Eastbourne’s seafront skies roared with the sound of jets and vintage warbirds this weekend as the four-day International Airshow – known as Airbourne – came to a spectacular close on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of visitors lined the beaches and clifftops at Beachy Head to witness breathtaking displays across the packed programme, making Airbourne once again the UK’s largest free airshow and the world’s biggest free seafront aviation event.
Four Days of Flying Highlights
Crowds were treated to a mix of modern military power, daring aerobatics and historic aircraft across the event, which ran from Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 August 2025.
Star attractions included:
- RAF Red Arrows (Thursday–Sunday) wowing the crowds with their trademark precision flying.
- RAF Typhoon FGR4 (Friday–Sunday), shaking the seafront with its supersonic power.
- Battle of Britain Memorial Flight: Lancaster, Spitfire & Hurricane (Thursday–Sunday) offering a poignant tribute to RAF history.
- Royal Navy Black Cats Helicopter Display Team (Thursday–Sunday), performing daring close-formation manoeuvres.
- Rich Goodwin’s Jet Pitts (Thursday–Sunday), thrilling audiences with gravity-defying aerobatics.
- Norwegian Airforce Historical Squadron Vampire FB.52 (Thursday–Sunday), alongside the Jet Provost T5 (Thursday & Friday) and Strikemaster (Saturday & Sunday), showcasing classic jet power.
- A400M Atlas Flypast (Thursday & Friday), one of the RAF’s most advanced transport aircraft.
- Stampe Formation Team, Mustang P-51D ‘Moonbeam’, Rolls-Royce Heritage Flight Spitfire, and Aerosuperbatic Wingwalkers, all adding variety to the aerial spectacle.
Free to Attend – Supported by Donations
The event remains free and open to the public, attracting aviation enthusiasts and families alike. Organisers reminded spectators that Airbourne relies on public support, with 100% of online donations going directly towards funding the flying displays.
A spokesperson for Eastbourne Borough Council said:
“Airbourne is one of Eastbourne’s proudest traditions, drawing visitors from across the UK and beyond. Every donation helps ensure the skies above Eastbourne continue to inspire future generations.”
Economic and Tourism Boost
Local hotels, restaurants and attractions saw a surge in visitors across the long weekend, reinforcing Airbourne’s importance not only as a crowd-pleaser but also as a vital contributor to Eastbourne’s tourism economy.
Looking Ahead
As the final smoke trails of the Red Arrows faded over the Channel, organisers confirmed planning will soon begin for Airbourne 2026, ensuring the tradition continues to soar.
Donations can still be made online via tinyurl.com/aevphmbv.
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