The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Lang Toun is in running to host international airshow
Kirkcaldy’s long promenade has made it a contender for the iconic show’s new location
Kirkcaldy is on the verge of securing next year’s Scottish International Airshow.
Tens of thousands of plane enthusiasts could descend on the town, generating millions for the local economy, if an agreement can be secured between organisers and Fife Council.
The town’s mile-long esplanade is said to be an ideal viewing platform from which to watch fast jets such as the Red Arrows, as well as classic and vintage bombers.
It is one of three locations under consideration but both airshow director Doug McLean and Fife Council are As a plane geek, news that the Scottish International Airshow may come to Fife revs my engine.
If iconic aircraft from through the decades roar past Kirkcaldy Esplanade, I’ll be in the front row of the tens of thousands of visitors they’re likely to attract. positive the Lang Toun can clinch the iconic event.
Council co-leader David Alexander said it could even turn into an annual extravaganza and added: “This could be a V&A moment for Kirkcaldy.”
Despite the fact the town does not have its own airport, Mr McLean said Kirkcaldy was a genuinely impressive place to run an airshow.
“The aeroplanes would travel from different places, some even coming from bases in England,” he said.
“We’d be looking to base some at Glenrothes airfield and probably also Dundee and Edinburgh.
“They would arrive, do their display over the Forth then go off and land again.
“Kirkcaldy is known as the Lang Toun with that huge promenade and a lovely long, straight bay which would make a great viewing platform.”
The show has been held in Ayrshire since the closure of the Leuchars Airshow in 2013, attracting 160,000 visitors over two days from as far afield as Hawaii, Australia and across Europe, as well as the UK.
As Ayr prepares for a larger event in
Few can fail to be impressed by the blue, white and red of the Red Arrows performing breath-taking aerobatics above their head.
Then there’s the unmistakable and evocative hum of the Spitfire and the ear-splitting roar of the Typhoon, so loud you can feel it in the soles of your feet.
My aircraft-loving son and I were among the 160,000 fans at Ayr Beach for this year’s international airshow.
At the end of a satisfying day of gazing skyward and enjoying aeronauticthemed activities – who knew there were 2020, a gap in the schedule means organisers are looking for an alternative venue for next year.
“The intention is to provide a really interesting airshow,” said Mr McLean.
“We would have a mix of aerobatics, classic aircraft and hopefully some fast noisy jets which always impress the crowds.”
He said he had been very impressed by the way organisers had been received by councillors and council officers. “They have seen the benefits,” he said. Mr Alexander said Fife Council would probably have to commit £100,000 to the event but that the financial benefits would far exceed the investment.
“We look very positively on things that can put money into our town centres and this ticks all the boxes,” he said.
“The input to the local economy would probably run into millions.”
The SNP councillor added: “The reason Kirkcaldy is so high up on the list is the prom is so long.
“This has to be a goer. It has to happen. It’s an iconic event and it could be enormous.” so many variations of the simple paper aeroplane? – we vowed we’d be back.
So it’s fantastic to learn we might not have to travel as far afield as we expected.
As well as providing an amazing day out for young and old, the event generates millions of pounds for the local economy.
It was a sad day when Fife hosted the final Leuchars Airshow in 2013, with the RAF’s departure from the station.
Let’s hope the buzz of air displays can touch down in the kingdom once more.