Author: Alex Bradley
Alex Bradley
Alex Bradley is a UK-based aviation writer and airshow circuit regular who has spent years attending displays from RIAT at Fairford and the Biggin Hill Festival of Flight to small fly-ins that drew two hundred people and a hot dog van, and values both for entirely different reasons. He is not a pilot. He is not a PR man for the aviation industry. He is the person in the crowd who has been coming long enough to notice when something has quietly changed, when an organiser is papering over a problem, and when a display is genuinely worth the drive. His writing on Redhill Airshow covers the British airshow circuit, safety, display team politics, CAA regulations, and the quiet contraction of grass airfield culture that nobody in the industry wants to discuss plainly. He has stood at Redhill Aerodrome in every kind of English summer weather, watched Tiger Moths bank low over Surrey farmland, and carries strong opinions about what this country is slowly losing one cancelled event at a time.
The Midlands Airshow 2026 — officially the Midlands Air Festival — takes place from Friday 29 May to Sunday 31 May 2026 at Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 5NJ. Now in its 8th year, it is one of the UK’s most distinctive aviation events, combining daytime flying displays, the Nightfire evening spectacular, and one of Europe’s largest gatherings of hot air balloons.For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Manston International Airshow: History, Aircraft, Cancellations, and 2027 Plans.What Is the Midlands Air Festival?The Midlands Air Festival is set against the backdrop…
The notification came through on a Thursday afternoon while I was at the Redhill clubhouse cafe. A Cherokee was doing circuits in the kind of flat grey light that makes May feel reluctant. I read the message twice. Then I put my phone face-down on the table and looked at the grass strip for a while. RIAT 2026 is cancelled. RAF Fairford has been inaccessible since March, hosting B-1Bs and B-52s as part of Operation Epic Fury. The US-led air campaign against Iran has effectively claimed the runway. The organisers announced on May 22 that the decision followed discussions with…
The Manston International Airshow is a planned 2-day aviation and ground display event at Manston Airport, Isle of Thanet, Kent, southeast England. Originally scheduled for August 2025, the show has been cancelled twice — first in July 2025 and again in May 2026 — due to unresolved Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) airspace and safety requirements. Organisers are now developing plans for 2027.For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Clacton Airshow 2026 Lineup, Timetable, and 6 Key Facts to Know.What Is the Manston International Airshow?The Manston International Airshow is Kent’s first…
The Clacton Airshow 2026 takes place on Thursday 27 and Friday 28 August over Clacton-on-Sea seafront in Essex. In its 33rd year, the event welcomes in the region of 250,000 visitors and features impressive aerobatic displays alongside exhibition stands, a food court, and on-site entertainment at ground level. The event is organised by Tendring District Council, which has committed to running Clacton Airshow annually up to and including 2027.What Is the Clacton Airshow?The Clacton Airshow is the largest free aviation event on the Essex coast. It features flying displays over the seafront supported by a wide range of ground-based attractions and entertainment.…
The 1952 Farnborough Airshow crash occurred on 6 September 1952 at the Royal Aircraft Establishment Farnborough, Hampshire, England. A prototype de Havilland DH.110 disintegrated mid-air during a display in front of approximately 120,000 spectators, killing 31 people — 2 crew members and 29 spectators — and injuring 60 others. It remains one of the most consequential aviation accidents in British airshow history.For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Waddington Airshow 2026: Why It Was Cancelled and the 4 Best UK Alternatives to Attend.What Happened at the 1952 Farnborough Airshow?The 1952…
There is no Waddington Airshow in 2026. The RAF Waddington International Air Show was permanently cancelled in 2015 due to significant security concerns and operational risks at the base. The last airshow at RAF Waddington took place in 2014. This article explains the full history of the Waddington Airshow, why it ended, and which 2026 UK airshows now fill the gap it left behind.What Was the Waddington Airshow?The Waddington International Airshow was an annual event held at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, England, between 1995 and 2014. It took place on the first weekend in July, attracting over 140,000 visitors and representatives…
The Torquay airshow — officially the English Riviera Airshow 2026 — takes place from Friday 29 to Sunday 31 May over Paignton seafront, Torbay. Flying display times are Friday 18:30–21:30, Saturday 12:00–16:00, and Sunday 13:00–16:00. Admission is free, and the event marks a major milestone: 10 years since the inaugural airshow in 2016.For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Malta Airshow 2026: Biennial Schedule, 2027 Return, History, and 5 Key Facts Every Aviation Fan Needs.What Is the English Riviera Airshow?The English Riviera Airshow is a free, 3-day coastal aviation…
The Malta International Airshow is not taking place in 2026. The Malta International Airshow is hosted every 2 years. The most recent edition was held on 27–28 September 2025. The event will return in 2027. This article covers the biennial schedule, the full history of the Malta Airshow, what the 2025 edition included, and what visitors can expect from the 2027 return.For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Jersey Airshow 2026: Date, Aircraft, Location, and What to Expect at This Free 4-Hour Display.What Is the Malta International Airshow?The Malta…
The Jersey International Air Display 2026 takes place on Thursday, 10 September 2026, over St Aubin’s Bay, Jersey, Channel Islands. The free 4-hour flying display runs from 13:00 to 17:00. It is one of the largest free airshows in Europe and one of the most significant dates on Jersey’s annual calendar.For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Avalon Airshow Geelong: Dates, History, Aircraft, and 6 Key Facts.What Is the Jersey International Air Display?The Jersey International Air Display is an annual free aviation event held over St Aubin’s Bay,…
The Avalon Airshow Geelong — officially the Australian International Airshow — is the largest airshow in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a large airshow held biennially at Avalon Airport, between Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria, Australia. The event has a strong focus on military aviation, featuring aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Navy, and the United States Air Force. The next edition takes place in February 2027.For official aviation safety context, see the UK Civil Aviation Authority. For the previous guide in this series, see Australian International Airshow Avalon: Dates, Facts, History, and 6 Key Figures.What Is the…