Significant Royal Navy assets supported this year’s Bournemouth Air Festival which took place between Thurs Aug 29 and Sunday, September 1.
Among the largest number of ships ever assembled for the event were the Type-23 frigate HMS Northumberland and Mine-hunters HMS Blyth and HMS Brocklesby. In the air a Black Cat Lynx and Merlin helicopters, and the Royal Marines stormed the beach from a number of landing craft in their amphibious assault demonstration.
The Night Air programme saw the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Collingwood Beating Retreat on the East Overcliff after an unarmed combat demonstration by the Royal Marines Commando Display Team.
The onshore Royal Navy and Army village had static displays of equipment, including the Commando Display Team’s weapons dome, and a challenging climbing wall.
Air Festival favourites the Red Arrows returned with their classic nine-ship formations and the mighty Eurofighter Typhoon roared over the sea front in three fantastic displays.
Commander Tom Herman, deputy naval regional commander for Wales and West England, said;
“Each year we try to do new things and make our part of the show bigger and better. This year we brought more ships than ever before and a host of other exciting assets.
“The people at Bournemouth have always been very generous in their support of the Royal Navy, and we are looked forward to meeting them again, welcoming them onboard our ships, and talking to them at the joint Royal Navy and Army Village.”
There were also a significant number of Maritime Reserves personnel taking part in events over the weekend, as the annual Reserve Forces Western England Exercise (RFWEX) is held in conjunction with the Air Festival.
[mappress] Press Release, September 03, 2013; Image: Royal Navy