CROWD CELEBR-ATES DEBUT AIRSHOW
A FAIRFORD-based event consultancy has returned from its first excursion north of the border with the cheers of a capacity crowd still ringing in its ears after a hugely-successful air display at Scotland's National Museum of Flight.
Earlier this year, Air Tattoo Event Services (ATES), the air display arm of the Royal International Air Tattoo based at RAF Fairford, home of the world's largest military airshow, signed a three-year contract to take over the annual summer air display at East Fortune, south east of Edinburgh.
And the ATES show, which took place in glorious sunshine on Saturday (July 23) went down a storm with a 12-000-strong crowd flocking to the airfield.
ATES Flying Display Director Norman Webster said: "It was excellent, really good. The weather was brilliant, and there were so many people there that the airshow nearly ran out of parking spaces.
"I've never seen a more appreciative or enthusiastic audience at any flying display in the UK. The shouts and cheers as the Skyraider and Bronco flew past, or the whole crowd standing up and waving as the Sea King departed are things I will carry with me for a long time – it was truly a joy to present a display to such a stunning crowd."
Grant MacKenzie, General Manager, National Museum of Flight, said: "We were delighted with the success of this year's Airshow. Norm Webster and his team did a great job in their organisation of the event's aerial displays and, when combined with some crowd-pleasing on-the-ground entertainment, we believe we provided yet another terrific family day out."
Stars of the show including the UHIH "Huey" helicopter, the DH-2, de Havilland's World War One biplane, the de Havilland Dragon biplane airliner from the 1930s, and the North American OV-10 Bronco, making is debut display in Scotland.
Alongside the air display, the Museum of Flight was open to visitors while sideshows and arena acts also did their bit in keeping audiences amused.
Norman concluded: "The organisers were happy with us, the display was good, it was on time and ran to programme. And the audience reaction certainly bodes well for the future, with our second ATES display taking place on July 29, 2012, when we hope it will be even bigger and better."
July 26, 2011
