Planes and people made the Airshow spectacular
THOUSANDS lined a soaked seafront for fireworks and spectacular aerial displays over a wet weekend at the Sunderland Airshow.
A host of the world’s most iconic aircraft made their way to Wearside for the 29th edition of the popular annual event.
The three-day extravaganza kicked off with blue skies for the traditional launch party at Cliffe Park on Friday evening, but bad weather caused a string of cancelled performances on Saturday.
Scheduled displays were brought forward on Sunday in an attempt to beat the wet forecast, but rain still managed to bring the climactic showing of the mighty Typhoon jet to an abrupt end.
Councillor John Kelly, cabinet member responsible for public health, wellness and culture at Sunderland City Council, said: “This was a very special airshow with some unforgettable moments.
“From the world’s best flying displays providing a fantastic aerial backdrop to Friday evening’s musical celebration of Sunderland achieving city status, to the Red Arrows appearing through the clouds on Saturday afternoon to bring the sunshine back to the seafront.
“The crowds as always have been amazing, and I’d like to thank everyone for your continued support of the airshow. It is the people as well as the planes which makes it such a success.”
The Red Arrows wowed crowds on all three days, and were joined in the skies by impressive showings from the Blades and the Fireflies among many others.
Along with the show stopping performances the display team paid emotional tributes to Bradley Lowery and Manchester Arena victims Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry.
Also making appearances at the event were the RAF Falcons and Tigers parachute display teams, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the Breitling Wingwalkers.
On the ground, a series of ground displays, music and family activities ensured there was plenty going on throughout the whole weekend.
Wallsend grandad Derek Preston along with his son, daughter-in-law and five grandchildren, were one of the many families to brave the weather and still enjoy the airshow.
Derek, 66, said: “The Red Arrows were brilliant, and the whole day has been very entertaining.
“The forecast did not put us off at all – what’s a bit of rain?”
Flight lieutenant Ryan Lawton, pilot from the Typhoon Display, said: “We all look forward to performing at Sunderland which is one of the most popular and well attended events in the airshow calendar.
“It is a pleasure to put on a display for such a knowledgeable and enthusiastic crowd, and join such airshow favourites such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows.”
Superintendent Sarah Pitt, Northumbria Police’s Silver Commander for the Sunderland International Airshow, thanked the thousands in attendance for their support in allowing the police to carry out their work ‘quietly and effectively.’
She added: “We did provide a more visible but also hopefully friendly, approachable and re-assuring presence.”