BOURNEMOUTH Air Festival pilots and performers have said it would be a “travesty” if the event did not go ahead in the future.

Pilots have spoken of their fondness for the festival and why Bournemouth is such a special place to perform. 

(Image: Bournemouth Echo)

Richard Goodwin pilots the Pitts Special, a gravity-defying muscle biplane with various daredevil stunts.

Speaking on the future of the air festival, Richard said: “It's a fantastic arena to display in.

“I really hope someone steps up to the mark and finances a show. I think the infrastructure is there for it it's just getting someone to inject the money and the organisation.

“It would be a real shame to see the festival disappear off the air show circuit because it is one of the best air festivals in the UK.”

(Image: Bournemouth Echo)

The wing walking duo Emma and Kirsten take to the skies to perform daring stunts.

Speaking on the beauty of Bournemouth, Kirsten added: “It's a different space where you have the cliff, so it really enables people to get such an interesting perspective because we're flying the same height as the cliff, which is crazy.

“It's so fun to be here. We have such a blast on wing every time, we went along the beach and everything and we had loads of fun going all the rides.

“We do so much training and we're very used to what we do. It's very fun seeing the world from so many different angles and perspectives.”

(Image: Bournemouth Echo)

Scott Sunderland is one of the pilots in the Black Cats display team.

He brought his family and 13-month-old son who loves to watch his father fly.

Scott said: “I love being by the sea and displaying over the sea is nice.

“I think it would be a real travesty is the festival was to end, it’d be really disappointing, I'd be pretty devastated if it didn't happen. I say for us, it's one of the best shows that we like coming and doing.”

(Image: Bournemouth Echo)

Brendan O’Brien pilots Otto, a helicopter that shoots fireworks to make for an eye catching display for the night-flying schedule.

Brendan has piloted aircraft for more than half a century and now trains others.

Brendan described the role at air shows as a ‘skygasm’.

He said: “ The helicopter, is shooting out as much firepower as you possibly can in a relatively short time and maintaining situational awareness, it's like being in the middle of a firestorm, I call it a skygasm.

Alex, who is being mentored by Brendan, added: “There's other coastal air shows that are in the same position due to no council support. they're getting local businesses to sponsor and pay for the air show, normally on an individual basis.

“I think it's a big shame that they're not supporting it, we got our fingers crossed for next year, but we'll have to see what happens and hope this isn’t the last show.”