The Midlands Air Festival is set to return this summer bringing with it a variety of aircraft, hot air balloons and more.
The festival will take place at Ragley Hall Estate in Alcester for a three-day event, starting on June 2 and ending on June 4, 2023.
This summer, the event will see warbirds, vintage aircraft, helicopters, aerobatics, flying circus and military jets and the largest gathering of hot air balloons in the UK fill the skies above Ragley Hall Estate.
Visitors will get to see some of the rarest aircraft in action and some appearances have been confirmed already.
Midlands Air Festival returning to Ragley Hall in 2023
The Grumman Bearcat fighter, The Pitts Special, The 6 ship Yakovlev formation team, Stampe Biplane Display Team, Turbulent flying circus display team, Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers, the weird and wonderful Gyroplane and the ex-Army Auster artillery spotting aircraft are all confirmed for the Midlands Air Festival 2023.
The Grumman Bearcat fighter aircraft is thought to be one of the most powerful piston engine fighters ever built and it’s set to tear up the sky with its massive prop and radial engine and a sound you won’t miss.
Lauren Wilson is returning to the festival for the first time since 2019 in her Pitts Special with some high-energy aerobatics.
Wilson is the top female display aerobatics pilot in the UK and she’ll aim to talk to aspiring female pilots in the STEM area after her display each day.
If you’re looking for a family day out, the Turbulent Display Team is one for the kids at the festival with their flying circus act which will include flour bombing, balloon bursting and even flying under a limbo pole at just three feet off the ground.
Across the three days of the festival, there’ll be a variety of hot air balloons and airships in the sky including a spectacular number of the giant character ‘special shape’ balloons such as the two Bertie Bassets, Astro the Alien, Tropsy the Dinosaur, two frogs and many more.
The signature ‘Nightfire’ show will kick off the festival on Friday evening (June 2) with a late afternoon air display, then a mass balloon take-off, followed by a dusk pyrotechnics air display with illuminated aircraft trailing roman candles and firing rockets from their wings, followed by a breath-taking balloon nightglow, choreographed to music and a massive firework festival finale.
Trevor Graham, Midlands Air Festival flying director, said: “We are delighted to be bringing Midlands Air Festival back to Ragley Hall Estate and have something quite special in store.
“We will be bringing together air spectaculars from across the ages and the world, making it one of the most unique air festivals in the UK this year. There will be even more big, exciting announcements to come as we head towards the festival dates, watch this space!”
The festival offers a campsite and glamping packages for those who want to stay on-site during the event.
There’s also an early morning ‘breakfast with balloons’ experience.
Tickets and more information can be found via the Midlands Air Festival website.
Customers are advised to consider an early purchase of tickets as the organisers report that tickets are already selling fast.
In fact, the festival sold out on all three days last year so time may be of the essence.
The festival is free for children under 13 years old when accompanied by a paying adult.
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