Unluckily it appeared the grey skies had set an omen as this was to be the last flight of Flight Lieutenant Jon Eggings, aged 33, who sadly crashed his Hawk T1 aircraft; Red 4, just outside of Hurn airport at precisely 13.50PM and was pronounced dead at the scene.

People are planning to wear red in his memory during tomorrows remaining events. Whilst people wishing to pay tribute can do so by leaving floral reefs outside the Bournemouth Town Hall.

This was unbeknownst to the spectators upon Bournemouth beach as the air display carried on (although gossip was heard yet unconfirmed) and although some of the evening festivities were cancelled a fine aerial display was put on during the remainder of the day including fireworks off the end of Bournemouth Pier at 10PM.

Lou Maby from Bournemouth was quoted as saying:

The Red Arrows have always been the highlight of my trips down to the beach to watch the Air Festival.

Our thoughts remain with the family, friends and colleagues of Flight Lieutenant Jon Eggings during this difficult time.

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For those of you that were present for the 2010 Bournemouth Air Festival will likely remember being huddled together on the beach waiting anxiously to hear over the PA system whether or not any planes would be braving the weather. It was wet, cloudy, extremely windy and generally horrible in terms of the weather. This year organisers, local businesses, Bournemouth residents and of course thousands of tourists from across the United Kingdom were holding their breath and keeping fingers crossed for good weather. Unfortunately Day 1 was a washout, and I mean that quite literally.

A bus station is flooded in the centre of Bournemouth. A whole months worth of rain had fallen by early afternoon.

It has been reported that Bournemouth received 2 weeks worth of rainfall in less than 30 minutes during the morning of Thursday 18^th August. I would like to add that it felt like a years worth of rain fell from between 10AM and 12.30PM…. especially considering I was caught in the middle of it. However being caught up in the rain did have it’s advantages, I was able to snap some quick pictures which were featured across the nations press as well as some quotes from myself. Check out the pictures below and some quotes including links to the websites I appeared on. Take a look at our YouTube channel to see some of the videos I recorded during the downpour.

It was absolutely surreal, the shops were all flooding and owners were putting down their shutters in a bid to keep the water out. The Sun.

There were loads of people grabbing any sort of shelter they could find, some were paddling in the water streaming down the streets. There was a bit of Dunkirk spirit going on a some motorists stopped to pick up stranded people and take them to dry land. The Telegraph

It was like a disaster movie. The Daily Mail

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Pictures by Kristian Wingfield-Bennett

Day 1 of Bournemouth Air Festival was cancelled and there was disappointment for everyone involved. The daytime and evening festivities were cancelled, and tourists along with the locals were both left disappointed. Fingers crossed tomorrow would be a good day.

Tomorrow (today) was a perfectly sunny, beautiful day in Bournemouth and thousands of people flocked down and battled to find a seating position on the beach between Boscombe and Bournemouth piers. Bournemouth Pier approach and as far as the eye could see either side was crammed with people ready to enjoy everything the Air Festival has to offer. They didn’t need to wait long as the Tigers Parachute team were ready and on hand to kick off the afternoon with a dramatic entrance leaping from up high to land up on the beach (amongst the crowd in some instances) with flags and flares. The applause and cheers were thunderous as the festival was now in full swing.

Over the course of the afternoon we were treated to displays by the Hawk jets, Royal Navy Merlin helicopter, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flyby team, the Breitling Wingwalkers, the Blades, the Miss Demmeanour Hunter Jet and Bournemouth’s very own Sea Vixen. The two most outstanding displays were performed by Gerald Cooper in his Avions Mudry Cap 232 aircraft who stunned and surprised the crowds with breath taking and seemingly impossible twist and turns between both piers. And then of course the Red Arrows burst across the sky in a blaze of blue, red and white. Last year the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team were cut short and unable to perform properly due to bad weather, this year however they more than made up for it with a spectacular and awe inspiring 24 minute display that had everyoneon the beach, upon the cliffs and along the piers stood up and clapping.

We are back down there again tomorrow with our Media/Press passes so expect another evening update from us. Until then check out the pictures and video from Day 2 below, both courtesy of the Bournemouth Daily Echo.

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