Eastbourne's seafront is about to get loud again. Airbourne, the free seaside airshow, runs from today, Thursday 13 August, right through to Sunday 16 August, and it's one of the biggest of its kind in Europe. The flying line stretches over the water between the pier and the foot of Beachy Head, with the whole thing centred on the Western Lawns, so the best place to set up is somewhere along the seafront rather than far inland.
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There's a bit of bad news first: the Red Arrows are out for all three days, their slot filled by other aircraft after a delayed return from North America. The rest of the line-up more than makes up for it. Today opens with the Royal Navy Black Cats solo in the Wildcat helicopter, the Navy Wings Wasp flying in duo, the MiG-17 Lim-5 making its Airbourne debut, the four-biplane Stampe Formation Team, the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight with its Dakota, Spitfire and Hurricane, the Firebirds, the P-51 Mustang 'Marinell' on its first visit, the Aerosuperbatics Wingwalkers and Rich Goodwin in the Jet Pitts S2SE. Friday adds the RAF Typhoon FGR4, the Tutor Display Team and the 'Spirit of Kent' Spitfire, while the weekend brings in the Red Devils parachute team, the Starlings aerobatics pair and the 'Sally B' B-17 Flying Fortress, Europe's only airworthy B-17, based at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
Where you stand makes a difference. The Western Lawns is the centre of it all but gets the most crowded. The slopes by the Wish Tower are better for families, with grass and raised seating, and the pier is quieter with good views. The beach gives you a clear look up, though it's pebbles all the way, and the Bandstand has reserved middle balcony seating if you want to sit. Beachy Head is the dramatic option, though parking there is tight. The site opens at 10.30am and closes at 5pm, with flying usually running from around midday until half five, and Saturday tends to start a bit earlier than the other days. Tune in to Radio Airbourne on 87.7 FM for commentary, and the whole thing wraps up on Sunday with a firework finale near the Wish Tower.
Getting there is the part that needs a plan. The train is the easiest shout: Eastbourne station is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the event, with Southern Rail running from London, Brighton, Lewes and Hastings, and children's fares as low as £2 with under-fives free. GroupSave knocks a bit off if you're travelling in a pack. Driving is the harder option, so pre-bookable sites like Five Acres Field Park & Bus, King Edward's Parade premium parking and Beachy Head Park & View are worth sorting in advance rather than turning up and hoping. If you'd rather not drive at all, Sussex Airports Taxis runs pre-booked routes from Brighton, Hove, Worthing, Lewes, Gatwick and Heathrow. Sat nav BN21 3YT will put you in the right place. It's free to attend, so the only real cost is getting yourself there and back.
Published Date
13 August 2026
