Plymouth Airshow began in 1950 at Plymouth City Airport, then Roborough Airport. Sadly, the 1950 event was rained off.
The 5th of May 1951 was a sunny day. Flypasts were given by ten Lancaster bombers from RAF St Eval, who were joined by three Sunderlands, eleven Sea Fury FB11s. Displays were provided by a Sea Otter, Spitfire, Dragonfly, Shackleton, Hastings, B 29, Halifax, Meteor, plus three Tiger Moths.
The USAF first participated at the show in 1954 with four F86F Sabres. The USAF have been strong supporters of the Plymouth show.
Always popular at shows was the crazy flying of Bill Lucas in his Tiger Moth. He thrilled thousands with his brilliant flying. It was in 1970 that the airport moved to Plymouth Hoe.
The Hoe is a superb arena but the problem is for an Airshow, although drawing major crowds, the lack of a gate charge. The show survives on a collection and the rent from traders. Often, the amount of money collected is very low, what with Plymouth not being an affluent area. Sadly, the old show folded.
In 1986, the secretary of Plymouth Helping Hands chanced to see two Catalinas land in Plymouth Sound. Ray McSweeney noticed the large crowd in attendance, this formed the idea of Plymouth Helping Hands taking up a airshow. The following year, the show returned in support of disabled children and the Armed Forces. The Red Arrows were joined by an RAF Harrier. The late Robin Bowes, alias the Red Baron, helped organise the show.
In 1994, at the D-Day 50 show, the US Navy returned its former headquarters of World War II. A superb display by Commander Pete Collins in an F14 Tomcat opened the show. Over two days, visitors included Concorde, which drew one of the largest crowds ever seen on the Hoe. Concorde was part of a twenty-eight mile long flight of Allied aircraft. A Hercules ended the show, dropping a million poppies with great accuracy over the Hoe.
Over the years many famous pilots have flown in the show, singer Gary Numan did his first display over water as a member of the Harvard Display team.
The show became the Allied salute - as part of Plymouth Helping Hands Allied Memorial Project. See www.alliedproject.co.uk.
After a break of a few years, Plymouth Helping Hands brought the show back in 2009. The name returned again to the Plymouth Airshow, held in support of the Allied Memorial Project. For 2010, a family festival is being held in support of the flying and private aircraft will again return, joining military participants.
Returning in 2010 will be a short service of peace and reconciliation. Children and Allied representatives will place a flower on the air monument. Prayers will be said for those who served and still serve on NATO and UN service throughout the world.
