Torbay Airshow in 360º - Ash Blagdon 360º Photography

English Riviera Airshow (formally Torbay Airshow) in 360º

Enjoy a 360 º virtual tour of the English Riviera Air show (formally Torbay Air show) a free show that fills the skies over Paignton with noise and colour across two days. The Bay provides a stunning natural amphitheatre for the air show with lots of areas to watch the entertainment from.

Location/Facts Event Times Aircraft Programme Past Aircraft Food Getting There Helpful Tips Weather Sunrise & Sunset Tide Times Nearby Destinations

Update: 28th May 2024

added 2024 Programme, list of aircraft & standard images

Renamed as the English Riviera Air show from 2022. As previous years most of the flying programme will be during the afternoon with Saturday pretty much the same, but for 2022 Sunday’s display’s were a little different as it started at the earlier time of 11:30am and the first to fly over was the RAF Red Arrows. A change to their usual slot of 3:00pm on the dot for both days. The Program times for the aircraft isn’t always the same for both days. Day 2 most of the aircraft usually arrive in reverse order from day 1. ~~with one exception, the final aircraft to show up is the badass Typhoon that never fails to disappoint in wowing the crowds or me.~~

The event village on the green which features live music, air display stands, simulators, food stalls, bars and more will also slightly differ in times. Saturday it will open from 11:00am to 06:00pm, while Sunday 10:30am – 6:00pm.

2019 was all about the drastic difference 24 hours can make with Saturday beautiful blue skies, blazing hot sunshine (Yes I got a tad bit burnt, kids always wear sunscreen!) and onto Sunday with dull grey miserable drizzly, low clouds. 11:30 came and the Red Arrows could only complete a fly past before deciding to abort. With a small break in the weather the Chinook did manage to display, but sadly that was all for Sunday. The weather gradually got worse and showed no sign of improving. Come 2pm the organisers had to make the sad decision to cancel the rest of the days flying programme to ensure the safety of display teams and visitors. If you do come, check the weather reports and choose the better day.

I didn’t actually bother to go down on the wet Sunday, as I did look at the forecast during the week and saw Saturday was the better day and Sunday wasn’t looking good, so flights being cancelled should not have come to a surprised really. Yet I’m told there were a lot of people booing and moaning. Well when you can learn how to control the weather then please boo all you like, but as far as I know there is nothing the organisers or anyone can do to change the weather.

Thankfully after initial teething problems of the first airshow back in 2016 things have been learnt, so for 2019 now its fourth year, the airshow in my opinion seems to be well organised and run a lot smoother with no obvious hiccups. The only niggle I have is the food selection for this years event (2019) wasn’t as good as the previous year. The curry samples being offered were stone cold, but a friend still went for it and bought a wrap only to be left disappointed, definitely not worth £8! The Paella though was apparently good, I choose to go for the Big Greek Feed and wasn’t disappointed and thoroughly enjoyed it even if it was expensive, £9 for the pork & chicken! It was shame none of the food stalls were local, I would like to see local Torbay businesses given a chance to have stalls. Meat 59 would be one I could think of just off the top of my head.

If you don’t mind being amongst crowds, the best place to experience the show is down on the seafront and on the esplanade itself. From here you can hear the announcer and you will understand what’s going on and what aircraft are coming next. If you choose to view it from a less crowded area then its best to keep your eye on www.torbayairshow.com for the latest updates.

After the show finishes at 5pm, most plan their escape and it gets very busy. I suggest if your not in a rush, enjoy a meal and a beer somewhere. You’ll likely only be stood in a queue or sat in traffic anyway. Though my friends Roger & Becci travelling back to Newton Abbot by train said they managed to get on the first train that arrived without problem and it was all very well organised. They had a queuing system in place with 3 queues, one heading for Torquay, one for Newton or Exeter & one for Plymouth or Totnes. They even gave out free GWR branded bottled water, so if you are in a rush you should be ok if you’re travelling by train.

I have to say the display line can be rather distant, but I think this is most likely down to the geography of the bay and the pier. It was still a great two days and I look forward to next year’s event.

Watch the Video

In 360º
Reframed

^{Don't forget to crank up the quality setting to 4k}

Click here for more Tiny Planets

Location/Facts

English Riviera Airshow (Previously Torbay Airshow) is located in the skies of Torbay with the town of Paignton being centre stage.

The Two day event is free to attend and usually takes place over the first weekend of June on Paignton Green offering entertainment for all the family.
For those wishing to upgrade their experience of the Air show, tickets are available for the Family FlyBy and the pop-up SkyBar. Further details can be found here.
Parking is available to purchase in advance at torbayairshow.com prices are from £10 plus a booking fee. They sell out fast though, so you’ll want to be quick.
Toilets are located on the green near the pier. The permanent toilets have a charge of 30p

Tip: The queues for toilets can get very long, I just walked over to one of the pubs across the road, plus these are usually much cleaner.

Event Times

The Event Village

Saturday – 11:00 – 18:00 on the green.
Sunday – 10:30 – :18:00 on the green.

Airshow

Saturday – 14:00 and finishing at 17:30.
Sunday – 11:30 and finishing at 15:00.

