Despite that morning’s announcement that the Red Arrows had pulled out of the display, it did not dampen the atmosphere, which was sunny and dry too.
Emily Rowe, Nikki Trebert and Tanya Trebert made the most of the Crown Pier food and drink village, which was popular among the crowds.
‘I always love watching the planes. I love the loud ones when you hear them before you see them. It’s so exciting to watch,’ said Nikki.
‘I’ve always loved coming down to watch so thought I’d get the girls along too.’
She thought moving the time of the display to the evening was a positive change because it meant more people were able to watch.
‘It was getting to the point where it was really hard to get the children out of school,’ said Tanya.
‘We had the ability to just leave school and come out and watch it but it’s not like that any more.’
The trio agreed that it was a shame the Red Arrows were not flying, but Team Raven had put on an excellent performance, which felt like the Red Arrows minus the colour.
The Mauger family were watching from the seafront.
Six-year-old Sebastian said he enjoyed the formations and seeing the planes flying closely together and Barnaby, 10, said he really liked the noise and the patterns that the planes make.
Mum Helen said it was really nice to be able to bring the children out in the evening to watch it.
‘I’m a teacher and it’s far less disruptive in school, when you’re trying to teach a lesson knowing they’d all rather be outside watching the planes,’ she said.
Seventeen-year-old Harry De Putron had borrowed his dad’s camera to get some pictures of the planes.
Although he was slightly disappointed the Red Arrows were not performing, he said there were still some great planes and he managed to photograph some of the other items.
‘I’m really into photography and I enjoy the planes too. We’ve come to the air display pretty much every year,’ he said.
‘Last year was great with the Eurofighter and the Red Arrows. I think it’s great that the air display is in the evening, because other than last year I’ve always been in school and had to try to watch it.’
In place of the Red Arrows, organisers added a Navy Wings Swordfish and Navy Wings Seafire to the line-up.
Jet Provost appeared popular among spectators with its louder engine and the Airborne Pyrotechnics closed the show with their lights and fireworks as dusk started to close in.
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