
helicopters, working together with the local lifeboats. This was quite a
convincing display, ending with a nice piece of showmanship in the form of a
flypast with all flags flying.
The Belgians have been strong supporters of the event for many years and this
year sent the Fouga Magister trainer once again which gave a particularly
graceful aerobatic display. The only jet warbird was the De Havilland Sea Vixen,
which put on its usual impressive display and tended to reinforce the Naval
theme of the display, further underlined by the presence of the RFA Wave Knight
anchored offshore, providing an impressive backdrop.
By the end of the two day event over a million visitors every year crowd on to
the seafront at Seaburn to watch the thrilling displays by the jet fighters,
vintage aircraft, helicopters and aerobatic teams, including the world famous
Red Arrows. Organisation is excellent and the coastal setting is very scenic,
there really is something to thrill and entertain the whole family. On the
ground, there's plenty to see and do with displays and entertainment throughout
the whole airshow site at Seaburn and Roker.
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