Culdrose kicks off flying display season
Aircraft from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose have kicked off their flying display season by visiting Lincoln at weekend for the RAF Waddington International Air Show.
A Merlin MK2, from 824 Naval Air Squadron performed in the air for the first time in a public arena. Also on the ground for a static display, was a Merlin MK2 from 814 Naval Air Squadron (the Flying Tigers), a Beechcraft Avenger T1 from 750 Naval Air Squadron and a Sea King ASaC Mk7 from 849 Naval Air Squadron.
Aircraft from Fleet Air Arm, past and present, will also be present at a variety of other air shows throughout the display season and the general public will also get an opportunity to see the Navy’s aircraft on their home tuft at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose’s Air Day on Thursday 31st July 2014.
Air shows that Culdrose aircraft will display at include:
- Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford
- Farnborough Air Show
- Sunderland Air Show
- RNAS Yeovilton Air Day
- Blackpool Sea Front Air Display
- Dawlish Air Show
- Bournemouth Air Festival
- Jersey Air Display
- Lands End Ai rSea Rescue Day
- DartmouthRoyal Regatta
- Prestwick World Festival of Flight
- Duxford Air Show
- Southport Air Show
Culdrose’s Air Day on Thursday 31st July promises to fill the skies of Cornwall with magnificent sights and sounds from across the world of aviation, both past and present. From high above the Air Station, down to mere feet above the runway, there will be gravity defying displays that Culdrose Air Day is famous for.
Commander Peter Munro-Lott, Commander Air at Culdrose or ‘Wings; as he is known at the Cornish Naval Air Station said: “This year we have a fantastic air display with over four hours of flying planned. The highlight of the show for many will be the return of the mighty Vulcan, which will fill the skies with its massive delta wing and thunderous noise. We also have aerobatic display teams, and a variety of other historic jets visiting, such as the Canberra, Hunter and the supersonic Sea Vixen. Of course no Air Day at Culdrose would be complete without the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm attending in force. Demonstrating the versatility and adaptability of maritime helicopters, the Lynx, Merlin and Sea Kings will be put through their paces, while the nimble Hawks of 736 Naval Air Squadron will show off their agility and speed.”
Advance tickets at a reduced price (£14 for adults, £5 for children and £35 for families - children under 5 are free) are now on sale online (www.ticketzone.co.uk), by phone (08444 99 99 55) and over the counter through the following outlets:
- Bodmin Visit Information Centre
- Fal River Tourist Information Centre
- Hayle Tourist Information Centre
- Liskeard Information Centre
- Lostwithiel Tourist Information Centre
- Newquay Tourist Information Centre
- Padstow Tourist Information Centre
- Perranporth Information Centre
- Plymouth(Barbican) Tourist Information Centre
- St Austell Tourist Information Centre
- St Ives Visit & Information Centre
- Truro Information Centre
- Helston Community Centre
- Cornish Seal Sanctuary, Gweek
- Heathercraft, Helston
- Pictures and Things, Helston
All advance ticket holders will automatically enter into a prize draw and the owner of the ticket number picked at random, will get the chance to visit the Royal Navy’s Sea King Simulator and take the controls of a helicopter similar to those currently serving overseas. The multi-million pound, state-of the-art Simulator is used to train aircrew for their overseas deployments and is not usually open to members of the public – this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
*One ticket holder plus one guest only will be allowed entry to the simulator and at least one person must be aged 18 years, or over. See www.culdroseairday.com for more details.
For further information, including updates on the list of participating aircraft, please visit www.culdroseairday.com