Manston air show 2025

[Vulture 01]

Just seen a report on MSN to say that there is a show planned for Manston next year.
Dates mentioned are 16/17 Aug 25.

Headliners are the Bronco demo team.

No doubt more will follow.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/travel/news/hu ... k-34105785

[colt99]

Eastbourne airshow is over the 14th to 17th.
Possibility of aircraft operating from Manston maybe ?
https://www.visiteastbourne.com/airshow

[Sparts99]

I think Kent Live have jumped the gun with this and others have picked up the story. Kent Live are notorious for misleading and innacurate news, they live off click bait. I know someone with an aviation business on the airfield site, they've been told there'll be some sort of announcement 'in the New Year' about an event.

[Professor_M]

I think Kent Live have jumped the gun with this and others have picked up the story. Kent Live are notorious for misleading and innacurate news, they live off click bait. I know someone with an aviation business on the airfield site, they've been told there'll be some sort of announcement 'in the New Year' about an event.

There does seem to be more to this than just some local news clickbait.

Whilst the show's website isn't yet up, they have been active on a new Facebook page, saying...

STOP PRESS: 16th and 17th August 2025
Dear Friends and Followers,
We are thrilled to have you on board and to be able to start sharing with you what will be a spectacular event for Kent, a show that we have be working on as a team since August and are delighted to confirm as a date for the diary.
We are finalising details for the website which we plan will go live within the next few weeks. This will provide you with details on air and ground based attractions, FAQs, tickets packages and exhibitor forms. In addition, the site will also provide details of how businesses can be involved at various levels.
Our sincere thanks must be extended to RiverOak Strategic Partners and Visit Thanet for their support in us being able to launch such an incredibly high profile show in the Garden of England .

Wow.. Not even end of day one and collectively you've boosted our numbers to over 1100 followers already.
So here's a treat for you..
Our first display announcement and a pilot and aircraft who are no strangers to Manston..
The Bronco Demo Team OV-10B
The combination of Tony and this stunning aircraft is simply awesome and we are truly delighted to include them in our lineup

Meanwhile, a response by the show on sharing dates with Eastbourne in reply to someone's comment on one of their posts...

Maybe the show could share displays with Eastbourne as that show is on the same week

[...] our plan to be the land based show to assist with sharing some acts

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568697356902

The show also has an entry on the Visit Thanet webpage, with more info to follow...

https://www.visitthanet.co.uk/events/ma ... ow-134350/

[Flightline UK]

I would not take anything for granted yet. Yes it is great news to have a new venue and that there is an event being planned but things like display areas all need to be investigated, surveyed and agreed with the Flying Display Directors and CAA (and the RAF if they want military displays). That was yet to take place as of the Post Season Symposium last week.

The last airshow took place at Manston before much of the modern display permission process was in place. There will now need to be some sort of mitigation for the A299 Hengist Way for example.

Light aircraft can operate from Manston now (Indeed there have been fly-ins) , but unless by some miracle the runway condition is drastically improved it is of no use to the RAF which will likely still use Southend for its assets. Even Dunsfold was considered unsuitable for some RAF aircraft during the Wings and Wheels years and that was a runway that was used far more regularly and had at least some maintenance to keep it operational for occasional business jets.

The VisitThanet page has me down as an organiser contact. I am not involved in anyway with the actual event. These pages are just 'bots' or run by people not even willing to verify the information they are publishing. It is by no means an indication the event is confirmed.

[Flightline UK]

https://www.air-shows.org.uk/2024/11/ai ... -unveiled/

[Sparts99]

I hope they can make it work. That part of the world is busy in the summer so they shouldn't be short of punters.

[Sparts99]

Seems to be a goer. The people I know with a business there have annouced they're involved. Keep everything crossed.