Portrush Airshow - Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th September 2024

[angry turnip]

Well that's a pretty awful programme as far as the actual timings for any of the aircraft displays, they have not bothered to list any.
The entire thing has turned into an extended funfair,with the airshow element rock bottom of the pecking order.

[JasonT1981]

For me the best displays are the Wingwalkers, Jet Pitts and Vampire. Though I have seen them a few times already this year. S92 could be the final display as they are due to move to AW189 which has a bit of appeal.

Starlings I don't overly care about, nor the Airborne Pyrotechnics.

Typhoon and Lancaster I will see the following weekend at Duxford.

Over-all they basically played it safe and went with the same old-same old. No real ambition to put on a worthy replacement for the Reds.

There are a lot of classic jets making a comeback in the last 2 years in the Strikemasters, Provosts, Gnats and the Swedish Historic Viggen and Draken being allowed to display in UK again. Quite a few Warbirds on the scene too around the UK.


It will be a decission based on weather. I still might go for the day out as there is no Premier League that day and we are not doing another event on the same day.
£581k budget approved per council meeting minutes (Unless it has changed since the meeting approved it)  but only £150k for the 2 days of flying is shocking.

[keegster]

What helis are they planning on having on static display I wonder?

Don't think there will be any.

Haven't seen/heard any mention of where they could land for static display.

[JasonT1981]

There was something about possible Royal Navy ground displays

Military Ground Displays and Exhibitions from the: Army, Navy and RAF. Trade Village, Car Dealership village, re-enactment zones, soft play amusements, radio station broadcasts, food village, live music stage, seated rest areas and amenities.

Though the static helicopters are in Ballyreagh and the council agenda had them for West bay previously.

There was also this

Opportunities to facilitate visiting Navy Vessells into the Harbour outside of display times and opportunities for beach displays at West Strand.

Documents had Ulster Aviation Society listed for Ballyreagh and the schedule confirms them for there. So possible UAS Helicopters being the static ones?

[rookie]

Navy vessels will be the archer class like the last time HMS Archer HMS Biter.

[rookie]

We don't have any military helos over here anymore unless the royal navy send over one of the Merlin thats stationed at PIK at present.

[casper]

It's quite possible that they could be talking about the Ulster Aviation Society Puma, Gazelle or Lynx if they are bringing any of them.

[JasonT1981]

Display line

It does not look good :/

[rookie]

Looks as if they'll be pushed well out.

[The Gaffer]

To be fair, compared to the past with Coleraine running this, what is on this year is a disgrace, especially from the replacement council's team. The Antrim & Newtownabbey team put together a better 'airshow' by mistake as a tag on to Armed Forces Day while trying to deny it was an airshow!

[JasonT1981]

Flying schedule for both days. SF260, Hurricane and a "Rocket Launch" added

S92 Sunday only

[angry turnip]

The SF260 and Hurricane are two decent additions.The IAC have previously operated the SF260.
Could be G-NRRA which is in the military colours of Burkino Faso,or possibly G-RAZI.

[keegster]

Now that we have a line-up and timings I can say with confidence that this will be a hard pass from me. Not worth the ~2hr drive up for at most 2 aircraft that I would want to see.

Organisers seem to have gone out of their way to ruin any opportunities for us photographers with Ramore Head closed off and the display line too far out and in the wrong place.

I thought the whole point of moving the show was to allow them to flatten the display and bring it in closer but instead they've done the opposite.

Very disappointing 

[angry turnip]

Moving the "show" and display line to the new location just isn't going work on any level,had the 2022 show gone ahead,I feel this would have been made even more obvious.
The only part of the display line where any decent view of the aircraft may be possible is down towards Juniper Hill area.From anywhere else and especially the West Strand area,the aircraft will be tiny specks in the sky.
I will give it a miss.

[JasonT1981]

Honestly don't think I will bother. I want the show to do well, but seems a complete lack of ambition and more money spent on the ground than in the air at an "airshow"

There are some nice displays, but for the most part it is the same-old, same-old. With the Reds away it was a chance to re-energise the show and bring in something new and exciting.

I've seen most of them already this year, and will see the Lancaster the following week at Duxford.