Over 200 vintage aircraft will visit Kemble Airport over the weekend of May 9th/10th, giving visitors a spectacular dose of nostalgia a great family treat.
The Great Vintage Flying Weekend is aimed at aircraft built before 1965 and visitors will be able to see over 100 visiting aircraft each day, with lots of classic ‘stringbag’ aircraft such as Tiger Moth biplanes and famous examples such as Austers, Cubs and a Miles Messenger – the type once used by Field Marshal Montgomery as his personal transport.
Uniquely, the aircraft parking area will open to the public for two hours over the lunchtime period, giving visitors the chance to inspect the gems at close quarters. “These wonderful old aeroplanes even have a classic smell,” said organiser Glen Moreman, “a mixture of oil, dope and leather. Many of the aircraft on show are more than 70 years old – where else these days can you walk right up to such treasures and see the wires and canvas with which they’re made?”
The Great Vintage Flying Weekend includes a small flying display of vintage aeroplanes each day, featuring the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s wartime Dakota, two SE5As and two Junkers CL1s of the First World War Display Team, and a post war Piston Provost trainer.
To make the day complete the spacious AV8 restaurant will provide refreshments for everyone and there will also be a bar and other catering outlets around the site. Disabled parking and facilities are available along with all the usual array of trade stands and attractions that will make this event a great family day out.
Gates will open at 9am; access is signposted from the A433 Cirencester – Tetbury road. Adult tickets are priced at £8 in advance (£10 on the gate) and are available from Tourist Information Centres in Bath, Cheltenham, Chippenham, Cirencester, Gloucester, Malmesbury, Stroud, Swindon, and Tetbury, or by logging onto www.gvfwe.co.uk. Children’s tickets (age 6-16) are priced at £5, while children under 6 enter free.