December 14, 2017 3.23 pm This story is over 75 months old

No Scampton Airshow for 2018, organisers confirm

They are hopeful of returning in 2019.
Photo: Steve Smailes for Lincolnshire Reporter

The Scampton Airshow will not be returning in 2018, organisers have confirmed.

Up to 50,000 people from across Lincolnshire and the rest of the country descended on RAF Scampton for the inaugural airshow over the weekend of September 9 and 10.

However, despite the success of the show, organisers have decided not to come back to the home of the Red Arrows next year.

They are hopeful of running an event in 2019, although this has not been confirmed at this stage.

A spokesperson for the airshow said: “On September 9-10 Scampton Airshow Limited, with the support of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE), RAF personnel and a hardworking team of volunteers successfully staged a new airshow at RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire.

“The two-day event attracted 50,000 visitors from the East of England and beyond.

“Organising an aviation event on the scale of the Scampton Airshow involved many stakeholders, significant planning and we are very proud of what was collectively delivered.

“However, post-event there remains a lot to reflect on and areas where we would like to improve.

“As the organiser, we have concluded that rather than stage an airshow in 2018, we will use next year to fully consider the many lessons learnt with the ambition of running an event in 2019.

“We are very grateful to the many volunteers, sponsors, participants and local agencies, as well as the many thousands of people who attended September’s airshow, for their support.”

 

Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh, whose constituency includes RAF Scampton, said: “After the success of the first Scampton Airshow this year, I had obviously hoped that it would become a regular fixture.

“Unfortunately the RAF Charitable Trust has taken the decision to not to stage an airshow next year as they say they want to ‘learn lessons’ from this year’s experience.

“So, I am saddened to learn that there won’t be a Scampton Airshow in 2018. But I stand ready to assist where I can to support the RAF Charitable Trust’s ambition to hold an airshow the following year in 2019.

“I know that my colleagues on both West Lindsey and Lincolnshire County Council will also be will to assist in keeping the RAF’s airshow in Lincolnshire’s big skies.”

Lydia Rusling, Manager of Visit Lincoln, added: “This is very disappointing news in light of all the promotion, activity and events that are planned as part of RAF Lincolnshire for the centenary of the Royal Air Force in 2018.

“It was a major event attracting 50,000 people with national appeal — it’s very important for the county to host these major events if we are going to continue to grow tourism.”