About Southend:
• Southend History
Location:
• Google Map
• County: Essex
• Satnav Postcode: SS1 1AB (Airshow)
• Satnav Postcode: SS2 6YF (Airport)
Travel Information:
• AA Route Finder
• RAC Route Finder
• National Rail
• National Express
Accommodation:
• Travelodge
• Premier Inn
• TripAdvisor
• Booking.com
Weather Forecast:
• General UK weather forecast
• Local weather Met Office
• Local weather BBC
Southend Photographs:
• Photos Southend 2011
• Photos Southend 2010
• Photos Southend 2009
• Photos Southend 2008
General Information:
• Scanner Frequencies
• Checklists
Official Website & Links:
• Southend Airshow Website
• Official Blog
UK Airshows (England):
• Shuttleworth Airshows
• Duxford Airshows
• Flying Legends Airshow
• Royal International Air Tattoo
• RAF Cosford Airshow
• Biggin Hill Airshow
• Royal Navy International Air Day
• Abingdon Air & Country Show
• Midlands Air Festival
• Little Gransden Airshow
• Airbourne (Eastbourne) Airshow
• Southport Airshow
• Clacton Airshow
• Bournemouth Air Festival
• Sunderland Airshow
• Weston Air Festival
• Blackpool Airshow
• English Riviera Airshow
• Teignmouth Airshow
• Tees Valley Airshow
UK Airshows (Wales):
• Wales National Air Show
• Rhyl Air Show
UK Airshows (Scotland):
• Scotland's National Airshow (East Fortune)
• Scottish International Airshow (Ayr)
UK Airshows (Northern Ireland):
• Newcastle Festival of Flight
• Airwaves: Northern Ireland Int. Airshow (Portrush)
UK Airshows (Channel Islands):
• Jersey International Air Display
• Guernsey Air Display
Flypasts/Events 2021:
• Queen's Birthday Flypast 2021
Southend History
The Southend Airshow first took place in 1986 as part of the Southend Spring Festival and was a one-day event. In 1988 Budweiser became the first sponsor of the show and Network South East took over the sponsorship in 1989. A preview day on the Sunday was introduced in 1990. The first two-day Airshow was introduced in 1991. In 1994, the sponsor changed from Network South East to LTS Rail. At 1998's event, Richard Noble brought the then fastest car in the world "Thrust" to show the crowds, which in 1997 had travelled at 736 mph across the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. In 2000, LTS Rail became C2C. The show included the first visit by the Italian Air Force Display Team the Frecce Tricolori and C2C even brought one of its new trains along and parked it on Western Esplanade! Westcliff Casino took over the sponsorship in 2001.
The Southend Airshow or 'Southend Festival of the Air' as it was also called, was the largest free air show in Europe with more than half a million people lining the town's seven-mile shore over the two day spectacular. There was a large display exhibitors plus a market and craft fayre with the ground attractions cover more than a mile of the seafront.
The airshow was usually held at the end of May during Sunday and Bank holiday Sunday. Many of the display aircraft operated out of nearby London Southend Airport. The airport sometimes had Open Days during the Southend Airshow so that people could see the aircraft at close quarters and see its resident Vulcan (XL426) doing a taxi-run.
The last Southend Airshow was held in 2012, and it was cancelled in 2013 due to austerity cutbacks by Southend Council.
The Southend Airshow was the largest free air show in Europe and was regularly held at the end of May during Sunday and Bank holiday Sunday.
In 2013, Southend Borough Council announced its intention to cancel the event citing budget cuts and lack of sponsorship. In response to this announcement Thomas Curtis and John Delaney formed a campaign to try and save the airshow, even attempting to seek an alternative venue, but were ultimately unsuccessful and it was announced in 2015 that the Southend Airshow would not return.
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