Aircraft Programme

^{2020 & 2021 cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.}

2024
2023
2022
2019
2018
2017
2016

Saturday 1 June:

Flying Times: 2:00pm – 3:45pm & 4:30pm – 6:00pm

RAF Red Arrows
RAF Typhoon
D-Day Memorial Display (Dakota, P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire)
Royal Navy Black Cats (Solo)
Jet Pitts
Catalina
Jet Provost T5
OV10 Bronco
Westland Wasp
Hawker Fury
Harvard

RAF Red Arrows Closing the show Saturday!

Sunday 2 June:

Flying Times: 1:00pm – 2:30pm & 3:15- 4:30pm

RAF Typhoon
D-Day Memorial Display (Dakota, P-51 Mustang, Supermarine Spitfire)
Westland Sea King
Royal Navy Black Cats (Solo)
Jet Pitts
Catalina
Jet Provost T5
OV10 Bronco
Westland Wasp
Hawker Fury
Harvard

RAF Typhoon Closing the show Sunday!

The above order is not the running order of the flying display

Past Aircraft

^{2020 & 2021 cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.}

2024
2023
2022
2019
2018
2017
2016

RAF Red Arrows
RAF Typhoon
Dakota
P-51 Mustang
Supermarine Spitfire
Royal Navy Black Cats (Solo)
Jet Pitts
Catalina
Jet Provost T5
OV10 Bronco
Westland Wasp
Hawker Fury
Harvard
Westland Sea King

Food

The event village on the main green (Redcliff end) ~~and virtually the whole promenade~~ has food stalls if you don’t want to leave the vicinity. The Melted Cheese Hut with gourmet toasties was one of my favourites in 2018, sadly not to be seen in 2019. I did find the Big Greek Feed in 2019 near the Redcliff end that looked to be the best from what was on offer and I wasn’t disappointed with my choice, it was delicious. For 2024 there was a bar on the main green £7 a pint at the Redcliffe end and Bays Brewery had a bar on Preston green. ~~This year 2022 Bays Brewery will have TWO bars, with Bays usual ales, Devon Rock lager and Hunts Andsome Bay cider at £4.50 a pint, plus a £1 deposit for the plastic glass.~~ One bar was located on the green (Redcliff end), ~~the other on the Eastern Esplanade near the geopark.~~ ~~The bar 2018 is located on the Green, ~~Redcliff End, it was~~ £4, Strongbow, Brains Smooth or Fosters.~~ If you’re willing to pay a little extra , there is the Sky Bar located on the Redcliff end of the green, entry was £15.

There are plenty of local pubs and restaurants you can also choose. Some of which you will still be able to see the action while you eat:

Costero Lounge (Great view from small rooftop balcony)
Spinning Wheel (fairly central to the action)
Inn On The Green
Harbour Inn (good view from rooftop)
Harbour Light (good view from balcony)
Henry’s Bar (no view, but great food and beer)
Hyde Dendy
Mercure
Talk of the Town (Spoons, no view, but affordable)

For more check out Paignton.

Getting There

With no parking on many roads around Paignton or Preston over the weekend and a number of roads close to the seafront will be closed altogether. Public transport will be the best option, If I was coming from further a field I would come by train.

Car, Sat Nav TQ4 6AG. Many roads are closed and restrictions apply across the entire town centre. Free parking is available on some side roads just out of the town centre, Palace Ave, New Street, Littlegate Rd, Lower Polsham Rd etc. but not a great deal and fill up very quickly. Paid parking behind the library for all day is £10, you’ll also miss most of the queuing to get out of the closest car park in the nearby Victoria car park which is for advanced bookings only and costs £10 for the day plus booking fee. Access is via Sands Rd through Queens Park Rd with the one way system changed to allow two way traffic for the event. With only one road in & out to Dartmouth Rd, you will be stuck in a queue if you leave at 5pm with everyone else.
Park and ride, service from Quaywest ~~& Broadsands car park~~ throughout the weekend. (Broadsands Park & Ride was closed for 2018)
Bus, There will be additional capacity on the bus services in and out of Paignton across the event weekend. The station is only a 5 minute walk to the seafront.
Train, Extra carriages are put on to help with the number of people and the station is only a 5 minute walk to the seafront. When you leave they have a queuing system in place with 3 queues, one heading for Torquay, one for Newton or Exeter & one for Plymouth or Totnes. They were even giving out free GWR branded bottled water last year. This is a great option for those coming from further afield.
Ferry, From Paignton harbour will be running to and from Brixham and Torquay every 30 minutes throughout the festival weekend. This a great way to arrive if you like the scenic route and for £6 (one way 2024).

Helpful Tips

If you do come, check the weather reports and choose the better day, it can be cancelled due to rain and low cloud.
Toilets are located on the green near the pier. The permanent toilets have a charge of 30p.
The queues for toilets can get very long, I just walked over to one of the pubs across the road, plus these are usually much cleaner.
Don’t forget the sunscreen, I saw many tomato faced beings wandering the green.
Take a pack lunch with you to save yourself some money.
Bring a folding chair or blanket, so your not stood for hours on end or sat on concrete.
If you choose to view from a less crowded area then its best to keep your eye on www.torbayairshow.com for the latest updates.
Disabled parking is available from www.torbayairshow.com, prices from £10 plus a booking fee.