Felixstowe: Resort needs more big summer events
Local aerobatic pilot Nigel Willson with his Yak 52 display over Felixstowe beach front during the Wings on Waves event. Photo: Gary Stedman - Credit: citizenside.com
Organisers of a spectacular celebration of the centenary of Felixstowe’s sea plane base say the resort needs more big events to boost its tourist trade.
More than 20,000 people packed the seafront to enjoy a military parade and an exciting air show at the weekend.
Wings on Waves marked 100 years since the opening in 1913 of the air station, which served as RAF Felixstowe and the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, where hundreds of flying boats, seaplanes, and aviation equipment, was designed, developed and tested.
Event controller Nick Barber said everyone was thrilled with the day and the support of the public.
He said: “It was superb and we estimate there were 20,000 people on the beach, prom and cliffs to watch the air display.
“It was a huge boost for the traders of the town and I am sure they all had a fantastic weekend.
“Felixstowe needs to put on more of these events to help its tourist trade and we need to be sitting down and looking at how we can provide these kind of attractions.
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“Thanks to the support of the business community both in sponsorship and taking stalls and so on, a big show was provided for very little outlay – a wonderful free show, too, for the public.”
Stars of the display were a Catalina flying boat, Spitfire and aerobatics team.
