A POPULAR air show that announced it would no longer have flying displays due to funding problems, will be holding a show full of aerobatics this year.

The annual Airshow and Country Show in Abingdon is back after year away due to Covid cancellations.

This year one of the stars is the Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon solo display, provided by 29 Squadron, RAF Coningsby.

Flight Lieutenant James Sainty will put on a loud, agile show of aerobatics in the Typhoon, which is one of a number of old and new aircraft types in the planned three-hour afternoon flying program.

The air show was launched in 2000 by Neil Porter and over the years it has raised thousands of pounds for good causes around the county. However, the show costs a lot of money to put on.

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In 2018 the show cost £80,000, with costs including £27,000 to cover the air displays and fuel.

Other costs include public liability insurance - £25m cover - which costs £10,250, and the Defence Infrastructure Organisation airfield licence, which costs £11,300.

In 2019, Airshow and Country Show organiser Neil Porter, said: “Next year there will be changes to the show, due to funding. There will be no flying displays but… there will still be a lot of action.”

However, this year the organiser has had a change of heart and decided the funding can stretch.

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Mr Porter said: "Over the year off due to Covid, I thought again about the show as a whole and decided not to change the very popular show format, as we can sustain future shows as long as we can fund them. Also, should I have gone down the route of changing the show not to include flying displays but went back to them a year or two later, its re-learning certain skills again to keep up to date with all the rules which is time consuming.

"So, I am very happy to carry on from where I left off with the last show in 2019 with a full flying program as well as various ground attractions."

In 2017 a Twister Aerobatics plane crashed, injuring the pilot, who was expected to make a full recovery.

The Twister aircraft came down in a ‘wheels up’ landing and a number of ambulances and two fire crews arrived quickly at the scene.

The aircraft remained intact despite the heavy impact and the pilot was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital after being checked over by paramedics.

The show will take place at 10am on Saturday September 11, 2021 at Abingdon Airfield, Dalton Barracks.

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