A brand new aerobatic team was announced today for Torbay Airshow - pyrotechnic formation flying team AeroSPARX.

With a breathtaking military and civilian flying programme planned and exciting on the ground activities for all the family on Friday 10 June, 2pm to 10pm, Saturday 11 June, 10am to 10pm, and Sunday 12 June, 10am to 6pm - this is an event you will not want to miss!

The Aerosparx team, flying on Friday night, are new to the airshow world and are set to revolutionise it with a number of exciting innovations. AeroSPARX is unique in airshow circles as it has special clearance to fly at night with pyrotechnics that light up the sky.

With smooth and graceful aerobatic manoeuvres, the display showcases the best of motor glider aircraft Grob109. This quality formation flying with spectacular wing-tip pyrotechnics is a spectacle.

Torbay’s Elected Mayor, Gordon Oliver, said: “AeroSPARX bring another exciting element to the airshow and kicking off our flying programme with pyrotechnic night flying. The motor glider will be familiar to many British cadets as the RAF has used the Grob109 as a training aircraft since the 1908s. The large wings provide an impressive level of glide performance and the airbrakes offer excellent landing control.”

Executive Lead for Culture, Tourism and Harbours, Cllr Nicole Amil, said: “Our flying programme is starting to come together and it promises to be an outstanding weekend event for all the family. Flying with fireworks is not new but the AeroSPARX team has several innovations not seen before at airshow flying displays in Europe.”

The AeroSPARX team brings together two extraordinary world renowned pilots for its first year of flying. Team Leader, Guy Westgate is famous for introducing his dazzling pyrotechnic displays into the UK and thrilling crowds across Europe in his stunt glider, GliderFX Fox. Tim Dews is better known in Britain as ‘Mr Grob’ having run a successful business maintaining the aircraft since 1986 and is fast becoming recognised on the circuit as an accomplished display pilot.

Torbay Airshow has already announced its military aircraft line-up and on the ground activities taking place at this spectacular new event on Friday 10, Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June 2016 at Paignton Green.

The RAF aircraft have been confirmed and the line-up includes the world’s premier aerobatic team The Red Arrows, as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4, King Air B200, The Tigers Freefall Parachute Display Team, and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft - the Hawker Hurricane, Avro Lancaster and The Spitfire.

This year will be the first time Torbay has held an air show and over 150,000 visitors are expected to watch the action unfold over the weekend.

To date, Bristol Street Motors, Devonshire Windows, Hyundai Torbay, Our Garage, Inter-Line Building Supplies, Francis Clark, Budget and TDA have been signed up as official sponsors by the official event commercial team Rocket Fuel Media.

Bristol Street Motors is sponsoring the Hurricane Hangout hospitality marquee and Devonshire Windows the VIP hospitality marquee. Francis Clark has sponsored the night flying element of the airshow.

Hyundai Torbay and Our Garage have shared sponsorship of the Fly-by Family Fun hospitality marquee and Inter-Line Building Supplies is sponsoring the Airshow Live Stage.

The Coastal Communities Fund has provided a start up grant to part-fund the cost of the airshow. Other income is being generated by Rocket Fuel Media, from the sale of sponsorship, concessions and exhibitor space.

Sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities are still available, to find out more visit www.torbayairshow.com

PHOTOGRAPHY AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Notes to editors

- AeroSPARX wingtip pyrotechnics have taken 5 years of careful development. They are all hand crafted for reliability and consistency and we have a selection of different effects to choose from, to help control the history and trail of sparks, giving the team the unique ability to perform anywhere.

We are also leading the industry with innovations that enable us to fly our formation firework display at night, and coordinate ground-based fireworks with a flying display.

The team are always keen to harness and incorporate the latest technology into their display, and LED Lighting is no exception. The continuing progression of LED Lighting, now means that computers can control each LED colour independently across the aircraft. We also have 12,000 LED lenses over the fuselage and wings, providing an incredible spectacle of ‘painting with light’ for the crowds in attendance to enjoy.

The Red Arrows and their trademark combination of close formations and precision flying will provide a full-length display, taking place across the Bay on the afternoon of Sunday 12 June. They will also be bringing a ground exhibit as part of the ground display on Paignton Green, which will also include a Red Arrows flight simulator.

Displays from the Eurofighter Typhoon will span the weekend, flying on both Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June, and the display will include some incredible aerobatic stunts. Royal Air Force Typhoons have a top speed of about 2,500km an hour and a wing span of 11 metres. There will also be a Typhoon simulator as part of the ground display.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, which includes Hawker Hurricane, Avro Lancaster and The Spitfire, is a hugely popular feature of air shows across the country and beyond, featuring one of the two remaining airworthy Lancasters left in the world.

The Battle of Britain was one of the most pivotal moments in the country's history. It marked a turning point when Britain stood alone against Hitler's seemingly unstoppable military power.

An evening aerial display is planned for Friday 10 June together with live music and a ‘Lift-off’ launch party. Saturday 11 June will include an Armed Forces Parade at 11.30am and a full flying programme from 2pm to 5pm and ground display activities including live music from 10am to 10pm. Sunday will also include flying from 2pm to 5pm. The complete military and civilian flying schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

Ground-based activities will include a large event village on Paignton Green with entertainment, fair rides, bars and catering. There will also be high quality specialist enclosures such as VIP, Hurricane Hangout and Family Fly By areas, for which tickets will shortly be on sale via the website. Ticketed Helicopter flights around the Bay are also available.

A leading Airshow consultant has been recruited to coordinate the flying displays, with both military and civilian aircraft included in the action packed programme. It is hoped that the Torbay Airshow will become an annual key fixture in the Torbay and national aviation calendars.

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