Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
100,000 turn out to watch air show
Organisers defend gaps between displays Man charged with assault
A record 100,000 people enjoyed a scintillating air show in Herne Bay on Saturday.
The crowd was treated to eight hours of aviation acrobatics as the skies above the town were graced by planes old and new throughout the day and – for the first time – into the evening.
The windy weather and cancellations lengthened some gaps between displays, but organisers dismissed critics who took to social media to complain.
Gerald Mccarthy, whose BayPromoteam spent almost a year organising the free show, hailed it a great success, with crowds lining the coast between Swalecliffe and Reculver.
“This was up there with one of the best,” Mr Mccarthy said.
“There has been talk about the gaps between displays, but gaps are a healthy addition to any air show.
“They help with the logistics of the displays and help the day run smoothly.
“We can’t see past Saturday’s show at the moment, but we will know in early September about next year.”
The show began with a Wildcat Aerobatics display at just before 1pm, and ended eight hours later with an eye-catching pyrotechnics show at dusk, set to the backing of the iconic Star Wars theme.
But some spectators criticised the stoppages between displays ahead of the appearance of the world-famous Red Arrows at 6.15pm.
Jordan Watts posted on Twitter: “I was very disappointed with the fact we were waiting 30 minutes to an hour between flights at the air show.”
Heatheria agreed, saying on Twitter: “Herne Bay air show: blustery and not enough planes. I’ve given up and gone home.”
But Mr Mccarthy believes stoppages between displays are important, saying it helps to spread the day out.
“Last year, we got a bit carried away with trying to fit as many aircraft as we could into a small amount of time,” he added.
“It meant we had people missing displays because there was something going on every five minutes.
“It is a very difficult balance, but we would go for gaps again – if we could narrow them slightly to 15 minutes that would be great, but it did work.
“The air show is a free event and we are just a small group of friends from Herne Bay at the Baypromoteam.”
Free evening entertainment included music from Rubber Biscuit and the American Four Tops on the clock tower plaza. Police were also called into action during the show following an alleged attack on an officer in Central Parade.
Ron Bruce, of Hillbrow Avenue, Canterbury, was arrested at about 12.30pm and later charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting an officer.
He has been bailed to appear at Margate Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, September 19.