The Show
Gates open: 10 AM -- Event finishes: 5:30 PM
It's not just an air show! The Abingdon Air & Country Show has a varied ground show to go along with the large scale fly-in of both modern and vintage aeroplanes and the associated air display.
Ground Displays
Ground attractions have included rock artist Rick Chase to perform a selection of hits, Abingdon car works MG Centre rally, Dr Who Daleks, Darthvader & Chewbakka, Crafts, Vintage & Classic Vehicles, Childrens Amusements, Formula One car and various Arena Displays including 'The Lumbawakks' dancers, Abbey Brass Band, Ferret Racing,Thatching Demonstration, Punch & Judy, Miniature Railway, Tank Rides, Miniature Bus, Oxford Sea Cadets Drill team, Abingdon Sea Cadets Band, a mini Aircraft Carrier and even a Aircraft Carrier Auxilary power unit, and a variety of Trade Stalls and Exhibitors.
Confirmed participants so far include The Lumbawakks (arena), Vale Islanders (old fashioned dancers), a large model Aircraft Carrier, Vintage Vehicles, Abbey Brass Band, Rick Chase rock vocalist, Hunter & Jaguar aircraft cockpits and various Crafts - more to follow.
We have always aimed to make our show a great family day out with lots to do and see for everybody - and it's all for charity, as we support the local Air Ambulance. The Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance, like all Air Ambulance services in the UK, is funded entirely by donations from the public and private companies.
Flying Display Aircraft
The afternoon Flying Program is normally of around 3 hours duration, including some of the best military and civilian performers on the airshow circuit.
Participants at past shows have included the amazing RNLAF F-16 Fighting Falcon, the worlds only flying Avro Vulcan, most of the RAF types such as Jaguar, VC-10 tanker, C-17 Globemaster III, C130 Hercules, Tucano, Merlin helicopter, Hawk, Tutor, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster, Spitfires and Hurricanes, the Royal Navy's Lynx helicopter plus a variety of civilian acts from the Hunters and Gnats of Delta Jets through Dakotas, T28 Fennec, Extra 300L, the Swift Glider Aerobatic Display Team, Jet Provost, Vampire, Harvard, Pembroke, Jungmeister and many more.
This year we are looking forward to the following confirmed display acts: Breitling Wingwalkers x2 (Boeing Stearmans), Hurricane (Peter Vacher), P-51D Mustang (Alistair Kay, OFMC), Jungmeister (Dan Griffiths), Bucker Bestmann, Jungmeister (TBC), Pitts Pair (Richard Grace & Dave Puleston), T-28 Fennec (Martin Willing) . Many more to come - watch this space and Twitter for updates!
Static Display Aircraft
Static participants which have attended in the past range from an RAF C17 Globemaster III, RAF Puma and Merlin helicopters, based Grob Vigilants, Hawk through to Polish Navy M28 Bryza patrol aircraft, United States Army UH60 Blackhawk helicopter, Skyvan, OV10 Bronco, through to a selection of light aviation & ex military types, the majority of which fly into the airfield on the day.
There are usually at least one or two RAF aircraft opened up for visitor tours, with the crews on hand to show you round and explain what they do. We hope to see the return of the SHAPE UH-60 this year, as well as the OV-10 Bronco and Polish Navy M28 Bryza (TBC). There will also be around 40 assorted general aviation types.
Vintage & Classic Vehicles
With vintage and classic vehicles of all types attending we normally have a selection ranging from classic cars, police cars, buses, ex- military vehicles, miniature steam engines, a steam roller to an American Lorry (Rig). The Abingdon MG Car Works Rally join us, with road runs from locations around the region to meet at the show, with assorted MGs expected to be on display. We also welcome vintage motorbikes.
Previous shows
For a better idea of just what happens at the Abingdon Air & Country Show, have a look at
these reports for previous shows:
2011 (Global Aviation Resource),
2011 (Flightline UK),
2011 (Abingdon MG Car Works),
2010 (Global Aviation Resource),
2009 (Checksix),
2009 (Flightline UK),
2009 (UK Airshow Review),
2008 (Flightline UK),
2008 (UK Airshow Review),
2007 (Air-Scene UK),
2007 (Flightline UK<),
2006 (Air-Scene UK),
2006 (Flightline UK),
2006 (UK Airshow Review),
2005 (Air-Scene UK),
2005 (Flightline UK),
2004 (Air-Scene UK),
2004 (Flightline UK),
2003 (Air-Scene UK),
2002 (Air-Scene UK),
2002 (Air-Scene UK).
We hope you come and join us, have a great day out and make some money for the Air Ambulance! See you soon!
Exhibitors and Participants
Enquiries for the 2012 show can be taken anytime - please see the Contacts page for who to contact regarding particular areas.
Security companies will be in evidence once again, providing dog handlers, static guards and roving patrols, both day and night over the show weekend, on this military establishment.