Air Waves Portrush 2018 - 1st - 2nd September

[marko16]

Yes, good show for what there was, il certinly be back but, unless there is a big headline act, im afraid i heard others in the crowd say they wont be back for it.

[jasT1981]

Now my crankiness has subsided I did enjoy what I saw yesterday. Global Stars and Wildcats were good and the DC3/Beech 18 was fantastic. Especially the DC3 low passes of the beach.  Always good to see the Catalina too.

The main issue was the big long gaps. I know that was down to so many cancellations but as said there was no plan B. Newcastle actually had a few displays on standby this year just in-case. Chipmunks and I believe Team Raven were on standby.  I was getting pretty fed up standing around with nothing going on after such a long trip up.

Trading stalls seemed to be very low this year, only a handful down on the grass in village south, not sure what village North was like, but compared to last year it was very empty. The good thing was though a lot of the stalls were aviation related. Some great models I had to resist buying. Sadly the stall selling them for £2.50 the last few years wasn't there.

Portrush is pretty easy (all be it long) to get to via the train. I have to leave the house at 7:50am to get there for just after 12. Doing that both ways is tiring. It will take something impressive to bring me back next year though.

Static display was good. UMVC had a good lot at it along with the UAS. The one thing I will say is for an official RAF 100 event it didn't seem like there was much RAF 100... Newcastle was far better in that respect.

Back to RIAT for me next year I think after missing this years.

[Westlandman]

Now my crankiness has subsided I did enjoy what I saw yesterday. Global Stars and Wildcats were good and the DC3/Beech 18 was fantastic. Especially the DC3 low passes of the beach.  Always good to see the Catalina too.

The main issue was the big long gaps. I know that was down to so many cancellations but as said there was no plan B. Newcastle actually had a few displays on standby this year just in-case. Chipmunks and I believe Team Raven were on standby.  I was getting pretty fed up standing around with nothing going on after such a long trip up.

Trading stalls seemed to be very low this year, only a handful down on the grass in village south, not sure what village North was like, but compared to last year it was very empty. The good thing was though a lot of the stalls were aviation related. Some great models I had to resist buying. Sadly the stall selling them for £2.50 the last few years wasn't there.

Portrush is pretty easy (all be it long) to get to via the train. I have to leave the house at 7:50am to get there for just after 12. Doing that both ways is tiring. It will take something impressive to bring me back next year though.

Static display was good. UMVC had a good lot at it along with the UAS. The one thing I will say is for an official RAF 100 event it didn't seem like there was much RAF 100... Newcastle was far better in that respect.

Back to RIAT for me next year I think after missing this years.

Could not agree more sitting around for hours to see 1 display to then wait another 45 minutes to an hour for the next. Some old boys and girl just can't do it anymore.

[marko16]

Now my crankiness has subsided I did enjoy what I saw yesterday. Global Stars and Wildcats were good and the DC3/Beech 18 was fantastic. Especially the DC3 low passes of the beach.  Always good to see the Catalina too.

The main issue was the big long gaps. I know that was down to so many cancellations but as said there was no plan B. Newcastle actually had a few displays on standby this year just in-case. Chipmunks and I believe Team Raven were on standby.  I was getting pretty fed up standing around with nothing going on after such a long trip up.

Trading stalls seemed to be very low this year, only a handful down on the grass in village south, not sure what village North was like, but compared to last year it was very empty. The good thing was though a lot of the stalls were aviation related. Some great models I had to resist buying. Sadly the stall selling them for £2.50 the last few years wasn't there.

Portrush is pretty easy (all be it long) to get to via the train. I have to leave the house at 7:50am to get there for just after 12. Doing that both ways is tiring. It will take something impressive to bring me back next year though.

Static display was good. UMVC had a good lot at it along with the UAS. The one thing I will say is for an official RAF 100 event it didn't seem like there was much RAF 100... Newcastle was far better in that respect.

Back to RIAT for me next year I think after missing this years.

Could not agree more sitting around for hours to see 1 display to then wait another 45 minutes to an hour for the next. Some old boys and girl just can't do it anymore.

never mind the old boys and girls, my 2 boys could just about keep themselves contented lol

[Midas]

Considering the weather-related issues, todays show wasn’t bad. However, even the kids remarked that it was the same as last year. Always like the Red Arrows and Eurofighter but would love to see more jets (or even civil aircraft such as Airbus/Boeing’s etc). To be honest, we’ve been up three years on the trot now but unless there’s something good and different next year, we’ll be giving it a break for a while. That said, well done to all who organise and manage the show each year - it’s still very good but just needs a few changes in terms of aircraft displaying to keep it interesting.

