Festival of Flight 2018: times, red arrows, weather - everything you need to know
Fingers crossed the rain stays away 🌧️☔
Last updated 10th Aug 2018
When is it happening?
Festival of Flight returns to Newcastle this weekend with a stunning airborne display, led by the Red Arrows on Saturday 11 August (weather dependant).
Where is the best place to view the airshow?
Anywhere along the main promenade. The crowds normally gather below the Newcastle Centre & Tourist information office close to crowd centre which provides a full view up and down Newcastle's shoreline.
What other activities and events are taking place?
The festival comprise of an afternoon of family fun events including an Aviation Centre and Food Village.
The Aviation village will be set up in Castle Park, this will have a food village and lots of activities such as face painting, balloon modelling, arts and crafts, climbing wall etc.
2018 marks an exciting year as the RAF celebrates its centenary. To mark the occasion, the RAF will be displaying aircrafts on the ground to encourage the public to meet crew members and get close to the magnificent planes.
The RAF will be setting up in Downs Road car park with a STEM tent, this is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and it's free to visit.
How to get there?
This year's event is expected to attract up to 100,000 visitors. Traffic will be busy getting in and out of the festival.
Translink will run extra Saturday scheduled services to Newcastle from Kilkeel, Downpatrick, Newry, Lisburn, Belfast and Bangor.
A park and ride facility will be available on the Castlewellan Road (A50) Northfield site . Follow the yellow signs on approach to Newcastle. There will also be a Park and Walk car park on the Dundrum Road (A24).
There will be a free shuttle bus from Northfields on the Castlewellan Road operating from 9am-9pm.
There are 3 car parks that offer disabled car parking. Newcastle Centre & Tourist Information Office, the Glen River car park and in the lower part of Donard park.
What time will the Red Arrows be on display?
From 1.30pm on Saturday the skies over the wonderful natural amphitheatre of Dundrum Bay will come alive with sound and colour from an array of amazing aircraft.
This is subject to weather, servicability and other factors.
Confirmed Aircraft
RAF Red Arrows
RAF Typhoon
RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight - Lancaster, Spitfire & Hurricane
Irish Air Corps CASA
Irish Air Corps AW139
Irish Coast Guard S92 S&R Demo
Rich Goodwin - Muscle pitts
Aerosuperbatic Wingwalkers
The Blades
Autogyro
Andrew Fenton - Christen Eagle
Gerry Humphreys - Vans RV
What's the weather going to be like?
Keep up to date with @VisitMourne on Twitter for event announcements and further updates.