INTRODUCTION

Firstly let us welcome you to the official website and home of the Walney Air Show and pose the following question to you; How did it come to be that air shows were once again hosted on Walney Island?

The answer is quite simple: On the 20^th September 2003 Walney airfield became the venue for celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of RAF Walney Island’s Battle of Britain Parade (more). 128 Barrow Squadron Air Training Corps, with kind permission from BAE SYSTEMS, hosted a Family Fun Day and Diamond Jubilee Celebration at it’s Walney Airfield, which proved to be very popular, featuring air displays by the Royal Air Force that included a Nimrod from 42R Squadron RAF Kinloss along with a Hawk from 100 Squadron, RAF Leeming. Other attractions included static aircraft, flying displays by model aircraft, St. Andrews Pipe Band, BBC internet bus, classic and vintage vehicles, artillery equipment (guns), static displays, stalls, exhibitions, children’s entertainment, paintball range, inflatable/s, fun fair, beer tent and catering.  Live broadcasts from the Event were also featured on BBC Radio Cumbria’s Joe Costain’s Saturday Show. It was because of this display's success that an actual air show was planned for 2005, which itself proved a major milestone for air shows in the North West of England, attracting more than 35,000 visitors to what was the first full size air show to be held at Walney's airfield for over 50 years.

Without question the amount of visitors and interest gained from both the 2003 display and 2005's fantastic Air Show paved the way for more such shows held in the future, so much so that 2007 is now fast becoming reality, and if 2005 didn't put Walney Island on the map in way of air shows then 2007 certainly will. We look forward to seeing at at the show.