[NISPOT]

At ballymoney here en route to the port, actually looking pretty good weather wise any clouds that are about are still very low but...

Did Red 10 arrive by road today rather than heli?

[Ed Winchester]

Falcons dropped him off. Well not literally.

[Chr81]

Even though today was better I think overall the airshow has definitely lost it's spark for the past few years it's been basically the same thing over and over. I'm not having a go at the organisers as I'm sure their hands are tied with budgets etc and I'm sure they are as disappointed as the rest of us when an aircraft goes tech or the weather plays havoc with the schedule.
Overall for the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Joe public looking for a day out the show will be considered a success going by the amount of people in the area the past few days.

[Jimi182]

At ballymoney here en route to the port, actually looking pretty good weather wise any clouds that are about are still very low but...

Did Red 10 arrive by road today rather than heli?

I think he arrived by helicopter around 12. I don't think he departed till late afternoon though? On a side note, the new Red 10 would need to be a little more active on Twitter. Mike Ling still tweets the odd bit of info and it's great, but the new guy just seems to retweet what the main Red Arrows account puts up and not much else.

[smudge]

The heli at 12ish was EC20 EI-FAB.  It departed about 17:30 in horrendous rain.

[ed-209]

Work in  Progress - Portrush Airshow 2018 Photies - 3 a day will be added

https://www.flickr.com/photos/153090095@N06/albums/72157697701600512

Updated 04/09/2018
Updated 05/09/2018

[in a maze]

Will there be a show next year, I see there is no airshow in Prestwick in 2019.

[marko16]

Work in  Progress - Portrush Airshow 2018 Photies

https://www.flickr.com/photos/153090095@N06/albums/72157697701600512

Looking 4wd to the rest of them ed, fantastic pics, how did u keep up with the typhoon, me and my little compact camera were all over the place lol

[ed-209]

Cheers....I was all over the place as well lol...if you stand too close to me you would deffo get hit with the big lens. Need to go to yoga classes shooting this one at Ramore!

[marko16]

😂😂

[jasT1981]

For those who went on Sunday, what type of display did the Reds do? I am assuming it would have been flat or rolling and not the full display due to weather?

[Fly757X]

For those who went on Sunday, what type of display did the Reds do? I am assuming it would have been flat or rolling and not the full display due to weather?

Flat Display.

[jasT1981]

Thanks, thought it would be that.

[jasT1981]

I wonder how this could affect Portrush next year. The Scottish show, normally at Ayr could be moving to Kirkcaldy on the East coast of Scotland as Ayr won't be hosting in it 2019. Talk of a possible date change too stating 'Between June & September'

https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/plan-to-bring-airshow-to-kirkcaldy-waterfront-1-4805996

[Angry Turnip]

Oh dear,what a badly researched piece of junk this article is.Pictures of the Vulcan? Leuchars and St.Andrews unusuitable? St.Andrews has West Strand Road which would be a good viewpoint/venue,but it`s right beside the golf course.
RAF Leuchars as it used to be held huge Battle Of Britain airshows until the RAF left in 2014,it is now an army base.
Plenty of room for aircraft to land if they wanted to go down that route and have a static display as well.I`m not sure what the status of the runways is at Leuchars,but I think they still have a UAS presence there.
Kirkcaldy does have a nice straight promenade,but that`s about it,it`s probably a little too close to Edinburgh air traffic as well.

[Sonic Boom]

Oh dear,what a badly researched piece of junk this article is.Pictures of the Vulcan? Leuchars and St.Andrews unusuitable? St.Andrews has West Strand Road which would be a good viewpoint/venue,but it`s right beside the golf course.
RAF Leuchars as it used to be held huge Battle Of Britain airshows until the RAF left in 2014,it is now an army base.
Plenty of room for aircraft to land if they wanted to go down that route and have a static display as well.I`m not sure what the status of the runways is at Leuchars,but I think they still have a UAS presence there.
Kirkcaldy does have a nice straight promenade,but that`s about it,it`s probably a little too close to Edinburgh air traffic as well.

Leuchars would be perfect, I was at many a show there and the QRF North is moving there next summer while Lossie is worked at so runways must be kept operational.
Good public transport facilities too with the railway station and the base is massive for statics.

[Sneaky_Nikon]

I think what they're looking at here is the freebie element of the show, rather than the on-station.

[Angry Turnip]

I think what they're looking at here is the freebie element of the show, rather than the on-station.

Yeah,well that`s true enough,but I just thought it was daft to rule Leuchars out,maybe the MOD aren`t keen,who knows.