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In pictures: Bournemouth Air Festival 2024

Paul Johnson - Flightline Starlings display team performing a formation stunt with one of the aircraft flying inverted above the otherPaul Johnson - Flightline
The Starlings Aerobatic team made their debut at Bournemouth in 2023

The 16th Bournemouth Air Festival has drawn to a close with attention now turning to the future of the event.

Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the town's beaches on Thursday, Friday and Saturday to watch the free displays.

BCP Council, which has withdrawn funding for 2025 and beyond, says it is in talks with several potential new organisers.

It said a future operator could choose to pause the festival next year while it works to "plan and refresh" the event for 2026.

Paul Johnson - Flightline An Avro Lancaster aircraft flying over Bournemouth PierPaul Johnson - Flightline
The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster performed a low pass along the seafront
Bold Media Agency Red Devils parachutists landing on Bournemouth beach with spectators watching from behind barriers. The parachutists are wearing read overalls and have red and white parachutes and are trailing red smoke behind themBold Media Agency
The Army's Red Devils parachute team landed on the beach

This year's event was scaled down to three days from the usual four as the council looked to reduce its financial commitments.

Displays included festival favourite Rich Goodwin, who performed stomach-churning aerobatics in his custom-built Jet Pitts stunt plane.

Bold Media Agency A blue Pitts bi-plane bearing the callsign G-JPIT performing a steep turn in the skyBold Media Agency
Rich Goodwin's Jet Pitts has become a firm favourite among spectators
Bold Media Agency A packed Bournemouth beach with funfair rides and sloping cliffs covered with vegetation in the backgroundBold Media Agency
Hundreds of thousands of people watched the free air show from the beach

With the Red Arrows on tour in Canada, fast jet action came in the shape of the Swedish Air Force Viggen and Draken duo debut, along with the more familiar RAF Typhoon performance.

The Army's Red Devils parachute team performed beach landings although their final display of the weekend on Saturday had to be cancelled.

Paul Johnson - Flightline Two Spitfire aircraft flying nose down in formationPaul Johnson - Flightline
The iconic Spitfire was among the World War Two-era air displays
Bold Media Agency Army personnel in camouflage uniforms and members of the public standing on a tracked tank on Bournemouth beachBold Media Agency
Army tanks were among the ground displays on the beach

The air festival ended with a fireworks display at 22:00 BST on Saturday.

Dozens of people have taken to social media urging BCP Council to ensure the event continues, including former Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood, who posted on X: "This amazing flagship family event (that’s taken years to establish) not only boosts our local economy (£40m) but it now helps define our town! Let's make sure it’s back next year!"

Bold Media Agency Two Swedish delta-wing fighter jets - the Saab Viggen and Saab DrakenBold Media Agency
Swedish fighter jets - the Saab Viggen and Saab Draken - were new additions to the line-up
Paul Johnson - Flightline A view of the top of a Typhoon fighter jet as it turns in the sky with the top of the cockpit facing the camera. Its wings and fuselage are painted with the Battle of Britain black and white stripesPaul Johnson - Flightline
The RAF Typhoon is a regular attraction at Bournemouth Air Festival

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