140,000 FLOCK
AEROBATIC DISPLAYS THRILL SPECTATORS AS THEY SOAK UP THE SUNSHINE AT WEEKEND
SOME 140,000 people flocked to Bray at the weekend to take in the spectacular Bray Air Show.
On Saturday, 50,000 people lined Bray Promenade marvelling at the spectacular aerobatic performances during the first of the two-day Bray Air Display which supported by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Amid glorious sunshine, spectators were treated to a dazzling display of precision perfect manoeuvres from some of the world’s most accomplished aerobatic display teams as they looped, twirled and zipped across a picture perfect blue sky.
Headlining Saturday’s display were the Royal Jordanian Falcons – one of the world’s most experienced and accomplished aerobatic groups. A professional national aerobatic team formed in 1976 at the request of His Majesty the Late King Hussein Bin Talal, the Royal Jordanian Falcons have an international reputation for precision, professionalism and spectacular performance. Flying Extra-300 L aerobatic aircraft the highly skilled team set Bray skies alight with their award-winning performance.
Other display highlights included a very special 74-year-old Catalina Flying Boat and the ‘Swedish Air Force Historic Flight’ team flying Viggen jets.
Vintage glamour was on display with a British Spitfire and a Seafire as well as a beautiful vintage Aer Lingus aircraft, the DC-3, popular in the 1940s and 50s. Patrouille Tranchant, a Celtic jet team from Brittany in France put four Fouga jets through their paces while Norway was represented by a MiG aircraft as well as a pair of ‘Vampires’. Irish aviation was celebrated at the event by the Irish Air Corps and Eddie Goggins aka ‘The Flying Dentist’. The Irish Coast Guard also demonstrated a safe water rescue.
A total of 13 acts performed on Saturday while 18 took to the skies on Sunday, when the number of spectators surged to 90,000.
The sun also shone on Sunday which ensured a very festive atmosphere throughout the day.
Headlining Sunday’s performances was an F-18 jet from the Spanish air force demonstrating the very best of aerobatic skill and performance. The Royal Jordanian Falcons also wowed the crowd flying Extra-300 L aerobatic aircraft. A little more sedate but equally special were displays of a 74 year old Catalina Flying Boat and a beautiful vintage Aer Lingus DC-3 aircraft resplendent in 1940s livery.
The Irish talent on display again included Eddie Goggins as well as the Irish Air Corps and the Irish Historic Flight Founda-